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From Minas

The Hajj: Thinner crowds and lots of rain

The Hajj, an obligatory pilgrimage for Muslims, began this year on Wednesday with two twists: thinner crowds and heavy rain.

A rare rainstorm inundated pilgrims in the city of Mina, flooding tents and making conditions miserable for the 2.5 million pilgrims performing the ancient rituals, according to Isha Sesay, CNN's correspondent there.

The tents, where pilgrims plan to spend the night in prayer and contemplation, were leaking and flooding, giving rise to fears of disease, Sesay reported.

She said, however, that the several hours of rain was not likely to stop any of the pilgrims from performing the rituals.

"They've saved for years to get here," Sesay reported. "This is a blessing. They're not going to let rain get in the way."

She said no incidents had been reported among the dimished number of pilgrims.

Officials said the swine flu could be keeping pilgrims from the fifth pillar of Islam, which requires devotees to journey to the holy city of Mecca at least once in their lifetime.

Saudi's Hajj Ministry said Wednesday that 40 percent fewer Saudi pilgrims are participating in the ancient rituals this year, largely due to fears of disease, though a greater number of international visitors had come.

"Concerns about the spread of H1N1 may have affected the turnout but we are confident of all measures in place to increase monitoring of cases and awareness about how one can protect himself or herself," said Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabbeeah, the Saudi health minister.

A teenager and three elderly people have died of the H1N1 flu virus at the Hajj.

The victims were a 17-year-old Nigerian female and a Sudanese man, an Indian man and a Moroccan woman who each were 75 Years Old.

Many of the 2 million pilgrims have been arriving days and weeks ahead of the Hajj, which coincides with flu season. The rituals of the five-day event began Wednesday.

But with fewer visitors, businesses are feeling the pinch this year.

Shopkeeper Fahmi al-Rashidi said he has slashed prices of the gold he sells in Mecca's Al-Ghaza market.

"Business is lower than last year," he said. "I think swine flu fears combined with high gold prices are turning people away from spending."

Another merchant, Fahd al-Qraishi, said a normal 20 percent profit has dropped to 5 percent.

Haji observed in second life

The Hajj Ministry reported, however, a 17 percent increase in the number of international pilgrims, some of whom are enjoying discounted rates at hotels including the Hilton Makkah.

Then there was the real damper.

Mecca resident Khaled Nemary said he had not seen so much rain in a quarter-century.

And the forecast? Showers through Friday.

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I learned .....

I learned ........

I learned that we are living in a world that tries to turn all the time, and the only how to survive, is what they are.

I learned some lessons that can not teach, they just have to live.

I learned that nothing in life is arbitrary, all is for a reason, especially for shaping our lives must be.

I learned that forgiveness can heal us bitter.

I learned that no matter what we do, there will be an empty space in us that can not be occupied by someone God or something, but was designed especially for him.

I learned that wisdom is to see the truth sooner, so close by intuition, even if you are so far from the facts.

I learned that when you love someone as much as you want with age, supporting and share the rest of your life with, she found her soul mate.

I learned that sometimes the answers that we want so much knowledge, can come the easiest way ever, but we must be intelligent enough to perceive.

I learned that whenever one revalue our events and we are wrong and try to put things right ups, grown.

I learned that when all the tests of our failure, and everything falls apart, we should not resign, we should give up hope.

I learned that it is only in the equations mysterious love is logically true.

I learned that what people watch us is a reflection of the person who might be, but not necessarily must be a full picture of us.

I learned that we are not immune from our sinful nature, but it can take care of us in the blink of an eye.

I learned that nobody can understand what to do and when you do not, you fool yourself or not yet ready to face that is running from.

I learned that self-pity is the weapon more destructive.

I learned that we can not change certain things our lives, but we can certainly change the way we see them.

I learned that the pain many of us, gives us much in return, helps us to grow smart, strong and mature.

I learned that it is only in the dark when I leave to see and start paying attention to the voices trying to talk to you instead expect a clear signal to read.

I learned that it is our choice for our failure leads us to our grave or leads to our greatest victory.

I learned that it is never too late to start again.

I learned that when something terrible may terminate our life as they know it is not the image itself before, this does not mean we can not pass or get a new life with prospects different, it is not the same, but is a new person and can stop your pain or are still living in disaster which in turn in this way.

I learned that every lie is presented in a misleading truth.

By Enrique Mina Milad

04/03/2009

About the Author

mina milad henry,22 years old,lives in cairo Egypt,3rd year student at the faculty of dentistry,interested in writing articles about subjects from our daily life, our experiences that we get to learn as long as we live