Dubai: He was starving, sleep-deprived, exhausted, parched but also incredibly happy — because he was exactly where he wanted to be. On the night of January 30, between 10pm and 11pm, Jalal Bin Thaneya was in the Masjid Al Haram in Makkah.
He had tried to drink water a little earlier, but he could barely hold down a few gulps. He tried eating a cereal bar to recharge his energy, but his body refused the food. As he entered the mosque, his body, mind and spirit, he says, seemed to want little outside help. It was as though merely being in the presence of God had made him impervious to even the bare necessities.
He performed his Umrah in a state of deep emotion, supplicating in gratitude for everything he had been gifted with. For this moment, he had walked long and hard, through days and nights, over sand and rocks, through wind and haze, heat and cold, hunger and self-deprivation.
Self-confidence
And here he was, in the holiest of holy places, amidst thousands of other pilgrims, undertaking each ritual of Umrah with a radiant heart, a humble mind and an unfettered body. Overcome by the experience, Bin Thaneya broke down and cried.
It was, according to him, a miracle.
"This experience has given me a different understanding of myself. When I set off on the walk, I thought I was capable but now I am confident," he said. Self-confidence and the belief in one's ability to make a difference in this world, he says, are crucial. Not just for him but for everyone.
As life has it, transient circumstances can deflect your focus along the journey. Look what happened to him: Only a few hours before this, as he neared Makkah, the 50 days of walking were culminating in a disorienting feeling like he had just left an "operation theatre".
Physical fatigue and mental alertness on permanent auto-pilot had taken their toll on him. He couldn't wear sunglasses, he was walking in Ihram and the distance was playing tricks. "It was extremely painful, the last stretch."
His body was running on minimal instinct and his mind was taut with anticipation. But the moment he began his Umrah, the chimera of circumstance vanished like mist on a sunny morning. Such, says Bin Thaneya, is the power of belief.
Back-up man
Yesterday afternoon, the momentous mission having been successfully accomplished, Bin Thaneya set off with Yahya Al Hooti, his back-up man, in their vehicle for the UAE.
As he journeys back to the UAE, this time in a car, he can afford to sit back, relax and ruminate on an accomplishment that can, unarguably, be termed extraordinary.
How to donate
Jalal Bin Thaneya's purpose of undertaking this walk was to raise awareness of the Dubai Centre for Special Needs' activities and efforts. Every individual who reads his story, Bin Thaneya hopes, will come forward to do his or her bit for children with special needs.
On his part, Bin Thaneya sported the centre's logo on his jacket as he walked. He has also provided the link to the Centre's website on his own site. He also tweeted about the centre's activities and goals.
For readers who followed Bin Thaneya's journey and wish to support his cause, log on to Dubai Centre for Special Needs (DCSN) website, http://www.dcsneeds.ae/index.htm to know more about what it does.
You can also call up the centre for more information on how you can volunteer or donate.
