The first time he saw the Mount of Mercy (Jabal Al-Rahma), he could not help but cry out of joy and at the same time remember his wife and children who were killed by extremist group Boko Haram.
Muhammad Nafee, from Nigeria, traveled thousands of miles to perform Haj and came to Makkah seeking refuge from Boko Haram who cut his leg and tortured him and shot his wife and children dead for no specific reason except that they were ordinary Nigerians. Standing on the Mount of Mercy and hearing pilgrims say “Allah-o-Akbar” made him feel peaceful and forget completely the excruciating experience with Boko Haram. He stood there holding a crutch to lean on.
“I was full of sorrow because my family was killed needlessly. I had nightmares every night and lived a bitter life after my family was killed.
“My wife and children were the best thing that happened to me in my life and because of terrorism they are not here with me today. But I no longer feel sad standing here on the Mount of Mercy. I am enjoying the spirituality of it all,” he said.
Arafat to him is like part of the Paradise and he was completely engrossed in the experience. He prayed and supplicated to Allah that He grants his wife and children the reward of Paradise.
He is thankful that he was able to perform Haj despite all the difficulties that encountered him before embarking on the holy journey.
