I'm Back

Alhamdullilah I had safely arrived back home on 23 Ogos, 4.45pm. I was so happy n excited to see my cousins, brothers, sister n children at the airport.

I had a tremendous experience thru out my time in Madinah n Mekah which I will share it all in my next post.

Thank you so much to my dearest cousins (Kak Yan n Dhaniah) who took care of my children during my absence. And not to forget to the ‘big sisters’ – Faizah n Deea who had done a marvellous job to your little sister n brother. Last but not least to my dearest hubby – without u I will not be able to have my journey success.

I know that I can count on all of you. Love you all.

Madinah Al-Munawarrah

I departed from KLIA on 11August 15:30 n arrived Madinah at 01.30, 12August. Once arrived at the hotel we straight away had our dinner ( I supposed it was like sahur). Then had a short nap n went down to Masjid Nabawi to have our subuh prayer.

After breakfast I n Mak went back to the mosque to visit Raudhah. Salam to our Rasullulah S.A.W. As usual it was always packed n we had to squeeze in ourself to perform solat sunat at Raudhah. I guarded my mom while she performed the solat which at the same time people were non-stop pushing me from behind. But Alhamdullilah we managed to spend ample time there.

The next day we were brought to a tour around Madinah. We visited Masjid Quba which was the first Mosque built by Rasullulah S.A.W. Later then we went to Masjid Qiblatain which has two kiblat (one pointing to Baitulmaqdis n one to Masjidil Haram).

We then went to Jabal Uhud. Jabal Uhud was where the famous battle of Uhud was fought in the 3rd year of Hijrah. This was where Rasulullah's uncle Saidina Hamzah, who was killed and had his heart eaten by a woman named Hindun. He, together with all those who died in battle are buried at the foot of the hill.

Our last destination was the infamous Pasar Kurma. The long stretch of shops selling dates, nuts, raisins n chocolates. We didn’t actually go around all the shops there. The organizer asked us to go to ‘his’ special shops that most of all Malaysians n Indonesians went there and had a great discount.

The highest quality dates can only be found in Madinah which include Kurma Nabi. All of us in the groups end up bought kgs of various dates plus raisins, nuts n chocolates. We managed to get back to the hotel before zuhur.

The weather here in Madinah was very dry n hot. It was 48deg celcius. Alhamdullilah because of my experienced stay in Oman, I was fine n ok with the weather. In fact I was smiling thinking the moments of my stay in Oman n what I had been doing during this high deg season. Huh.. betul2 rindu bangat sampai panas mengelegak pun boleh senyum sorang2!

Except for Mak n other jemaah, they can’t stand the heat especially when the winds blow. It was so hot n dry. I always tell the people who asked me before how does it feels during the summer n I always said, you go down to the puduraya station n stand behind one of the running engine bus. Did you feel the heat blow on your face? Ha.. that’s how it feels with 48-50deg celcius climate here.

After Isyak we went again to visit Makam Rasullulah S.A.W for Ziarah Widaq as the next day after the subuh prayer all of us will be going to Mekah.

The Ziarah Widaq which is the final visit to say goodbye to Rasullullah S.A.W was the sad n touchy moment for me. A kind of feelings deep inside me that reminds me of how Rasullulah S.A.W the messenger of Allah struggle so hard to spread Islam. How he was so brave n determine to stand for Islam. And we as a Muslim should be proud for him.

I only had a chance to spend here for 3 days n I wish I could stay longer.

Makkah Al-Mukarammah

We departed from Madinah on 14August to Makkah after Subuh. We stopped by at Bir Ali for our miqad Umrah. It took 5 hours journey (by bus) from Madinah to our hotel in Mekah. We reached at the hotel around 1pm. We had our lunch n gathered back at 2.15pm to perform our first Umrah guided by the Mutawif.

We managed to finish our Umrah at 5.00pm as we had to stop after Tawaf for Saie after Asar prayer. The accomplished for the first Umrah was such a triumph to me. I hugged Mak with tears. It was an amazing feeling.

The weather here in Makkah was not as hot as in Madinah. The maximum was only 40deg celcius but it was very humid. Which I would prefer the climate in Madinah. Part of Masjidil Haram was under on going construction. They were in the processed of extending at the wing of Marwah.

I stayed at the hotel somewhere in Masjid Kuching. It took us 30 minutes to go to Masjidil Haram. We had to go thru the non-stop dusty constructions road. We then squashed ourselves to the only available entrance – the crowded Safa-Marwah.

At this particular time, people are getting more n more. Masjidil Haram was so packed n crowded. We went to the mosque n back to the hotel for every solat time (except Maghrib-Isyak) for an hour journey. We did this for 3 consecutive days until we found another entrance which was better, clearer n not crowded. It was Gate 45 Al-Fath.

The same dusty construction road, a bit further climbed up the hill but we were happy as it took us only 20 minutes. Fewer 10 minutes which was the time we spent squashing, squeezing ourselves thru the crowded Saie area to go to the solat area.

Every trip to the MAsjidil Haram was a trial for us. It’s not just the dusty road but the humid weather which we can feel the sweat running down plus a few times I almost stumbled down hitting the rocks.

Everybody was walking very fast using all the energy that we had to avoid the lorries, tractors n dust. Just imagine we all makcik-makcik with the telekung plus a few layers of dress underneath berpeluh terkedek-kedek jalan!

Alhamdullilah we are the woman with the strong endurance survived with this trial. I and others salute Mak (61 years old) for her strong willpower walking up n down the hill without failure. She sometimes even walked faster than us!

Ziarah Kota Makkah - 1st Trip

On the 4th day (17th August) of our stay in Makkah, we went around for a ziarah. We were being brought to Padang Arafah, Mudzalifah n Mina. We then went to Jabal Rahmah where this was the place Adam n Hawa met after being thrown out from the heaven.

People who come here especially who are still single always wish n pray for their life partner. As for me, I wish that my brother Boy will soon find one n get married. The place was crowded with camel n people selling stuffs. What I enjoyed most was the ice cream. So yummy..

By the way did I tell u that one of Malaysian celebrity was in our group? Hmm… from KLIA airport this people especially Makcik-Makcik were non stop taking picture with him. Except me ok.. I just took picture with him here in Jabal Rahmah.. Tu pun after dah takde org nak tangkap gambar dgn dia!! He is yezzzah… Jimmy Shanley.

Lastly we stopped by at Jaraana for our Miqad Umrah – our second Umrah. This time we did umrah by ourselves (without Mutawif). There were six of us – Me, Mak, Fauziah, Faizah, Kak Maz n Shasha. The same people who were always stick together.

Ziarah Kota Makkah - 2nd Trip

On the 6th day (19th August) we went around for the 2nd ziarah. We went to the camel farm. Here we witnessed the making of camel’s milk. I who never like to drink milk, was forced to have a sip of it. I took the challenge n surprisingly it tasted good n I didn’t throw out!

We then went to Hudaibiah to have our miqad for Umrah. At this particular time, the place for making the kelambu kaabah was closed n not opened for the public. So the organizer had make an appointment for us to visit the museum instead.

Our time was at 11.00am. They only allowed group by group to enter the museum. We waited for ½ hour before we could get in. The museum has lots of interesting historical items about Madinah n Makkah.

Regrettably we could only spend there till 12noon. The person in charged chased all of us with the reason it’s almost time for solat zuhur. We actually could be there till 12.30pm. Tapi dah kena halau dgn Pak Arab.. kena ah keluar..

We spent our last few days in Makkah by staying in Masjidil Haram. We performed our 4th final Umrah on the following day started from 2.00am n finished just rightly before subuh.

The place has getting crowded day by day. On the 22August our last day in Makkah, we performed Tawaf Widaq after solat Asar.

We then left Tanah Haram to Jeddah. The organizer brought us around the Jeddah city, Red Sea n had our maghrib/isyak prayer at Masjid Terapung.

We departed from Jeddah at 2.55am.

The Experience

My experience during this trip of Umrah was totally different from the previous one. The last time I went was with my hubby n children. The weather at that time was so pleasant. Masjidil Haram was not so crowded. Everything was seems so easy for all of us. The hotel in Makkah was just 3 minutes walk. The moment I stepped out from the hotel, I could see the Masjidil Haram.

But this time, it was like chalk n cheese. The weather was boiling hot n all the time we were draining with sweat. My hotel in Makkah was 20 minutes walk. Our journey to the Masjidil Haram was always being accompanied with the winds of dust, lorry, and tractors. Our white telekung has turned to grey colour.

But Alhamdullilah all of this didn’t make me stop going to the mosque. It even made me more determined n energized. The feelings of prayed n looked at the kaabah were such a dramatic n amazing moments. It was an experience that I will never forget in my life.

I didn’t encounter any difficulties or trials while performing Umrah. Except this time it was a mixed up kinds of feelings, emotions that I had because I was there alone. Alone without my hubby. 3 days before leaving for Umrah, I was having a doubts n fears of whether I was making a right decision going there without him.

Thinking of leaving my children for quite sometimes which I never done it before n all sorts of fears n worries played on my mind – what if anything happen n I am not around? I guessed Allah wanted to test me. I did lots of solat hajat, taubat n isthikharah n talked to my hubby n finally I had a clear mind on the next day.

Allah had pre arranged everything nice n smooth journey for me. I had my cousins who were willing to come down from Kedah to take care of my house n children. My children had no problems with them. During my absence, the two little ones seem not to notice so much of my disappearance.

I didn’t actually have worried about them while in Madinah n Makkah. Alhamdullilah my health was superb while some were having cough n flu. And most of all my bonding between me n my mother in law has became stronger. We enjoyed every single moment there n love the company of our usual colleagues. The food was so good till we complaint that all the dress we brought couldn’t fit anymore. I was so excited to eat shawarma with my favourite diet pepsi n rani juices.

The last few days of my stay, I have started missing my children. There was one night I couldn’t sleep, cried thinking about them. The next day during asar, there was one lady came to me n asked me to look after her child as she wanted to perform tawaf sunat. I asked whether she will be long as I’m afraid the child will woke up from sleep n cry. She said it will be quick n before I could say anything she had quickly gone.

I who at first didn’t bother to look at the child when the mom was talking to me was so surprised to see the child who was sleeping looked exactly like Hakeem, except he was a bit skinny. Ya Allah… I touched the boy n the tears were in my eyes. His eyes lashes, the nose n the snoring reminded me of Hakeem. Thank You Allah, for sending this boy to me.

My two weeks journey of Umrah has taught me lots of things. I had seen different kind of people n attitudes from various culture n even within my tour group. I understand why Allah chosen me this time to go without my hubby. I was there not only to take care of my mother in law but also others as well. Somehow I always being picked to lead the way though a few times I told them that this was my second trip n I had lack of knowledge in all this. Just like my previous Umrah, I was always being approached by elderly people n this time by children.

Most of all, I learned to appreciate more the life that I have now - my hubby, children, family n friends.

I was fortunate indeed. I was fortunate because has been chosen by Allah S.W.T to be in this trip. I hope that this will not be my last trip to Makkah. I would like to go there again soon with my hubby to perform Haj. Insyaalah.

Be Away

I will be away for two weeks to perform Umrah (with my mother in-law). I will be departing from KLIA to Madinah this afternoon.

I hope that we will have a safe trip. May this spiritual journey of ours will be blessed upon by Allah S.W.T. Insyaalah.

Labbaika Allahumma Labbaik. Labbaik La Sharika Laka Labbaik. Innal-Hamdah, Wan-Ni'matah, Laka wal Mulk, La Sharika Lak.

"Here I am O Allaah, (in response to Your call), here I am. Here I am, You have no partner, here I am. Verily all praise, grace and sovereignty belong to You. You have no partner."

"An Umrah is an expiation for the sins committed between it and the next, and Hajj which is accepted will receive no other reward than Paradise."