أنا من تراب وماء، خذوا حذركم أيها السابلة، خطاكم على جثتي نازلة ، وصمتي سخاء ، لأن التراب صميم البقاء ، وأن الخطى زائلة ؛ ولكن إذا ما حبستم بصدري الهواء ، سلوا الأرض عن مبدأ الزلزلة ، سلوا عن جنوني ضمير الشتاء ، أنا الغيمة المثقلة ، إذا أجهشت بالبكاء ، فإن الصواعق في دمعها مرسلة

For Daghestani pilgrims Amman is now an established route

كتبهاسارة القضاة ، في 14 تشرين الثاني 2006 الساعة: 15:40 م

By Sara Al Qudah, Special to the Star JORDAN (Star) - In my heart exists a little compass, its arrow pointing steadily to Mecca. My mind didn’t realize it at first, but it knows now, for it has learned to look inward at last."

That’s what pilgrims traversing the plains from Daghestan to Mecca feel deep inside their hearts.

Going to Hajj costs a lot of money and effort; by trading ‘en route’ they manage to earn some money to pay for the trip and save the rest for their poor families.

Daghestan is one of the Islamic republics in the Russian Federation. About 2,800,000 Daghestani Muslims live in the capital Makhachkala and in nearby cities. Daghestanis have suffered from wars, and now being economically poor, they are still suffering.

"Lack of jobs and money forced us to go around the world selling and trading goods," Abdel Rahman says. He started his journey 12 years ago. Since then, he never stopped. Every year he packs his fine carpets and goods then finds a good seat on a bus filled with other Daghestani pilgrims.

The bus rolls to Azerbaijan then Iran, Iraq and stops in Jordan. "After seven days in a bus, we stop for a while in Amman to rest and then continue our trip to Mecca for the Hajj. It’s a hard trip but Hajj is very important to us." "This trip," he says, "costs more than JD 2500 every year." After the Hajj ends, the pilgrims collect their new and old goods to go back to Amman.

"We choose Amman because it’s on the route to the Caucuses."

Here in Jordan we find help," he says.

Reflecting on 1988 Abdel Rahman recalled the experience when he visited an exhibition in Marj Al Hamam under the patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Ali. "Prince Ali took good care of us, sending us food every day and making sure we are comfortable." He believes making the trip has become traditional. "The trip costs us a lot and sometimes it is just not worth it in terms of expense, but regardless, this tradition is now established and a good way to visit Mecca on an annual basis."

Every year they make their way from the Hajj to Amman, staying here for about 10 days, displaying their products and commodities, mostly in Marj Al Hamam. After that, they head back to their homes passing through Syria, Turkey and other countries. Some waiting for their next trip, others going to other parts of the world.

They live a nomadic life traveling wherever their search for livelihood leads them. No place is too far for their dreams, as they embark on following the direction of their compass.

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