American Bedu

I had the opportunity to speak with a Saudi man who is now in his mid-50’s.  He kindly shared one of his earliest hajj experiences from when he was seven years old.  Although his first Hajj was when he was six weeks old, naturally he does not remember the details of that one, but the Hajj when he was seven years old stands out in his memory as one he will never forget for a number of reasons.

It began when extended family from Riyadh arrived to his family home in Makkah.  His Grandfather drove from Riyadh in his brand new olive green pickup truck.  It was the first time for this seven year old boy to see such a vehicle.  He was mesmerized by its size, its color and its newness.  While the family prepared for their Hajj in getting things together which would be loaded into the cab of the pick up truck, he climbed into the cab while no one was watching.

Because this was a large family, several vehicles would be driven to Hajj but all the supplies such as tents, cooking utensils, food and clothing were to be loaded in the back of the pickup.  The young boy remembers seeing the largest crate of tomatoes he’d ever seen being placed behind the truck.  These tomatoes were to be the baseline of all the Saudi meals.  They were set behind the truck for one of the Uncle’s said they needed to be loaded last in order to not get crushed or damaged in any way.

As the truck was being loaded with supplies the eldest member of the entourage, Great Grandmother, was positioned in her wheelchair slightly behind and to the rear of the truck.  Due to her age and standing in the family she would naturally ride in the front seat beside her son (the Grandfather).

The young boy was like any curious seven year old boy of his age.  He enjoyed sniffing in the newness of the truck as he looked at all the differing dials and gear shift.  Although he does not recollect doing so, somehow the truck was shifted into neutral.   And, to his horror, it began moving ever so slowly backwards.  An Uncle was the first to notice the moving truck.  In horror he dropped the utensils he was carrying and shouted to the rest of the family “the truck, it’s moving….”  Grandfather glanced up from what he was doing and his mouth dropped open in shock.  He yelled “Nabil, come quickly…the truck…it is moving.”  For you see, during these times, it was more common to engage a driver and neither Grandfather nor the Uncle knew how to operate the truck.  In the meantime the Uncle was yelling “the tomatoes…the tomatoes…the truck is going to roll over the tomatoes” and Grandfather was scurrying to save his mother from being struck by the rolling truck which was steadily gaining momentum.

Thankfully Nabil came running and jumped in to the truck.  He quickly pushed the young boy to the opposite side of the cab and stopped the truck.  He exited the truck holding firmly onto the arm of the young boy.  “YOU!” his Grandfather exclaimed.  “What were you doing inside the truck as we are preparing for Hajj?”  The young boy was so small that no one had been aware even when the truck was moving that it was occupied.  Without attempting to answer any questions, the young boy ran inside the house to his mother.

The family counted their blessings that a catastrophe was averted and continued their preparations for Hajj.

Back in those days, in the 1950’s Hajj was quite a different experience than today.  A family had to take their own tents and set them up in Mina.   Separate tents were set up for men and women.  And at least with this particular family, the tradition was that during Hajj the men would do all the cooking while the women were given an enjoyable break.  However due to the traditional practices of segregation the adult men could not serve the women.  Therefore the young boy was relegated to the task of serving the women.  He would bring them their food and tea.  Anytime they needed something, he was summoned to assist them.

Their Hajj party was made up of more than 25 family members.  It was a memory the Saudi man has never forgotten.  Neither has the rest of his Saudi family!

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