Travelogue Sang-e-Meel, Lahore 2007 x Pages Rs. x

Editor’s Review

“ EMANN MUJHAY ROKAY HEY JO KHENCHAY HEY MUJHAY KUFFAR”

“ Mun Wal Khabah Sharif” , is a well written travelogues about spiritual journey (HAJJ) of the author. I must acknowledge Mustanstar Hussain Tarar that he not only shared his personal experiences and feelings with the reader but also has been successful in educating the user with the actual meaning of Hajj. He comprehensively explained the history related to each step performed during hajj which makes the book more fascinating. The writer shows his love for Allah, Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) ,and the sacred/divines personalities of Islam, and further on he inculcates that the Hajj is not just a ritual where we recite specific set of Surrats and duas for specific time and assume that our duty is finished ,but in reality the actual Hajj begins when one come backs to the normal routine and implements the righteous actions order by Allah Almighty. In addition to his Hajj experience, the author is quite worried that soon it would be difficult to identify the holy places since most of them are either sealed by Arabs or in some cases renovated (They do this in order to refrain people from doing “Shirk”). I am astonished to find out the comprehensive description provided by the author of all the events and various places because no notes were taken by him during the journey.

The story is first person narrative and the writer is accompanied by his two sons. There are three major portions of the book: 1) Jeddah 2) Mecca 3) Medina. During the stay in Jeddah, the author provides the thorough description of various places of well developed and modernized city Jeddah and sheds the light on the lavish life style of Arabs. He explicitly mentions the pros and cons of the Arab culture. The second part of the book revolves around author’s Hajj in Mecca. Each step performed during the Hajj is explained in form of chapters. In order to engross readers’ attention, the author provides well-referenced historical context. The only part that the author didn’t experience himself is “ the visit inside the kabaah Sharif” but I must comment that he did an outstanding job in narrating the detail report of the inside structure of Kabbah and the experience of his son Suljuke (As a diplomat he mashahallah got an opportunity to offer the nawafil inside the Kabaah). The part is so interesting that while reading this part I felt myself as the part of this journey.

After performing Hajj, the author heads towards Medina (the city of tranquility). In this section Mustansir Hussain Tarar sheds the light on the life and hardships faced by our beloved Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) and Sabahs (R.A). The detail of the sacred places of medina is also discussed.

I highly recommend this book to every Muslim who has true desire to perform Hajj in its real meaning…..May Allah bless Mustansir Hussain Trar for writing this book and bless him with the strength to carry on with his contributions to the society.