My trip to Makkah and Medina

[Ms DD]

Salaam aleykum qaraabo

 

I thought since everyone is writing about their trips, maxaa aniga iga reebey? Another reason is the off chance someone may long to visit the cities. It certainly was amazing experience.

 

My mom always used to say that no matter how many times she visits Makkah, she feels afterwards like she is a new person. I know now what she meant. This place is sacred from Allah. History involved with every corner in this holy city.

 

The moment you enter Makkah you would feel very small. This holy place is in the Middle of massive Mountains and giant towers.

 

I can’t describe my happiness whenever I see the Ka'bah. The place is bright and my heart felt bright. Muslim people from all over are seen. Different people with same purpose. All tasting the moment of peace.

 

Someone once described the atmosphere of atmosphere on being at the middle of the holy mosque:

This Pakistani little girl watching people, oh wait!!! look at the Nigerian boy running with a big smile in his face, pigeons flying all over, birds singing even at night, old Turkish man with a white beard holding his hand and asking Allah for something I don’t know what it is, people walking around Kaba, Afghani woman drinking from the icy Water of “Zmzm”, a young Indonesian guy looking at the sky and thinking deeply, Moroccan old woman sleeping in peace, Egyptian man reading the holy Quran, New converted American man tearing the happiness tear for being at this peaceful place, Malaysian lady crying asking for forgiveness, Bosnian woman feeding pigeons, Handicapped old Ethiopian man crawling the mosque’s marble for the sake of competing his duty, Indian woman nursing her baby, Iranian couples sheering quite talks, Syrian man teaching his little girl some values….etc.

You would see all kind of people praying, no matter if they were rich or poor, young or old, male or female, Caucasian, Asian or Black, they are all the same.

Nothing could describe the feeling of being in Makkah BUT an honest tear and soft heart convincing me to go there again.

 

As a Muslim, I had heard about it, and seen pictures of it throughout my life. The masjid is considered the holiest place on Earth for a Muslim. When I finally got the chance to walk into the Grand Mosque, I felt so many emotions that I cannot describe them in words. My days in Mecca were mostly composed of going to the Mosque and praying. How could I have missed the chance of praying there and receiving amazing hasanat and ajar? I pray Allah accepts His slaves' worship.

 

I did get to see some of the rest of the city. The city itself is extremely hectic, and why not, Muslims from around the world come there daily to pray in the hometown of Muhammed (pbuh). However, those looking for historic sites or things of that nature will be dissapointed. A lot of non-religious places have been demolished by the Saudi government. The city itself seemed to be mostly composed of hotels, and unfortunately doesn't have as much exoticness as I would have liked (A Hilton ripe with KFC and Burger King stood no more than 40 feet outside of the Grand Masjid). Outside of the immediate area of the haram you'll find neighborhoods of twisting narrow alleys and depilated old houses - it's as close to historical interest as you'll get in Makkah. But after all being in the haram 5 times a day by itself makes up for it.

 

Now, I don't want to come off as sounding as though I didn't enjoy my trip. It was amazing and something I will never forget. I cannot wait until I get to visit Makkah again.

 

There are many gates to the Holy Mosque,I believe more than 100 gates. There is security at each gate to ensure the safety of the people.they check your bags. No food is allowed to the holy Mosque except at the time of Ramadan you can bring your dates and drinks to break your fasting after performing the Maghrib prayers (although a lot of people sneaked it in). I just recalled that there was qaxwo and dates distributed after maghrib so that people on their way to make tawaf would sip and eat. The floors are cleaned and polished every hour for maximum clean as muslims are the dirtiest people. When they eat, they leave all their rubbish around!

 

Apart from the obvious prayers and rituals. It would take you a good few days just to go around the whole structure and admire the intrciate and beautiful Mosque. The whole place is adorned in expensive marble, shipped in from Italy, Spain, Greece etc. There are many carvings, designs and Calligraphy to be found all around the mosque area. Makkah has large Air conditioning system as well as huge P.A amplifier system. Note the impressive architecture of the gate and minarets.

 

The masjid was constantly full with pilgrims from all over the world. Many came with tears in their eyes, others were elated. One morning I got the chance to touch the black stone. My mom pushed me through (only Allah knows how we passed the Iranians). It smelled wonderful and the smell was with me for 3 days.

 

Throughout my trip I kept trying to remind myself of where I was, who had been there and what it meant. It was mind-blowing. I also gained a newfound appreciation for our prophet Muhammed (pbuh) after doing all the tasks required of the Umrah. I thought of all the struggles he and his companions faced, and how much they went through to establish their beliefs. One saying of his stood out in particular, the saying was along the lines of "You could not know what your mother went through when she carried you and bore you, even if you were to do Umrah while you carried her". I thought about that a lot, especially since I was with my mother on this trip. I can go on and on, but I won't. Suffice it to say that anyone who goes there will never forget it.

 

The entire area around the Mosque and the the two hills of Safa and Marwah now contain a few hundred outlets where you can obtain the water of Zam Zam. Originally there was a well, however the King Fahd moved this during the restoration and modernisation of the Mosque. You will now find hundreds of cooler tanks dotted on all floors all over the mosque, as well as taps, and drinking fountains around the mosque which all pump out billions of litres of Zam Zam every year. Zam Zam water is also provided in the mosque of Medina now too.

 

 

My trip to Medina was also fantastic as I got to see more of the history. I write more later inshallah. All i know is: my future holiday plans will now include Makkah and Medina.

[Ibtisam]

^^^Woow Mashallah sis, Wlc come, maa iis soo duucase? It sounds like you had a blessed blast

 

p.s. I was wondering when you'lll come back last night, I was telling another normad, I think she run away! lol

[Ms DD]

That must be my sweetie Ibtisam

I made dua for everyone here on SOL including the 'secularists and the sceptics', that Allah guides us all in His path and bless us with 'Addunya fi nicma, aakhira fil Janna'.

 

I got back 2 weeks ago, and my eemaan was way up there and i didnt feel like wasting time here. But now I am back.. I am trying to find ways to retain that amazing feeling I had when I was over there. So now I am looking for malcaamad in London. Not your ypical habar somali sunday school, but proper one where you get be hafiz of Quran in a year or 2? Any suggestions?

[Blessed]

Welcome back Dhucdhuc,

 

An accepted umrah and a a lifted spirit for you sister.

 

 

Ghanima

 

lol@ran away. If I had another chance to visit Mekkah, I'd be tempted to hide in the mountains and never return.

[Ibtisam]

amiin to that^^yeah for about few months, then you'll be running back. HAha.

 

Ms. D&D

Loool @habar sunday school!. loool. Yeah I'll PM you a few, it is hard to retain that same feelin due to the enviroment, people, and all the crazy things you see all day! but hopefully some what better than you were is a good aim!

[Ms DD]

Zenobia

 

Jazaakallahu kheyr sister.

 

If I had another chance to visit Mekkah, I'd be tempted to hide in the mountains and never return

We have met many Londoners who decided to move there without any ciqaama. They rented houses and are happy there when they are not hiding from the police. One lady has even returned her British passport to the Home office and has been living in Makkah for 9years without any sharci. She moves about and never did she come accross any police.

[Jacaylbaro]

Maasha Allah ,,,,,,,,,

 

I asked you to pray for me ,,,, did you ??

 

 

Did you take any pictures ???

[Blessed]

Dhucdhuc,

 

SubahanAllah, I remember thinking the masakiin in Makkah were far more blessed than all those rich Muslims who made their annual two week trips.

 

I too crave the emaan rush I got during and the few months after umrah - I've never experienced that internal peace and bliss at any other time in my life. I hope that Allah blesses me and all of us another chance to pray at His and The Messengers mosque.

 

Ghanima,

Xabiibty, did I ever tell you that you're blessed in the art of bringing one back to earth. Thanks for messing up my dream, qumayo.

[Aaliyyah]

Cambaro thanks for sharing this with us sis. It is amazing experience, one that I hope Allah swt accepts from you. Insha allah we should all plan to pay a visit to Makkah, u know most of us we just plan a trip to Europe, Australia, and North america, makkah is rarely mentiond.

 

For the most part is like insha allah we will visist makkah. we dont make any concrete decisions. But after reading yr post I am inspired to go there. Insha allah I am going to add it to my plans. Jazakalaahu khyr and may allah bless u.

 

wa salaamu alaikum

[Ibtisam]

Ms D &D can't wait for the pictures! lol

 

Zenobia! lool Sorry, I've been told that my whole life. I can't live in dream land dee. loool @ qumayo, might use that as my user name, running out possibilities. Lol.

[Ms DD]

Salaam JB

 

I honestly prayed for everyone who asked first and those who didnt second. May Allah accept it.

 

Out of the all trips/holidays I made previously, nothing can beat this. Yes it was hot and humid, but in the Haram, it was like you were on differently planet. I felt like I was in Raxmad and was constantly aware of Allah in everything I do.

 

With every prayers ( I prayed behind Sudais and Shuraim few times), we were praying salaatul-janaza. I saw few bodies entered when I was about to enter the agtes. It is close and was in contant reminder.

 

With regards to money, It was cheap compared to other holidays I have been to. A room with 2 2beds was £10 a night. Food was very cheap too. The ticket and the visa cost £500 (peak time it was too).

 

No I didnt take pictures. Mainly it isnt allowed but I saw people taking pictures. So inshallah next time, I will take pictures. My mom reminded me that the haram isnt always this empty (to me it wasnt empty but to her it was).

[Jacaylbaro]

I was there in 1999 but i believe there is a lot of chages as some people told me.

 

The place is unbelievable and those people from Asia are the most crying and worshipping people ,,, they have qalbi jilayc, diin jacayl and dedication although most of them lack the knowledge.

 

Somalis meel kasta oo ay tagaan way indho adag yihiin ,,, i tried to find one single somali crying and couldn't find one ..... indhuhuun bay taagtaagayaan, way hadlayaa, xataa markay ducaysanayaan ,,,,,,,,

[N.O.R.F]

Glad you enjoyed your trip Cambarro. What say you about the KSA in general?

[NGONGE]

^^^ Stole the words right out of my mouth

She spent months following Saudi news and now that she's been to the country itself I'm dying to hear what she thinks too.

 

ps

Don't mention any bad things you saw in Mecca, we don't want to give khalaf a heartattack.

[-Lily-]

Wlc back D&D!

 

I was watching the Haj live on Islam channel last year, as both my parents were there, all those ppl, it was an amazing sight not to mention worrying at the same time. My mum said the same thing about the Jinaza prayers, quiet chilling if you ask me.

 

I hope those of us who haven't been will all get the chance I'A.