Of Jabal Rahmah

My mom made it to Mekah this year. Finally. After years of only dreaming and at one point giving up due to financial strain, she is finally realizing her dreams.

She left on the 9th of October, and is expected to arrive here in Malaysia on the 23rd of November, a date I circled so many times that it fades on my calendar.

I call her everyday, though a bit expensive it doesn't matter. I just want to know what she does everyday. Sometimes I cried after calling her, after trying my very best not to let her know the tears are welling up from the inside. I miss her, of course, but listening to her everyday adventures, about her prayers in front of Kaabah for me to finish my Masters a.s.a.p, her wish in front of Jabal Rahmah for me to have "a rich husband, one whom our family knows about", it kind of makes me want to book the next flight to Saudi Arabia.

But mostly I cried because she left at the time when my financial state is not strong enough to even give her a few hundreds for her to spend. True, I did pay the Housing Ministry to make sure my mother no longer owe them any money, and few other spendings that I feel should not be informed here, but I really wish I could hand her some money on the day she left. She said it's fine, that I have helped her enough to make this journey, but I kinda feel disappointed.

But not for long I guess. Due to my lack of knowledge about Malaysian Hajj experience, I wasn't aware that we can send money to family members who are performing haj. In fact, it is so easy that all I need is her Tabung Haji account number. Bank it in Malaysia, they'll see it in their TH account in Saudi Arabia. Phew! Once I received some delayed payments I'm gonna make sure I bank in the money, call her and say my favorite phrase "Mom, just buy whatever you want!"

Despite me being insistent and telling her that I do not mind I don't get anything from Mekah, and all I want is that for her to come back safe and sound, my mom would tell me in our everyday conversation "I bought you a jubah...lawa! You'll like it!"

We wish you a safe journey home, Mok.