The bus was to leave after Dhuhr prayer. All assembled in the masjid and the crowd of relatives were more in number. Friends of bachelors and spouses of married ones, the tears rolled in true fashion of love. Neither of them knew if the travelers would return safely back home. Deaths could happen anywhere, anyhow: during travel, the crowded rites, and infectious diseases.
The more our attachments, the more our pain of separation. A man with wife, son, mother, sister, brothers would suffer more the agony of separation than a brother without these ‘love-hooks’ which violently clings to his soul.
Realization of Death as a living realty would solve at least 90 per sent of our problems. Most vices are conceived because one’s own death is ignored. The hajj farewell to my relatives was like farewell from this world. I wasn’t too sure if I would make it. After the congregational dua’, I boarded the bus. And when the wheels started rolling, I knew I was helpless to stop it. Same could be the experience of death. I guess…
