The Beginning. . .

It has been nearly 2 years since I had visited the Holy City of Mashad in Iran. This year after much deliberation I decided to do Ziyarah again, however this time was different from the previous years. A sense of nervousness was found within me. I had never felt so nervous prior to a trip to Iran given that I had always craved for that sight of the Holy Tomb of Imam Al Ridha [a] so greatly. It was very odd to find myself in such a state but there is reason for everything, Allah knows best.

Since 2006 my life has changed a lot in many ways. I was not the same person as I was at that time; my circumstance were not the same as before nor was my spiritual state. I had lived for 2 years in a state of wilderness seeking any means available to evolve myself however due to many of my own vices I had failed a number of times. At times when the soul feels in a lowly state the remembrance of the Imam [a] and his Sister [s] served as a means of hope. Hope that maybe someday I would be there again, I held on to that hope for 2 years along with the tradition of the Ahlul Bayt [a] - 'Our graves are in the hearts of our believers', such a statement provided the strength to be patient and try to hold on to those memories to remain steadfast. At times though the determination weakened due to the state of this society and the self gave into the lower desires of the self, leaving a feeling of regret and longing of return to the right path.

So after nearly 2 years of living in the state of ignorance and wilderness I made the intention to visit my master Al Ridha [a] again in hope that by doing so I may find peace in my heart and soul. His door is one from which no one has ever been turned away empty handed and that is where you will see millions of pilgrim flocking to get a glimpse of that beautiful golden tomb with the sublime grandeur around it which humbles the heart and causes the eyes to shed tears of reunion and happiness. Such is this reunion that when done with full sincerity brings rewards which are unthinkable. What he gives us is so much greater in magnitude when compared to what we ask, the only thing that is needed for everything is Ikhlaas, sincerity and Tawakkul, reliance in Allah.

0n 17th July 2008, the day arrived where I would be leaving the Western World behind away from the materialistic aspects and attachments and going through a rigorous thinking and reflecting period in the land of Toos being a guest of the Imam [a]. An honor which was very undeserving for me as I am nothing but a lowly servant who has sins the size of mountains and nothing to offer but simple salutations. He is Ar-Raoouf, the merciful and his attribute of mercy is what gives millions of people hope, hope for fulfillment of their wishes, hope for finding solutions to their problems, hope that he will intercede and aid us in this world and in the hereafter, hope that he will bless us regardless of our sins, hope that he will enlighten us to correct ourselves.

With these thoughts in my mind, with the vision of his Beautiful Shrine in my eyes and hope in my heart I left on this journey of self realization on the 20th July 2008 accompanied with friends and some new faces that would be part long lasting memories.

May Allah elevate the status of Imam Al-Ridha [a] and his Sister Masooma [s].