Haramain ...21st Dec 2014 to 1st Jan 2015

2015.... 7 days into it.

Alhamdulillah...my Umrah journey went successfully. Both my mom and dad came back happy. I will start work this Friday. My parent safely back to Pekan too. The flood hit hard last year. Though away I still mange to follow what happen back home.

I am still recovering from fever, flu and sore throat. It is winter in Saudi tempreature between 17 to 20 degrees C. Beautiful weather but we are not build to live in it. 

The journey overall I understood many things that we often took for granted. I am glad to start my link with God again few years ago. It helps to hit my core of how important we take care of the relationship and links with our creator.

Our journey starts with Makkah. We took commercial flight Saudi Airlines. Thankfully our group is only about 200 pilgrims. 8 hours flight gave my parent a bit of challenged in a way. Then upon arrival in Jeddah the immigration procedure was smooth too. It was almost 8pm when we arrived in Jeddah. 

After all the procedures we got into our coach. One thing I can tell ...Malaysia really have a good name in Saudi. The airport officers usher and show us the way easily. 

We arrived into Makkah at midnight. Checked in and thereafter gather at lobby to perform our Welcome Umrah. Seeing Kaabah for the first time....feeling is overwhelmed. Our Mutawif guide us through. Then we continue for Sa'ei Safa and Marwa. Everything completed at almost 4am. 

Return to Hotel..we wait for Subuh then rest till Zohor. 

I must say it was so remarkable. Left us a very big longing feeling to go back. Its true what they say...the moment you in Ihram...that is when your true self revealed. Our true behaviour.

I do not have much difficulties on the journey wise. We arrived in Makkah first then Medina. 

My biggest challenge was dealing with my parent. Their behaviour really put me into test. They said Jihad with parent is to hold your words against them. Dealing with one true self was never easy.

My dad got his wake up call too. He is so worried about his leg...feet. His leg thumb kinda injured and until the day we arrived it did not heal. He was so worried and nervous. Will it bleed..will it bcome worst. Lucky our hotel is just 50 meter walk to Masjidil Haram. We stayed at Hilton Towers.

Allah showed him a man who has no leg...and he wheeled himself on a skateboard to perform Tawaf and sa'ei. My dad came back crying...how he has been so ungrateful about his leg problem. The least he still has leg.

Mine on the other hand was...time. I still being chase by limited time. Felt so short in between the 5 fardhu... Why? Because all my life I always say I have no time. 

During sa'ei safa and marwa... I cannot walk anymore and almost give up. My ankle sprained..not fully recover yet...7 rounds seems forever. Then Allah showed me an old Turkish lady...she is using walking stick and maybe she is about 70 years old. Far more energetic then I am...she walked pass me. Then I realize. This performance of mine is it for me or is it for Allah.

This season that we went..there is a lot of muslim from Balkan countries and also from India. I can tell u during our arrival tawaf...there is probably 1000 of this Bosnians and Turkish...they recite doa after doa. It makes you feel small in comparission of why did you make the journey in the first place.

During small briefing at KLIA, the mutawif reminded to reset your niat again...set it at correct course. I understood then what it mean.

We have to surrender to HIM. Clean your soul and mind. Do your best...and leave it to HIM.

The remaining days we saw lots of pilgrim from India...they put me to shame too. I spend thousand of ringgit to get new stuff...my abaya...scarf...shoes...tasbih..hijab..these pilgrim came with whatever they hv. Its the ibadat that matters...

I saw a group of ladies from Kolkata...their hijab probably has been recycle so many times. They were divided into groups with different color of hijab.  And I saw a group of men....their Ihram still made of cotton. New Ihram is towel type...

I am not pious overnight thats for sure..but I do understand many things that I don't before. We have to take care of our relationship with Allah....nothing else matter rather than our creator. HE will take care of us.

All those dunia matters...does not matter anymore. Up to the extend I do not mind if I am just a clean lady at Masjidil Haram... One solat there equal to 100,000 solat at other we perform..life is so peaceful. 

I m not worry about food as well. Feast on whatever it is that available. Skip meals is not a big deal.

We did outside tour too. Went to Jabal Rahmah then visit Arafah...mina and mudzalifah. 

We grew up to know that when you are old you should go for Haj. We should change the mindset. Go while your health is still good. 

To perform all the ibadat takes up a good mental and physical health. Umrah is not a big deal...the crowd is less...but Haj we are looking at millions each season.

Days passed and it is time to go to Madinah. Feel so sad to leave...

It was 5 hours journey from Makkah to Madinah. We stop at Wadi Qudait for dinner. 

The mutawif reminded us to be more patience in Madinah. Hold your patience as much as you can. 

I cried a lot in Madinah. It is overwhelm feeling... I read about Rasulullah all my life..to set foot in Madinah and to walk into Masjid Nabawi I cannot hold my tears. I did not make it to Raudah...there was so many people. Solat at Masjid Nabawi gave you that feeling...a feeling of missing Rasulullah s.a.w

Our outside tour ..wevwent to Masjid Quba and pass by Masjid Qiblatain plus Masjid Billal bin Rabah.

Pass by the Baqi tomb...sad that only men are allowed. How lucky if only women too can enter. Give salaam to all Rasulullah family and friends. They will be the first tomb being brought to life after Rasulullah on judgement day.

These two Haram land touched me so deep that I want to go again.... In sya allah...



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