I had the privilege of performing Umrah (Lesser Hajj) at the end of 2021, and without a doubt, it was the highlight of my year. I was especially excited to be going with my mum. The timing felt perfect—it was exactly what I needed. For months, I had felt stuck and spent a lot of time talking to Allah, patiently waiting for a response. To be able to speak to Him in the holy mosque felt surreal, and I couldn’t contain my excitement.
Before the Trip
Several roadblocks nearly prevented me from going on this trip. Things have never really come easy for me, so I wasn’t entirely surprised. However, as conscious Muslims, we believe everything happens by Allah’s plan, so when our visas weren’t ready on time, we accepted it as a test of faith.
We were all packed, one leg in, one leg out, waiting for news. At the same time, we were prepared for rejection or the possibility that our visas wouldn’t arrive before my passport expired. We prayed, accepted whatever came our way, and left it to Allah.
Fortunately, we didn’t have to wait long. Our visas came through, and a few days later, we rebooked our tickets. Alhamdulillah.
The Trip
The flight to Saudi Arabia went smoothly. We had a layover in Qatar before arriving at Jeddah International Airport the next morning. From there, we boarded an air-conditioned coach for a four-hour journey to Madinah. Depending on how your trip is arranged, you may go straight to Makkah to perform Umrah or, like us, visit Madinah first and then head to Makkah.
I was far too excited to sleep during the drive, marveling at the fact that I was finally in a place I had dreamt about for so long.
My Madinah Experience
We arrived in Madinah, sleep-deprived but just in time for Salat Subh. After dropping off our bags, we headed straight to Masjid an-Nabawi.
Since we performed Umrah when Saudi Arabia had just started relaxing restrictions, there were still many safety measures in place. One such measure required showing our visas before entering the mosque and booking visits to key sites, like Rawdah and the Ka’bah, through the Tawakkalna and Eatmarna apps.
The moment I entered the mosque for the first time, I couldn’t stop smiling. My first Salat in Masjid an-Nabawi was as beautiful as I had imagined. After Ishraq, it was time to leave, but of course, I couldn’t find my shoes! My mom had warned me that it could happen, but I didn’t listen.
Now that I think about it, it was such a hilarious experience because I had to walk back to the hotel in my socks. Cheers to whoever took it; I hope it serves you well. The shoe was a birthday gift from a friend, so two days into our stay in Madinah, I kept checking the racks unconsciously for signs that the person realized they had taken the wrong shoes and returned them. Unfortunately, they did not.
Our daily routine in Madinah was simple yet fulfilling: we’d wake up at 4 a.m. for Tahajjud, attend Subh, rest, and then head back for the other prayers. Our days in Madinah flew by, and when we found out our stay would be extended by one day, I was thrilled. Leaving Madinah was bittersweet, but the thought of going to Makkah made me excited for what was ahead.
We were blessed to visit some significant sites during our time in Madinah:
- Masjid Quba: The first mosque in Madinah. It’s said that praying two nafl prayers here is equivalent to performing Umrah.
- Mount Uhud: A sobering experience visiting the site where the battle of Uhud took place, where many Sahabah, including Hamza (RA), were martyred.
- Masjid Qiblatayn: Known as the mosque of two qiblas, where the direction of prayer was changed from Jerusalem to the Ka’bah during Salat Asr.
My Makkah Experience
The moment I saw the Ka’bah for the first time, I was overwhelmed with emotion. No words can describe the feeling. I didn’t feel worthy of standing in front of it, and though I knew I would cry, I didn’t expect the tears to flow so easily.
Performing Umrah
Performing Tawaf (circling the Ka’bah) and Sa’i (walking between Safa and Marwah) was exhausting yet fulfilling. The restrictions limited our movements a bit, but that didn’t dull the experience. We still managed to come back for more Tawaf in the following days.
Ziyarah in Makkah
Every day in Makkah felt like a whirlwind, running on less than five hours of sleep. We also took time to visit significant sites around Makkah, including Jabal Thawr, where the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) and Abu Bakr (RA) sought refuge during their migration to Madinah.
Final Thoughts
Writing about my Umrah experience has been one of the most difficult posts for me. Umrah is one of those spiritual journeys that words can never fully capture. I feel so grateful to have experienced it during a time when I was striving to become a better Muslim. My hope is to make Umrah an annual or biannual journey, Insha’Allah.
Reflecting on my time in the holy cities makes me smile and brings tears to my eyes. I feel truly blessed to have performed Umrah, and I hope that every Muslim is granted the opportunity to do the same.
May Allah make it possible for all of us. Ameen.
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