48 hours into Makkah Mukarammah

It’s 9 pm Mecca time.

We’re on the bus, just touched down, and now heading to Mecca. All of us were sleepy heads, as it had been a journey for close to 24 hours. We had to report to the airport at 6.30 a.m., so most of us were awake even earlier. I was excited to reach Makkah and refused to sleep anymore as the bus was about to reach the city.

As we got close by, I saw the big giant clock tour! I giggled to myself because I broke my mother’s monumental set of the same clock tour and asked my father to fix it with super glue back together. It was our secret, and now this is the first thing I spot! faints God knows what's going to happen to me now.

The Clock Tour!

When we reached, we alighted the bus, and I heard the Imam takbirs. I now realise they were praying Isya’ congregational. I hurried up my steps, hoping not to lose my mother, and just as I walked up the ledge, I saw men praying on the streets, some on the roads and some outside their shops. A beautiful sight as everyone paused to pray.

Men are praying on the streets and on the road casually like its the normal thing ever.

Then, a strange, cool air blew towards me, and I got goosebumps. From that moment on, I have never felt such serenity—no anxiety, no panic attacks. Such familiarity made me feel like I was back home, Alhamdulillah.

48 hours into Mecca Al-Mukaramah

It’s 5.47 pm now, and I am lying on the hotel bed, resting. I am self-proclaiming Rowha by singing some qasidas because I am physically worn out. Alhamdulillah ala kulli haal. Right after we landed yesterday, we checked in and did my first Umrah Wajib at 10 pm. I sort of expected this fatigue because my dear friend Iffah reminded me that “it is not a holiday,” and I have that ingrained in my mind.

As I was zoning out, I caught myself reflecting on a few things, and I wanted to write them down before I forgot.

First, donning all black made me feel out of place at the airport. I was like the Dark Knight from Batman. I’m pretty sure it’s making some people uncomfortable, but when we finally reached Mecca, I realised I was home. It was like Tareem all over again. Most girls are in black, and I’m happily blending in.

Speaking of Tareem, it somehow feels like my Dowra 2019 trip had trained me for Umrah. Physically, about the summer heat, donning the abaya 24/7, decoding the Arabic language, and speaking with strangers of different ethnicities never felt really strange. Spiritually, I set my mind to follow the tertib of Darul Mustafa/Darul Zahra from day to evening because I did not know what else to do.

And Ya Rabb! I do see manifestations when I read them. (Heads-up, this is by no means a form of Riya or show-off. I am hoping to share this so we become even more fervent in reciting our awards/zikr.)

One, whenever I recite the Wirid Syeikh Abu Bakr bin Salim (the one before every prayer), things instantly become easy. I.e., when my mother and I were about to leave the Tawaf around the Ka’bah.

Two, sometimes I recite Wiridul al-Latiff on the go as we head to the mosque for subh/fajr, because I don’t want to be heedless in this special place. Things somehow were eased for us, and we got a spot facing the Ka’bah.

And many other things. How I wish we could have a cup of coffee or tea with the ahl Tareem community and just chat about this! I am sure there are other gems they may have received too.

Be careful now, watch your thoughts

Lastly, it slipped my mind to be careful with my thoughts. As we were walking back to the hotel after asr prayers, we had to take a longer route because some parts of the mosque are closed for Friday prayers tomorrow. So, as my mother chatted with me, I zoned out halfway as I admired the city, and I could feel my knees begin to ache. Then, when I saw a man pushing an old woman in a wheelchair, a brief thought crossed my mind.

“Ibu, how about you pretend to faint, and I do too. Then someone could push us?”

When I wanted to joke about this with my mother, my sling bag instantly got stuck to another man’s wheelchair, and I was pulled towards him among the crowd.

It was as if Allah swt stopped me from verbalising it.

And it was pretty much a scene, yes🫠

Many old folks were on wheelchairs, and wanting the easy way out during the Summer heat is tempting!

Ahhhh Day 2 and definitely a lesson learnt!

Ah and the next day is Friday. My favourite memory here is of the Night of Jum’ah and of Jum’ah itself! I have always known, theoretically, that Friday is the Day of all Days in Islam, but here at these blessed places, it is truly enlivened! I am truly grateful, syukr sangat, that we got to spend Jum’ah once at Mekah and another at Madinah. ALHAMDULILLAH YA ROBB!

I'll share that in another post should anyone be keen to read it. Haha, that's a pretty long account for today, huh?