Zainab Siddiqi
Dallas TX USA
In the circling of hearts around the Ancient House,
I saw that Allah created all from a single soul —
خَلَقَكُم مِّن نَّفْسٍ وَاحِدَةٍ¹
and from it He spread tribes and peoples,
not to divide, but so we may recognize one another
with gentleness, humility, and awe.
Here, none stands higher than another.
Some arrive with little, some with plenty,
yet إِنَّ أَكْرَمَكُمْ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ أَتْقَىٰكُمْ²
the honored are not those with gold
but hearts that bow in awe of their Lord
Humanity thrives when it remembers its purpose,
for وَمَا خَلَقْتُ ٱلْجِنَّ وَٱلْإِنسَ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُونِ³
we were made to worship
and in the quiet placing of the forehead to the ground,
the soul tastes the nearness for which it was created
And how wondrous the tapestry He wove—
faces of every shade, tongues from every horizon,
each a sign from Him,
وَمِنْ آيَاتِهِ اخْتِلَافُ أَلْسِنَتِكُمْ وَأَلْوَانِكُمْ⁴
a lesson that beauty lies in difference,
and wisdom reaches far beyond our preference.
In worship, you need no shared tongue
to understand the hearts around you.
A gesture, a cup of water,
strangers forming a chain to lift the weak in ṭawāf —
compassion is the language understood by all.
And above all, make space when asked,
for this House is His, not mine or yours.
These are His beloved guests,
and He commands:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِذَا قِيلَ لَكُمْ تَفَسَّحُوا فِي الْمَجَالِسِ فَافْسَحُوا يَفْسَحِ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ⁵
make room for others,
and Allah will make room for you.
Your patience will be tested.
Pushed, jostled, humbled, contested
until your heart learns to do what Allah says
وَإِنْ تَعْفُوا وَتَصْفَحُوا وَتَغْفِرُوا فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ⁶
“But if you pardon, overlook, and forgive,
then indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.”
And rise you must,
for لَا جِدَالَ وَلَا فُسُوقَ⁷ in these sacred days
no quarrel, no indecency,
only the soul’s gentle purification.
You may choose to see this journey
through grace or grievance,
for life unfolds as you think of your Lord,
and He said:
أَنَا عِندَ ظَنِّ عَبْدِي بِي⁸
“I am as My servant thinks of Me.”
So think well.
The one beside you
may have poured a lifetime of savings
into this single trembling chance to stand here.
Perhaps they will never return.
Honor their joy.
Respect their tears.
Be kind with their unfamiliarity in sacred courtesy,
for the heart learns slowly,
and Allah is gentle and loves gentleness in all matters⁹.
This is what the Ḥaram taught me:
that every soul circling the Ka‘bah
reflects a divine reminder, whispering softly:
أَلَا تُحِبُّونَ أَن يَغْفِرَ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ؟¹⁰
Would you not love for Allah to forgive you?
References
1. Surah An-Nisa 4:1
2. Surah Al-Hujurat 49:13
3. Surah Adh-Dhariyat 51:56
4. Surah Ar-Rum 30:22
5. Surah Al-Mujadila 58:11
6. Surah At-Taghabun 64:14
7. Surah Al-Baqarah 2:197 (phrase context)
8. Sahih Bukhari 7405
9. Sahih Muslim 2592
10. Surah An-Nur 24:22
