Hamdah Book Three Complete Hausa Novel

Hamdah Book Three continues Hamdah's story in Saudi Arabia as the Hajj season begins. Surrounded by millions of Muslims, Hamdah spends her days in worship while building a close relationship with Ukhtee, Mammaa and the people around her. As the time to return to Nigeria approaches, an unexpected decision changes her travel plans.

The Hajj Season Begins

After some time, the Hajj season drew near.

Those intending to perform Hajj had already started preparing for the sacred journey. Before long, Saudi Arabia became crowded with Muslims who had travelled from different parts of the world to perform the pilgrimage.

We hardly had time to sit around anymore. Every day, we were either going somewhere to worship Allah or returning from an act of worship.

Day and night, Bappa encouraged me to make the most of the opportunity.

Sometimes I went out with Naseem and Nasmah, while at other times I left them with Mammaa, the mother of Ukhtee, the close friend I had made during my stay in Saudi Arabia.

Ukhtee came from a highly respected family with ties to the Saudi royal family, and the two of us had grown very close.

Mammaa was suffering from a problem with her leg, so she was unable to move around with us freely during that year's Hajj activities.

According to her, she preferred to wait until the period when worship became more intense. By then, Abdul Malik, Ukhtee's elder brother who was studying at a university in Madinah, would return and take her to the places of worship using a wheelchair.

Thankfully, caring for Naseem and Nasmah had also become much easier for me.

I had already weaned them, and they could eat ordinary food. They had also become very comfortable around Mammaa.

Because of that, whenever we needed to go out, I did not always have to take them along with me.

Completing the Hajj Rites

By the permission, mercy and greatness of Allah, the Hajj rites for that year were successfully completed in peace.

Alhamdulillah.

Soon afterward, pilgrims began returning to their respective countries.

We also started making preparations for our journey back home to Nigeria.

Preparing to Return to Nigeria

Our flight was scheduled to depart the following day.

From early morning, people from different parts of the community kept coming to say goodbye to us.

Almost everyone who visited made it clear that they did not want us to leave.

Some showed their feelings through the sadness on their faces, while others openly told us that they wished we would stay longer.

Ukhtee and Mammaa had been with us in our section of the house since early that morning.

They strongly insisted that Bappa should leave me behind in Saudi Arabia.

In fact, almost everyone supported the same idea. They told Bappa that he could return to Nigeria while I remained with them for some time and travelled home later.

At first, I only laughed whenever they brought up the idea.

But after some time, I stopped finding it funny.

My heart became heavy when I saw how seriously Ukhtee was crying.

She held Nasmah tightly in her arms and repeatedly said that she did not want me to leave.

Bappa watched them in amazement.

He seemed deeply surprised by the sincere love these people had developed for me and my children.

Mahmoud Calls Bappa With Important News

While everyone was still talking, Bappa received a phone call from Mahmoud.

During the conversation, Mahmoud informed him that he had received information from the president of our country that work had already begun on all the projects I had listed.

He explained that, Insha Allah, the projects would not take too long to complete.

Bappa wished them success before ending the call.

When Bappa later told me what Mahmoud had said, I was extremely surprised.

Even then, everything still felt unreal to me.

I kept thinking of it as something almost impossible, as though it were only a dream or a joke that could never truly happen.

Hamdah Becomes Popular Among the Saudi Community

Bappa turned his attention back to the people gathered in the sitting room.

One thing he had noticed during our stay was how warmly the people welcomed visitors, especially among certain communities.

Whenever someone became respected or well known among them, people showed that person extraordinary hospitality and affection.

Hardly a day passed without people coming to see me.

Some travelled from different neighbourhoods, while others came from smaller towns and communities outside the city.

I had gradually become someone people wanted to meet, talk about and spend time with.

Many of them also loved taking photographs with me, Naseem and Nasmah.

Bappa sighed as he listened to everyone in the sitting room repeating the same request:

They wanted him to leave me behind in Saudi Arabia.

Bappa Agrees to Let Hamdah Stay in Saudi Arabia

Eventually, Bappa had little choice but to agree.

It was not necessarily what he had originally wanted, but he accepted their request on one condition: they would personally arrange for me to travel back to Nigeria by air after a few days.

The moment he agreed, Ukhtee screamed with happiness.

She threw her arms around me and began kissing me excitedly.

The entire sitting room erupted in celebration.

Everyone was delighted that I would be staying with them a little longer.

Bappa Leaves for Nigeria

The following morning, at around 4:00 a.m., Bappa's flight departed for our homeland, Nigeria.

Before leaving, he spent a long time advising me.

His words were serious, emotional and deeply touching.

He reminded me of important things I needed to keep in mind while remaining behind and encouraged me to continue behaving responsibly.

After Bappa returned to Nigeria, we spoke on the phone almost every day using Ukhtee's phone.

I also had opportunities to speak with Inna Wuro and the rest of the family back home.

Life in Saudi Arabia After Hajj

Alhamdulillah, I had nothing to complain about regarding my stay in Saudi Arabia.

The care, affection and hospitality I received were beyond what I could properly describe.

As for the way they cared for me and my children, Naseem and Nasmah, there was hardly anything more I could have asked for.

They treated us with genuine kindness and made us feel completely at home despite being far away from Nigeria.