My First ‘Umra
The night before leaving for the big trip I prepared the main things for my first ever Umra journey to the Ka'ba. My brother Mohammed and I packed our bags, prayed and made the initial Du'a. I had been waiting for this trip for a very long time. According to a Hadith, performing Umra in Ramadan is like doing Umra with the final Prophet (peace be upon him).
We were not very impressed with what we saw when we arrived at the airport. After going through the custom checks, we were lucky to come across an honest Saudi who said he'd help us get a phone and bring us to Medina for SR600 or $150; I say honest because there are so many con-men, thieves and crooks, believe it or not. I was told before hand to watch out for them.
Eventually we were transferred to a Medinian resident to drive us the 500km to Medinat-al-Munuwarra (5-hour drive). The man was generous as he bought us suhoor once we reached Medina and even waited with us for the agency representative. He told us about the Masjid-al-Qiblatayn and Quba Masjid. We were already dying to get to the Prophet's Masjid (peace be upon him), but we had already missed the first prayer of the day (al-Fajr prayer).
We had to wait until next day to pray our first prayers in the main Masjid, which was a Friday, alhamdulillah. It is a beautiful, clean, tranquil place. It was packed though with lots of people trying to get a spot before the actual prayers begin.
The experience of simply being there is awesome. So much of tranquillity and stillness in a place that can be described as crowded. It was simply beautiful to pray in the Masjid, beautiful to recite, chat, sleep, make du'a, laugh and even cry. It was an entirely different experience to pray in a mosque so big that the entire world could fit into it, but it would still be packed.
Having spent a few days in Medina, we prepared ourselves to visit Makkat-ul-Mukarramah. we prayed Duhr & 'asr together in our room and left to get a taxi to the main Meeqat from Medina. We shared taxi with others and once again we got to Makkah in the latter part of the night. Without wasting any time, we checking in to our hotel, had a shower and walked the half-an-hour walk to begin our very first Umra.
Umra is basically the minor pilgrimage. It is not compulsory for a Muslim to perform, but this minor pilgrimage is a taster of the Hajj, the major pilgrimage which is an obligation upon every Muslim capable of doing so.
Behind the enormous walls that surround the Ka’ba, is the Ka’ba itself. In anticipation to see the cube building, we entered through one of the massive gates of the ‘Harum’.
We simply struck with awe. A quick Du'a is good at this time, and so we did make du’a with our eyes fixated on the Ka’ba, more or less mesmerised by the environs that surrounded us.
We did the Tawaf (circumambulation), beautiful and serene. As we performed the ritual of Tawaf, praising Allah and making du’a, it was as if we were gaining proximity to the most High. There was a growing feeling of humility before Allah, while at the same time the soul, body and mind all urged my legs to carry them to Allah, as fast as possible. Even fly if there was a chance to take off.
We finished the first part of the minor pilgrimage by drinking from the well of Zam-Zam. It is very refreshing to have an endless supply of cool fresh water, especially after the Tawaf.
We then proceeded to perform the Sa'i (brisk walking between the mounts of Safa and Marwa 7 times, while at the same time making du'a and reciting as usual); that was very tiring first time, but again rewarding. Sa’i literally means ‘to walk towards something or an objective’, and this is exactly the ritual symbolises, in memory of and in imitation of Hajar, the wife of Prophet Abraham, and the mother of Prophet Ismail, may Allah be pleased with them all.
We finished the Umra by getting a haircut in a barber’s shop near our hotel, as we looked forward to having shower and get some rest.
One of the great benefits of Umra and Hajj is that of meeting people. We met Mustafa the Egyptian, Saleh and Uthman the Gambians, Mohammed the Nigerian and many more people from so many different places. For the first time, I felt I was part of a brotherhood that knew no nationality, no language, no colour and no race. We were all there for one purpose only, for the sake of Allah.
Every time I went to Masjid-al-Haram (the grand mosque of Makkah) to pray, I felt at ease and happy in a strange way. I loved praying there, especially 'Isha and Fajr, making beautiful Du'a and Dhikr; and thinking about life in general.
My brother went with others to visit Islamic scholars, and the trips to the shopping centres were very interesting. The markets were full with interesting merchandise – perfumes, incense, gold, jewellery, herbs and spices.
But time well spent was always in the Masjid-al-Haram, praying, making du’a and reciting the Quran. It was amazing to see people engaging in worship, crying out to Allah in so many different languages, colours and nationalities.
Eid was another experience altogether. In the warm morning sunshine, the valley of Makkah reverberated with the praise of Allah. Such is the Islamic festival that follows Ramadan that Allah is praised and glorified, the blessings are thanked for and every being present rejoices. Millions of people stand shoulder to shoulder facing the Ka’ba, in a simple demonstration of gratitude for the blessings that surround them.
Should I be grateful for such an experience, or should I be grateful for having the sense and opportunity to recognise such an experience. All thanks be to Allah.
We got back to Dublin quite late, and slept for most of our first days, adjusting to the days in Ireland. I often think and dream about Medina, Makkah, about the people I met and the places I visited there; and I wonder: was my trip a dream? It felt like a dream and every time I think back, it has the effect of a far-away dream that I wish to go back to and experience it again and again… and again.
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My First Hajj trip - 1433 (2011), Alhamdulillah.
We left on a Monday morning and reached the beautiful city of Medina after a full day of flying and traveling! Dr. Tawfik (who has died of cancer recently, may Allah have mercy on him) was hilarious in Medina, complaining about hotel rooms and initial set-up. 'Abdul-Barry (the Libyan organizer) was apologetic and authoritative, while Hasan the Somalian was quite cool and down-to-earth, masha-Allah. I also had a few run-ins with 'Abdul-Mu'min the Algerian argumentative type, Rabbi yahfidh. We visited the Prophet's Mosque and relaxed; I recited Surat Maryam, Ta Ha and the following Suras for the next few days (up to Surat al-Hajj), Alh. I liked the Chechnyans (G)Haji and his son Mog(h)amed from the outset, masha-Allah. We visited the supermarkets (funny experience, with fake items and cheap goods), the battle field of Uhud (and martyr's graves, May Allah have mercy on them), and then prayed in Quba as well as the Masjid of Qiblatayn.
In preparing for the Hajj: We had a shower, trimmed our mustache, cut our nails and put on some perfume and our ihrams, and made our way to the Meeqat, near Medina. After praying two rak'at and making our intention as the driver turned the ignition in bus 'Labayka Allahumma 'Umra wa Hajjatun be Mutamatta'an' and proceeded towards Mecca with the Talbiyah, ‘Labbayk Allahumma Labbayk’.
A whole day passed before we landed in 'Azeeziyah, absolutely exhausted. We rested, ate and got ready to do 'Umra. Fraj, a Libyan colleague, was acting kind-of strange, Rabbi yustur... Shanim, an Indian enthusiast, was almost left behind! I went with Dr. Tawfik, 'A-Barry and Shanim. Anyway, we got home wrecked after shaving and completing our 'Umra, Alhamdulillah (as explained in my first ‘Umra above). They were tiring days and very crowded indeed, the days of Hajj.
We prepared to put on our Ihrams again and make intention to set out for Mina (tent) on the 8th of Dhul-Hijjah., then to Arafat on 9th Dh. H., and afterwards to Muzdalifah immediately after sunset of the same day, Alh., May Allah Accept our Du'a on these amazing and truly blessed days. I went with the big brothers (Fraj, Mukhtar, Ehab, 'Abdul-Kareem, and there was also 'Abdul-Mumin the Algerian) towards the big Jamarat on the 10th of Dh. H., at the time of shurooq, May Allah Accept. We picked seven pebbles or stones on the way, and chanted the talbiyah. We threw on the big Jamarat and headed to our compound in 'Aziziyah to shave our heads and shower, completing a minor tahalul (put on normal clothes), Alh. After an OK breakfast, we got the bus to Masjid-al-Haram and completed Tawaf al-Ifadah before Duhr prayer. We actually did it on the top floor in the burning sun, prayed Duhr, finished last round of Tawaf, prayed two rak'as and drank from Zamzam. We then proceeded with Sa'i and had lunch in the Burj Zamzam, rice and chicken biryani, Alh. We got back to Mina (Jamarat) before sunset; in fact, prayed Maghrib in Masjid Kheef, May Allah Accept our Hajj. The next three days: 11th, 12th and 13th Dh. H were spent in the tents, and throwing stones on the three Jamarat (7+7+7 x 3 = 63 pebbles in total); I was sick on the first day but managed to go straight after Duhr prayer at around 1pm anyway, Alh.
After the Hajj, which was 14th Dh. H., we enjoyed our two days in the vicinity of the Haram, even though it was still annoyingly crowded. People bought presents and ate different foods. I loved reciting and making Tawaf now and again, May Allah Accept. I wish to go on a quiet period with my wife, insha-Allah. I keep making Du'a for Allah to Destine the best for us and make us satisfied with it.
After coming back from the Hajj, there has been a peaceful light guiding my every move. I pray Fajr on-time, recite peacefully and lovingly, pray as much nawaful as possible and just love to stay close to Allah (with Du'a, sadaqah, salawat, sawm, and zakat, alh.) - May Allah Accept all of this from me, sincerely, and purely for His cause alone. Ya Rabb. Ya Allah. May Allah forgive me and my family members, and fix us, and make us healthy, and enter us into His Mercy. I keep praying and making Du'a for Allah to end our misery and depression forever. Ya Allah, Help Us all. We are only human.