Overnight in Jerusalem.

It was planned for a three (3) day visit to Jerusalem. Circumstances forced the group organized by Almukminin Travel & Tours, to be in Jerusalem only for twenty seven (27) hours. The restriction due to reasons unknown, threw the program and the itinerary haywire. Whatever we complied most of the itinerary in Amman. Those who get to enter Palestine visited the significant Islamic Holy sites in Jerusalem. In the entourage, there were five (5) of Zuhud Holiday from Kuantan and eighteen (18) of Suffah Travel from Perlis. The most senior was Hajjah Normah at 71 and the youngest, Nur Aliah of 6+. Inclusively, there were five (5) minors in the group.

26 May 2014: All twenty four (24) including yours truly were punctual at KLIA for outbound flight to Bangkok and Amman vides Royal Jordanian Airline. Al Aqsa was in the mind.

27 May 2014: Safely landed at about 0530 hrs at Queen Alia Airport Amman and met by Local Representative who handled all the arrival formalities. We were first ushered for breakfast at Abu Zagleigh Restaurant and all were in cheerful mood anticipating for Palestine. It took a twist when we were suddenly informed that visas to Palestine was pending and would be issued at any moment.

Meantime we were taken on a tour of Shahibul Khafi - the Cave of the Seven Sleepers as narrated in the Holy Koran.

We then took a long drive to Dead Sea Souvenir Shop, outskirt of Amman near to the Jordan/ Palestine border and told to wait. Meantime some were loitering around for a good bargain. It was midday and no news about the visa approval.

The Jemaah were getting restless. It was zohor and we all adjourned to the nearby Mosque and performed our solat fardhu zohor and jamak taqdim of asar.

We were then driven all the way to Amman Beach Tourism Resort for lunch and sightseeing of the Dead Sea by the beach frontage. It was their first time seeing the astonishing Dead Sea.

The bus then cruised through the narrow barren rocky mountainous valleys, for us to visit Makam Nabi Shuaib.

It was already evening and indication of Palestine visa approval went hopeless. Definitely the Office had closed for the day. The entourage was driven back to downtown Amman and checked in into RUM Hotel. The narrow mountain road from Makam Nabi Shuaib to downtown Amman was hair raising scary. A slip would be a disaster plunging into the deep ravine below. I requested to meet the Boss of the Local Travel Agency for explanation but he failed to turn up during the night. Over dinner, the jemaah were getting skeptical and questioned why they were flown to Amman when visas were not certified approved. I could not explain further as I had no clue to the cause of the debacle.

It was a night rest at RUM Hotel but a restless night for me and started figuring out alternatives.

28 May 2014: Breakfast at the Hotel. The Boss of the local Travel Agency turned up at the Hotel Lobby and personally requested him to brief the current situation. The Leader of Zuhud Holiday and Suffah Travel were in attendance as I wanted them to hear from the horse’s mouth. The Boss promised that visas would be in order by today, at anytime it would be issued. The three (3) possible reasons given:

1)      The Pope was just visiting Jerusalem.

2)      A weeklong Jewish celebration.

3)      The sudden influx of Muslims requesting to visit Jerusalem.

In the meantime he personally arranged for the Tourist Guide to take us on a City Tour and a visit to Makam Abdul Rahman Auf. (These were not in the itinerary).

Past morning, we were then driven to the Dead Sea Souvenir Shop again and pleaded to wait. It was getting midday and everybody getting restless and despaired. I was the target, I too was helpless and unable to justify and I kept on pestering the Local Tour Guide for latest updates.

Zohor time – everybody performed their prayers at the Shop’s Prayer Room. I performed my prayer alone, prayed hard and soon as I completed, news came that visas was approved BUT nine (9) was rejected. Anger and disappointment flared. There was nothing I could do, the very least to calm the situation and accept fate as it was. Qadar and Qadak. Human planned but Allah decides. 

I briefed the fifteen (15) that visas approved, to travel light as we were going to Jerusalem for only an overnight stay. The rest of the luggage was arranged to be stored at the Souvenir Shop. For the nine (9), I instructed the Travel Agency to accommodate them at a Hotel in downtown Amman equipped with Swimming Pool. Four (4) children were visas rejected.

The bus drove us to the Jordan/ Palestine border and immigration formalities at the Jordan border were handled by the Tourist Guide. I was fortunate to rendezvous with Sergeant Amar, member of Amman Police Tourist Forces who accompanied me to Petra in January 2014. He could still recognize me and we exchanged greetings. Once the Jordan border formalities were all in order, the Bus Driver drove us to the border crossings. We were all alone as the Amman Tourist Guide could not accompany us. I briefed all the fifteen (15) Jemaah destined for Palestine with me in the bus, what to expect and what not to do during the border crossings. We were passing through Israeli security zone.

The Bus soon crossed King Hussein Allenby Bridge and arrived at Palestine Immigration check point. The Immigration check point is being manned by Israeli personnel. All alighted and the bus returned to Jordan. The first counter was checking the individual passport legitimacy.

The second checkpoint was security check through the scanner and metal detector. All hand carry bag passed through except one belonging to an eight (8) year old kid, Farhan bin Khalid Hameed. He did not pick up his hand carry and the hand carry was detained for 100% security check. Half an hour delay here after the hand carry was officially and visually ransacked and finally cleared.

I then lead the entourage to the third counter for Immigration clearance. We were all instructed to sit down and wait as our names did not appear at the Immigration counter electronic data system (EDS). My name was taken as reference and referred to the Check Point Main Office for verification and confirmation. I cursed the Amman Tourist Guide for not giving me a copy of the Visa approval that could facilitate matters. After about two (2) hours of waiting, finally a Lady immigration Officer came waving that Malaysians visas were in order. What a relief and we were all issued with a credit card size pass. We were now authorized to enter Palestine (Israel? depend what country you want to term it).

The final counter was to check the Passports and the Israelis issued Passes. We were now cleared and out of the Immigration Complex where the Palestinian side Tourist Guide had long been waiting. I was the last in the line and my Pass indicated it was issued at 1705 hrs, valid until 04 June 2014.

We boarded the Palestinian side bus and were crying out for lunch. We headed straight to Jericho and had our lunch at 1730 hrs at Temptation Restaurant. Another bad news – all roads surrounding Old City was closed and we therefore could not head for Jerusalem right away. In order to kill time, we detoured to foothill of Temptation Hill, where Satan coaxed Nabi Isa thrice. It was closed to dusk and we headed for Jerusalem, stopping at Makam & Masjid Nabi Musa. We performed our solat fardhu Maghreeb and jamak taqdim here. As this Mosque is under populated, our own Haji Nasir became the Imam.

We drove at moderate speed to Jerusalem, ascending from negative sea level to normal sea levels and above towards Jerusalem. We saw the scenic lighted Jewish New Settlements high above the hills along the way. Upon reaching Jerusalem, the road to the Hotel was still barricaded. The Tourist Guide alighted and negotiated with the Israeli Security Forces. We were allowed through and checked into New Metropole Hotel, a stone throw from the Old City by Herod Gate. I noticed Herod Gate was strongly guarded and no way could we enter the Old City for Al Aqsa Mosque anytime tonight. We were advised not to do so, for safety reasons. It seems Old City was Out of Bound to any visitors for the whole day due to some Jewish celebrations.

Those who were still hungry had their dinner and then all adjourned to their respective rooms and hit the sack. It was a long frustrating day. The next day would be another very long day. What was important, the fifteen (15) of us were now in Jerusalem. We make it after all the waiting and waiting at the immigration Check Point. I sympathized with those nine (9) who could not make it but it was far beyond my control. Almukminin Travel had ventured into Jerusalem several times before and there was not a single case of rejection. This was my second trip to Jerusalem; the latest was in January 2014. I slept well and set the alarm at 0330 hrs to be awakened in the wee morning.

29 May 2014: At 0400 hrs, I lead the entourage to the Old City vides Herod Gate. Subuh prayer would be at 0435 hrs. We threaded along the dim lighted narrow alley via Herod Street, Lion Street and Zion Street towards Quba Shakra and Al Aqsa Mosque.  Reaching Herod Street and Lion Street intersection, Hajjah Rushani signaled that she could not proceed any further as her knees were troubling her.  I told her to rest, stay put and told her grandson to accompany the Grandma. With Haji Fadzil, we hurriedly make our way to Al Aqsa Mosque to perform our subuh prayer. Soon completion, I had the opportunity to meet the Mosque Imam No 1 and he still could remember the last I met him in January 2014. He was glad I could make a return journey. We could not stay longer as we quickly had to back track to meet Hajjah Rushani where we left her with her grandson. Since she could not take a step further, the only solution was to take her back to the Hotel by taxi. I quickly make an exit out of the Old City and hailed a taxi. By grace of Allah, the Taxi Driver was willing to assist and I directed the Driver to drive into the Old City. Alhamdullillah, my direction was spot on and we hauled Hajjah Rushani into the taxi. We reached the Hotel and the Taxi Driver did not want any fee. Miracle did happened and a manifestation of Al Aqsa Mosque. I conveyed my shukran to the Driver, shook his hand and raised my hand in doa, May Allah bless him. The young Palestinian Taxi Driver went on with his normal life and Allah was watching.

Breakfast was at the Hotel Dining. The program for the day would commence at 0830 hrs. The Palestinian Travel Agency Boss suddenly appeared to meet us. We confronted him requesting to reasons of the visa approval being delayed and the reasons behind the nine (9) that was rejected. The answer was simple: Everything is the prerogative of the Israel Ministry of Interior and everything is under their jurisdiction. No reasons would be given. He reckoned the sudden influx of Muslims wanting to visit Palestine could be one of the contributing factors. The Interior Ministry could reject anyone without explanation given. All must understand that we were all in occupied territories.

We were told to check out and put our luggage at the Hotel Lobby where the Bus would pick up later. Hurriedly, I accidentally left behind my electrical adapter and hand phone battery charger in the room.

Due to Hajjah Rushani handicap, special arrangement was made to transfer all of us by VIP Coach to Al Aqsa Complex via a wheel chair trail vide Damascus Gate. We got a wheel chair at the gate entrance for Hajjah Rushani and our first itinerary for the day was to visit Quba Shakra. It was at Quba Shakra that the Holy Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) made his journey of mikhraj. We prayed all the sunat prayers at the main Prayer Hall and inside the small cave at the middle of Quba Shakra.

A group photo session with the background of Quba Shakra and Al Aqsa Mosque followed.

The next visit was Sulaiman Mosque which is underground of Al Aqsa Mosque. The Tour Guide briefed all of us the history of all the places that we visited.

Finally it was the Al Aqsa Mosque. We were directed to stay put in the Mosque until zohor prayer. After some sunat prayers, I decided to venture alone within the Complex. The difference noticed, this time around, there were several Israel security Forces patrolling within the complex. Unlike during my last visit in January 2014, they were not seen around the Complex even during Friday prayers. There was something peculiar brewing around which I surely did not bother. I kept my distance and avoided crowd. I must stay out of potential trouble. I came to Al Aqsa, merely to pray. Politics – from the eyes, kept it in my heart and shut my mouth.

We make our exit vide Golden Gate and adjourned for lunch at Petra Garden Restaurant. The final destination in Palestine was Hebron, 40 kilometer away from Jerusalem.

It was fortunate that the bus was equipped with wifi and I could communicate with the Office back home and update the events as it developed.

  

Hebron – first stop was a Palestinian Souvenir Shop and the Jemaah could buy handicrafts produced by the Palestinian settlers. We finally ended at Ibrahimi Mosque. We went into the prayer hall and visited Makam Nabi Ibrahim and wife Sarah and their children and wife. For the first timer it was a shocked to the Jemaah to eyewitness a Mosque divided into a Mosque and a Synagogue. It is the result of political and religious conflict between Islam and Jews. For Allah had permitted them to enter Ibrahimi Mosque to eyewitness the consequences of political and religious ideologies conflict. It was a message within one self.

The most horrifying site at this Mosque was the small Palestinian children loitering, hassling and begging for money from the visitors. It was scary as they physically abused the visitors to attract attention. What shocked me, they stood in front of the bus way preventing the bus to drive on. Fright to them is nothing. Death to them is normal and a daily affair. They were cordoned to their own world where they could not step out from their high walled settlement. Jerusalem is so near but yet so far to them. Life is hard for them and the world ignores their plea for total freedom and free movement. Only time will tell. We are fortunate to live in Malaysia.

It was evening and we had to make it to the border. We passed through Amman and saw Al Aqsa Complex for the very last time. Reached the border at about 1830 hrs and it was the last Tourist bus within the Complex. At the Immigration, Haji Mat Nor, Haji Fadzil and Haji Mat Nasir was detained for no reasons and requested to wait until they gave the green light to pass through Immigration. Meantime the passports were under their custody. The rest passed through and boarded the waiting Bus. I comfortably went through by picking up conversation with the Lady Israeli Immigration Officer. Probably my greetings soften her heart. She asked me whether a day in Jerusalem was enough and I politely told her it wasn’t but I had to catch a flight home tonight. Finally at 2015 hrs, the three Hajis were released to my relief and off we headed for the Jordan border. Good bye Palestine. I shall return insyaalah.

At the Jordan border, we felt much safer, the immigration formalities was swift, all handled by the Amman Tourist Guide. We rendezvous with the nine (9) that was rejected entry into Palestine and next stop was Dead Sea Souvenir Shop to pick up the left behind luggage.

The Bus sped ascending the Jordan valley to Amman and we were checked in into Arena Hotel for dinner, solat and refreshed.

Time was short. We headed for Queen Alia Airport at 2330 hrs.

30 May 2014: The Airport Officer of the Travel Agency was present and he handed the manifest to me to check in the passengers bound for Bangkok/ Kuala Lumpur. Meanwhile he was checking in four (4) passengers of Zuhud Holidays bound for Jeddah Saudi Arabia. Problem arises when the Royal Jordan check in counter requested for out bound ticket when in actual facts, the names were all ready in the Royal Jordan electronic data system (EDS). He was lazy to check from the system of the three (3) missing names. Unfortunately the tickets were not inserted in the profile with me. That upset the Father of the two (2) missing name kids and the Grandfather whose Grandson’s name was also missing. Apparently, both the Father and the Grandfather was refused visa to Palestine. They furiously got mad stating that umrah was no go, Palestine no visa and now to go back was also difficult. Who do they think we are? We are not Haprak. I kept my cool as I was the Leader of this entourage but deep inside, I was boiling. That was one of the rarest occasions where I could hold on to my temper. I showed the Father, the Airline Manifest given to me and he commented that it was just like an application for free text book. I don’t actually understand the fuss; the names were all in the EDS, all boarding tickets finally issued and all boarded the plane. They were just trying to find a punching bag.

I kept my distance from there on, remained alone to myself during the whole flight to KLIA. Upon arrival at KLIA, picked my luggage and off I went out from the Airport Terminal to be picked up by my friend. I have no time even to say goodbye to them. It was mere disgusting. I did my best, render assistance at all circumstances and not thanking me was still acceptable but I hate nasty comments. Even the Palestinian Bus Driver was also pissed off when the small kid, Farhan peed in the bus. The bus had to lay off by the highway for housekeeping. It was embarrassing.

Note: When I have Muslims with me who do not believe in “Qadar” and “Qadak”, I was flabbergasted. There must be reasons or hikmah why Allah barred them from stepping in into Al Aqsa, as simple as that. Commenting, do not drag Allah when the Israel Interior Minstry did not issue them the visa was difficult for me to swallow.

The last trip to Jerusalem on January 2014 - we had two (2) Datok, Mak Datin, young Millionaire, Engineers, Lecturers, Broadcasters, Medical Officials, Government Officers, Educationists, Retirees and prominent Businessmen. We ventured even as far as Haifa, Tel Aviv, Jaffa and Petra without any hiccups or nasty comments. All went well and bonded new friendship thereafter.