Moments at Hira Cave

Bismillah.

Alhamdulillah, in 2005 I had the opportunity to climb Jabal Noor where the Hira Cave is situated. Yet another holy place I wish you could visit someday, InshaAllah.

Hira cave was the sanctuary for Rasulullah s.a.w in the prelude to the first revelation from Allah via Archangle Jibril. The Prophet would, prior to the momentous event of nuzul, spend solitary nights there, which is really a tiny cavern atop a rocky mount.

Our group had left for that sentimental journey after Asar and arrived in time for Maghrib. I must say that it was one maghrib I will never forget. It was a quiet peaceful evening punctuated only by calls of the Mu'azzin. We could, at the summit, see immensely beautiful lights bathing the Masjidil Haram, thus making it looked, subhanallah even more majestic and spectacular.

While on the way up, my heart was somehow flooded with thoughts of Saidatina Khadijah who was undoubtedly a pillar of strength for Rasulullah throughout their lives together and especially during the Prophet's preliminary experience with Jibril.

This unforgettable experience I had at Hira cave is etched in my heart and mind as permanently as the rocks at Jabal Noor. The next day after the trip, in the courtyard of Baitullah, my hand feverishly grabbed a pen to write the poem below. It reflects only a tiny spark of my love for Rasulullah s.a.w. And LOVE, my son is something you must taste yourself, that is why the lovers often say: Man lam yazuq lam yadri - he who tastes not, knows not.

Di Halaman Hiraq
Damainya jiwa di halaman Hiraq;
satu rasa yang tidak pernah aku fikir wujud.
Terimakasih Ya Rabb kerana mengizinkan kami
menyusuri perjalanan kekasihMu,
Mendaki gunung khauf dan raja'
dengan langkah-langkah harapan
mengusir kerikil kejahilan;
Demi mencari ilmu yang diwarisi Al-Amin,
Ilmu yang menuntut agar dibaca
dengan nama Tuhan
yang mengajar dengan Pena.

Ya Nabi,
di atas gunung yang sunyi sepi
berbumbung, berdinding, berlantai batu,
engkau menyendiri
menyeru Ilahi yang maha suci;
Tapi siapalah yang dapat mencungkil apa yang kau rasa
wahai Muhammad,
dalam keheningan suasana...
munajat seorang kekasih Allah.

Ya Rasulullah,
kami cuba menjejaki pendakian mu,
cuba mengintai ruang suluk mu,
pada malam nan indah syahdu.
Namun ianya pasti tidak sesyahdu
kasih yang Siti Khadijah panjatkan padamu,
menongkah bongkah batu seorang diri demi yang dicintai;
itulah wanita mulia, hebat peribadi.

Damainya jiwa di halaman Hiraq
suara mu'azzin menderu merdu
mengisi langit malam;
bersolat berimamkan guru
yang menunjuk jalan tareq Rasul junjungan.

Ya Rasulullah,
Tunjukilah kami dalam beriman dengan ayat-ayat Tuhan;
Ya Rasulullah,
Kami mohon berteduh dibawah panji mu
dunya wal akhirah.

Semoga...
damai jiwa...
di halaman Hiraq
berkekalan...
selama kami berkelana
di halaman Tuhan.
_______________________________________

p/s

My apologies to our English-speaking readers. I'll translate this in the near future, InshaAllah.