As the twenty-seventh night approaches, which may be the Night of Power, and its coincidence with the blessed Friday night, I fear for myself and my brothers the deprivation. Deprivation... I have tasted its bitter taste one day. It was twelve years ago during my studies in the United States. Obtaining a Hajj visa from there was easy, so I told myself: (I will go and "drop" the Hajj obligation from myself so that I can "rest" from sin for the rest of my life). This was what preoccupied me the most! To drop the obligation from myself and not feel guilty about delaying it. I did not realize at the time that this is a great honor of obedience if Allah allows me to reach His sacred house, then I should strive to excel in ways of approaching Him, glorified be He, and feel the pleasure of worship... This was not what drove me. Therefore, when I went to an Egyptian friend who had a travel agency, I told him: (Book me the last flight and make the return as soon as possible). He said to me: (Why, my friend? You are not old. Go and worship and take your ease, this is the journey of a lifetime). I replied that I was busy with my research in my field and my time was limited, so I wanted to complete the "mission" in the shortest time. I obtained a visa from the Saudi consulate and booked for the "last journey" and headed to the airport. I took off from Houston to Paris. Then came the turn of the plane heading to the Two Holy Mosques. When I arrived at the counter where passports are checked and permission is given to board the plane, the employee surprised me by saying: (I am sorry, you are late. The last flight you are allowed to board for Hajj purposes departed hours ago)! I told him: (But I have a visa from the consulate!! I have a booking!) He said: (I don't know. The important thing is that you are not allowed to board the plane). In the midst of my astonishment, I saw people wearing Ihram clothes heading to the plane. I asked the employee: (Why are they allowed to go for Hajj?) It turned out that these people had an exception because they were invited by a royal invitation as minorities in South America, as I recall. Deprivation!! It is the feeling I felt when I saw these people wearing Ihram clothes and their faces beaming as they headed for Hajj, while I would return from where I came, Allah did not allow me to attain the honor they attained. I realized my mistake at the time and the reason for my deprivation: I treated Hajj as an obligation to drop to avoid the burden and rest! Not as a great honor I long for and call my Lord for it to quench the thirst of the soul and attain the dignity of obedience. I cried on the way back from the bitterness of deprivation. Two years after this incident, I had returned to Jordan, where Hajj was almost impossible without a "connection" or special reasons for those of my age, such as being a bus driver or a guide. Nevertheless, I turned to Allah with supplication that He "permit" me to perform Hajj. And the Most Generous, glorified be He, responded without a connection or special considerations! And I performed Hajj by the grace of Allah the Almighty. My beloved, let us approach what remains of Ramadan with the mentality of one who strives for closeness and fears deprivation... fears that he will see people crying, supplicating, standing, prostrating, and humbling themselves while he is veiled from his Lord, the Most Generous... We fear that the supplication of Jibril, which the Prophet, peace be upon him, confirmed, will befall us: (Far be it from the one who reaches Ramadan and is not forgiven). O Allah, guide us to righteous work that brings us closer to You and do not make us of the deprived.