MY UMRAH: Each visit is as special as the last (From Asian Image)

MY UMRAH: Each visit is as special as the last

5:10pm Monday 1st June 2009

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I begin in the name of Allah, The Most Beneficient, The Most Merciful. As I start to reflect upon the memories of our visit to the Holy Lands from the March 25 to April 19, 2009, I need to make clear at the outset that the purpose of this article is to encourage all readers to try and visit the Holy Lands as many times as possible, especially those brothers and sisters who have not yet been.

I also need to emphasise the fact that try as I might, words will do no justice to the feelings and emotions experienced on such a blessed journey. I request all readers to pray that our visit is accepted and that we are blessed again and again with an opportunity to visit the Holy Lands, Ameen.

This was my second umrah. My first was in 1986. I had completed the Hajj in 2004.

As we were flying on Emirates Airlines, we changed into our Ihraam at Dubai. It was Wednesday, March 25, 4pm local time and we were only four hours away from Jeddah. The feelings were amazing.

Our group consisted of two families, four adults and three children and we just could not wait to reach Saudi Arabia.

Upon landing at Jeddah, the whole world had changed. The heat hit us as soon as we came out of the airport terminal.

After a few formalities, our passports were returned to us and soon we were travelling on our way to Makkah Mukarramah in a 12-seater Toyota Hiace, all ready for an entrance into the Holiest City on earth. A point to remember here is don`t forget to take CDs and cassettes of Naats and Nazams to enlighten your journey further.

I had with me a set of Junaid Jamshid`s collection and this made the journey even more spiritual.

Travelling along, we soon crossed the Gateway to Makkah, a huge replica of the Holy Quran in the form of a bridge.

It was 11pm when we entered the Holy City and the feeling was incredible. It had been a long day and the heat had got to us so we decided to take a rest and perform Umrah nice and refreshed in the morning.

The first sight of the Holy Kaabah was truly magnificent.

A sea of people were busy in Tawaaf and we joined the flow. It was amazing. Thousands of people from all over the globe with different nationalities moving in one direction. Truly fascinating.

The seven circuits around the Holy Kaabah took about 30 minutes. After quenching our thirst with Zam Zam water we moved into the direction of Mount Safa to start the Sa`ee.

Starting at Mount Safa and finishing at Mount Marwa, the Sa`ee was completed in about one hour. The first Umrah was completed successfully Thanks to The Almighty.

We spent 14 days in Makkah. It was crowded and busy but not like the rush that takes place in Ramadhan and at the time of Hajj.

It wasn`t so difficult getting into the Mataaf for the five Salaahs. At night time, reaching the door of the Kaabah Sharif known as the Multazam was not so difficult and with a little bit of patience it was easy to perform a few rakaats within the Hateem.

It was a memorable 14 days, memories that all seven of us will cherish for the rest of our lives.

We managed to visit many historical places such as the Cave of Hira, where the first verses of the Quraan were revealed and the Cave of Thawr where our Prophet S.A.W. rested during His Hijrah to Madinah. We also passed by the Plains of Arafah, Muzdalifah, Mina and visited Jannatul Maa`la, the Blessed Graveyard of Makkah Mukarramah.

The Masjid-e-Haraam which houses the Holy Kaabah is a magnificent example of Islamic architecture.

The size is just unbelievable. Many extensions have taken place and the final one by the late King Fahd, known as the Custodian of the two Holy Mosques is truly fascinating.

There is work still taking place and credit must surely be given to the Saudi Government for maintaining the Masjid-e-Haraam with its full glory.

Fourteen days passed at the speed of light and after performing Tawaf-e-Wida (Farewell Tawaf) it was time to leave Makkah for the Illuminated City of Madinah.

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