Raw moments from a visiting aid trip volunteer and pilgrim of Lady Zaynab S.A.
Salamun Alaykum dear beautiful humanity!
I look at the beautiful pictures that were taken during a recent trip to Lebanon and Sham feels like a dream.
My journey started with a two-night stay in Lebanon.
This was a country I had never imagined that I would visit. A wonderful warm welcoming country with a breath of fresh air.
The long walk across the sea and having a nice lunch right next to the sea was the precious memory that I will cherish, with a few cats giving me company and looking at the fresh fish I had for lunch!
After two nights in Lebanon, we started a trip of a lifetime by meeting the group members at Beirut Airport to embark on a trip to Sham and this was a Charity Aid Trip with Lady Zainab Helping Hands in collaboration with Lantern of Light.
It was a wonderful experience meeting new people in the group and the journey to Damascus was a peaceful and stress-free experience. Before embarking on this trip many people did however tell me that crossing the border would be time consuming and long with many check points. As I had already stayed two nights in Lebanon, I was quite relaxed.
We reached safely to Sham and had a good welcome in the Hotel. Despite reaching very late at about 1.15 a.m. we were allocated our rooms quite promptly. The rooms were small but to be honest the bed was very comfortable, and the bathroom was very clean and had good space. I have no complaints of the room at all and even the hotel and food in general was satisfying.
After a few hours of sleep, we headed to the Shrine of the Lady Zainab.
I still remember walking in the alleyway towards the Haram and my heart was beating. It had been a good number of years I had not visited the holy shrine and being in the vicinity of a holy place, I was very emotional. I have no words to express my feelings.
After reciting my Dhohr and Asr prayers and having a nice lunch we headed to the LZHH Husayniyah, a humble multidisciplinary institute that also caters for a department for the special needs for children with acute learning disabilities and it also caters as a safe space for widows to have courses for soft skills and economic empowerment. The Husayniyah caters for the extra curriculum activities for the orphans and children at large.
We were able to take gift items as kind gestures donations which we collected from our kind donors . There were many suitcases filled with gifts for the children, teachers and useful medication that was required and requested.
We made individual gift bags for the staff, teachers and the orphaned children. There was a sheer sense enthusiasm and uplifting buzz in the atmosphere when this was being done especially when the suitcases were opened as they had been packed individually by members in the group!
‘Teamwork’ was the grit word buzzing within us group volunteers Alhamdulilah! We all worked together and this part I felt made me get to know more about the members in the group. Everyone was so kind and accommodating and we shared our life stories.
As the days progressed, we met 5 displaced families. This was an emotional part of the trip personally for me. I have seen many images and videos in the media but witnessing this was a real eye opener for me. I had tears filling my eyes but the courage I saw in these displaced families eyes was beyond words. I have no words to explain this.
On Thursday 18th Nov 2022, we performed the ziyarat of Hujar ibn Adi a.s.
Soon after we visited Yazid’s courtyard and palace. We prayed at the holy blessed sanctuary where Imam Sajjad a.s had made his salaat.
We were filled with sadness as we were about to do the ziyarah of Sayyida Ruqayya s.a. Due to the construction currently taking place in Sayyida Ruqayya’s holy shrine we performed our ziyarat in the haram. As a group we all sat together and listened to marshiya’s and a powerful short lecture by Dr Mohamedabbas Jaffer.
In the Evening we listened to Dua Kumayl in Zainabiyah at her holy proximity. This was a truly memorable moment. I could hear the dua being recited and it was giving me tears that I could not believe I was in zainabiyah listening to it. Since coming back home just last week I listened to dua kumayl at home and I remembered that this time last week I was in Zaynabiyah listening to it.
The last two days of our trip enabled us to join in the children’s activities in the Husayniyah. Just like in our own country children have an assembly and they present activities on a stage the children did this to us. They spoke in their native Arabic language and the happiness and smiles they had on their faces you would not notice that each child had come from a traumatic and difficult childhood. It was visible that they were very contended with what they had at such a young age. I was truly inspired by their courage and bravery.
The last night before departing we had a farewell dinner. We met with other charity delegates from other organisations and had a cooked dinner together. The food was cooked on site in the Husayniyah kitchen, and it was unbelievable. Everyone took part to cook the dishes and help. We all worked so well like a team, and I don’t think no one in the group felt ever out of place.
On the last night during the farewell dinner, I did however feel a sense of satisfaction that I did have the opportunity to come on this trip. Though it was very hard to leave behind personal commitments I put my trust in Allah to look after what I had left behind. This was a trip of a lifetime. Though these words might seem overly exaggerating to the reader of this article, but I have no other words to express my gratitude that I have.
The next day in the morning we started our departure back to Lebanon and stayed one night and then departed back to London Heathrow Airport. The remaining group spent one day in Lebanon and departed the next day.
During our return trip to Lebanon, we did pass the check points as we did when arriving to Sham. This was a smooth encounter and experienced no issues at all.
We also visited the shrine of Sayyida Khawlah in Ba’albek Lebanon. This was the first time I had ever visited the shrine and listening to the history of this beautiful young child made me realise how at a very tender age she was able to witness the tragedies just like Bibi Sakina a.s.
As mentioned before this was a trip of a lifetime. Each and everyday flew by so fast and to be very honest from my very own personal experience everyday was a ‘super packed day’ in the sense we were always doing activities which was either going to the Hussaniyah engaging with the orphans, going to pray at the holy shrine of Sayyida Zaynab a.s. or even having reflective thoughts with the group. The most integral part of the trip which I admired was how thoughtful and respectful everyone was in the group. We were like one big family during this whole trip. In the evenings we were able to sit together in the hotel lobby and sit and share our thoughts of how the trip was progressing. Giving our authentic feedback be it positive and constructively negative . This was very comforting, and it was an amicable way addressing issues that needed to be raised.
At present I am back to work and since returning back from this trip of a lifetime, I am constantly looking at the memorable pictures I took on my mobile as well as the updates I receive on my whatsapp group which was created.
I may be back home but I have left a piece of my heart in Zainabiyah.
My Allah accept all our duas and hajaats – Amen.
Thank you so much. Your writing has brought emotion to my heart and a yearning to be part of such a trip in the future. I hope one day I can be of service
Thank you so much sis Farhana for your heartfelt message and your words of encouragement and prayers. InshaAllah we look forward to having you in our future trips to Shaam. May Allah swt give us tawfeeq to serve in any way we can.
Bless you sis.
Lantern of Light Team