Alamak,i'm still suffering from 'different time zone' symptome! - tido siang,celik malam.Orait,suddenly,my mood to blogging turn on,some people had suggested me to write about travelling experience,i feel like sharing wf u people about my experience while doing my very first pilgrimage travel to Madinah and Mekah during the last Easter Break.It was an ultimate dream come true experience.I will never forget for the rest of my life.Though I was in a really tight budget,I feel so blessed and thankful to Allah for being granted a chance to be His guest to the Holy land of Mecca and Madinah.I was overwhelmed with a bliss and serene feeling throughout my journey from the beginnings till the end,Alhamdulillah,Alhamdulillah,Alhamdulillah everthing happened in the way it was meant to be.
When I was in Jeddah Airport for the first time,I really can't believe my eyes ! overlooking through the planes window ,the airport was perfectly laid in the middle of sandy-dessert like- land.Alhamdulillah,I was finally there at my dream destination.I recalled myself suggesting a good friend of mine few month before about my wish to do umrah instead of spending my allowance for vacations.Since I study in the UK,i'd spent most of my money and time to travel around Europe including Spain,France,Ireland,Norway,Sweden,Bulgaria,Turkey and Greece but i'd never been to Mecca,the holy land for all Muslims.Alhamdulillah,i'd finally accomplished my wish to cleanse my soul and be a better person in His eyes,iA.
I was due to fly off to Saudi Arabia with about 30 other fellow Malaysian students on 17th April 2011 from London Heathrow and transit for 5 hours at Cairo,Egypt before continuing our journey to King Abdulaziz International Airport,Jeddah,Saudi Arabia.We boarded the new Egyptair MS667 Boeing 737-800 aircraft and landed at the first destination safely.Initially,I was quite worry to fly using Egyptair and transit in Cairo -everyone know Hosni Mubarrak right? and where all the riots and the middle east revolutionary movement take place last few months before right?.Alhamdulillah,everything was perfectly fine.My umrah visa application was done by agent in Malaysia and I was paired with an unknown 'synthetic' mahram for immigration purpose.When it was the time to board our 2nd flight to Jeddah from Cairo,I was stopped by the steward ,he asked about my mahram,since my 'synthetic' mahram had left me behind and i was denied boarding until he was called to stand by me,and only then I was allowed to board the aircraft.On board of the flight,I could see quite a lot of mens who already in their ihram.Anyway,the entire cost for this package is about 845pound,full board from LHR.
Upon arrival at Jeddah,we had to pass through the immigration,and again you know you have to be with your mahram to pass the immigration,since almost all of us are still single,we have to be prepared to ask all the questions.Alhamdulillah,the immigration officer did'nt ask anything weird,everything went well.We left for Madinah on the same day and arrive at around 9pm.At Madinah,we were welcomed by Ustaz Halim from Hajiumrah.com which will guide us throughout our pilgrimage journey.We checked in to Andalusia Hotel which is situated within walking distance to the Prophet's mosque which is also known as 'Nabawi Mosque'.It is the second holiest mosque after Masjidilharam which is situated in Mecca.There was a hadith narrated by the prophets about the benefits of praying in 'Nabawi mosque' which is 1000 times better than praying in any other mosque.
After cleaning ourselved and had dinner,we visited the 'Nabawi Mosque' for the first time and visited 'Maqam Nabi' and give salams to our prophet Nabi Muhammad S.A.W and his companions.
Masjid Nabawi from the back view
Masjid Nabawi from side view
The scenic view of canopies near the 'Babus Salam' gate
The 'Green Dome' which is situated above the
tomb of Prophets
The 'Nabawi Mosque' is strictly guarded with security.No camera are allowed to be brought into the mosque.The internal features of the mosque is really amazing and it is fully air-conditioned,it is really comfortble though it is often packed with people.I felt so calmed to be inside the mosque and can't barely moved my feet to leave the mosque once I enter it.
One of the main attraction in 'Nabawi Mosque' is the 'Ar-Rawdah' which is considered as part of the heaven.It is a small area which take place in between of the tombs of the Prophets to his pulpits. We were told that, womens are only allowed to enter Rawdah at three different times after Subuh,after Dzuhr and after Isya.It was too late that night and i did'nt make it to visit 'Ar-Rawdah'.Throughout my 5 days stay in Madinah,I managed to enter the 'Ar-Rawdah' 3 times after waiting for so long.It was so crowded where everyone will really fight to be in it.It was not easy to enter the place since it is quite limited in space and thousands of people try to fit in it at one time.There was a system where Asians are seperated from all other races due to our small figures and for safety purpose.Alhamdulillah,once we were called to enter the 'Ar-Rawdah' there was such an undescriable excitement triggering in me where i could not wait to enter it.Once my entire body was in the green carpet area,there was a mixed feeling when I really wanna cry,not believing I was really in 'Ar-Rawdhah',deliver salams to Prophets and companions,do sunnah prayer and prays and ask for forgiveness and protections from slanderous of the World,the Akhirat,Barzakh and Al-Masih Dajjal.
The next day, we woke up early for ziarah Madinah.The first thing is the morning,is to take ablutions and visit 'Quba' Mosque.'Quba' Mosque' is the first mosque built by Muslims upon pilgrimage from Mecca to Madinah.It was built on the basis of 'Taqwa' where it plays a significant roles in the expansion of Islamic civilization in madinah.Ustaz told us that,to be in ablutions from home and do 2 rakaah prayers at this mosque is equivalent to do 'one umrah'.Therefore,we gonna pray at this mosque everyday for supplications of our pilgrimage.
Delegates in front of Quba' mosque
Courtesy of hajiumrahziarah
Delegates in front of Bani Unaif Mosque
Courtesy of hajiumrahziarah
There are a lot of mosques we visited in Madinah,but i did'nt took much pictures of all of them.One of them is known as "Al Qiblatain Mosque" which also mean 'The Mosque with two Qiblas'.In Islamic history,this is the place where Prophets Muhammad S.A.W received commanded from Allah S.W.T to change the direction of Qibla from 'Masjidil Aqsa' in Palestine to 'Masjidilharam' in Mecca.Other mosques that we'd visited including 'Masjid 7' and a few mosques in front of my hotel.
Other famous itinery for 'Ziarah Madinah' including the visit to Uhud Hill and the tombs of Uhud martyrs, dates farm and market,Quran factory,'Magnet Field demo' and a desert leisure park.I din buy much things except the famous 'Ajwa Dates' and 4 set of Quran
Climbing up to the cave on the Uhud Hill
Housing area near Uhud Hill
Dates farm
ATV rides in a desert leisure park :)
Al Baqi cemetry
On the last evening in Madinah,we visited the Al-Baqi' cemetry which is also known as 'Jannatul Baqi' The Garden of Heaven.Since women are not allowed to enter the cemetry,we went up to the top of the nearest apartment to identified the coordinates of the many tombs in the cemetry which enclosed the Uthman bin Affan's,all the prophet's wives except Khadijah Binti Khuwailid and Maimunah Binti Al-Harith and many others notable figures.
Post about Mecca will come out soon XD....Happy holiday!Have a great summer ahead!
No comments:
Post a Comment