Ramadan Umrah: My Journey

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Ramadan Umrah: My Journey

My wish was finally coming true. I had been on Umrah before when I was younger but for the past year, I had really wanted to go for the last ten days of Ramadan and it was now finally happening. I would spend three nights in Medinah and from there go to Makkah for 8 nights. I was excited, but also worried if my trip and Ibadat would be as rewarding as I had hoped. The Holy Land awaited me.
Alhamdulillah, I have many experiences and many stories from the trip to recollect but I will try to share some of the most meaningful moments…

Jannat Al-Baqi

We first arrived in Madinah and made arrangement to visit the Prophet’s Mosque. As we were being driven from the airport, I couldn’t wait for my first glance of the Prophet’s Mosque. But before that, we drove past Jannat Al-Baqi: the graveyard of the Sahabah. It was truly incredible to know that some of the greatest men and women that have ever lived were resting a few hundred metres from me. I was wishing I could have been born at that time and lived with both the Prophet and the Sahabah; what an amazing life that would have been to be in the company of the greatest people to have ever stepped foot on this planet! However, Allah always does what is best for the believer so this must be the best time for me to be around.

The Prophet’s Mosque

…And then I saw the Al-Masjid Al-Nabawi, the Prophet’s mosque. Breathtaking is all I can think of to describe it. This was where Islam was first established in the community and I was standing on the very soil on which our beloved Prophet began to implement Islam in all aspects of society; I felt so blessed.
My first few days were unbelievable. This place was so detached from the rest of the world; you could literally tell how everyone felt like they were in a different world – there was no stress from business, family or anything else. The only thing on everyone’s mind was their Rabb and gaining the blessings of Ramadan.

Masjid Al-Quba

Ziyarat (visiting sites related to Prophet Muhammad) was a lot of fun. The most memorable Ziyarat locations for me were firstly Masjid Al-Quba: the first mosque in Islam. Just to pray Salah on the same soil gave me goosebumps. I was in awe as I looked at the walls; I could just imagine the believers building this mosque brick by brick with the Prophet helping them. Once again, I wished I was one of the Sahabah and could help in the construction of such a meaningful building. I pray that one day I can contribute significantly to the building of a mosque in this world.

Battlefield of Uhud

The second was the battlefield of Uhud, where Hamza (radhiAllahu ‘anhu) gave his life fighting for Islam and in which the Prophet’s orders to the archers were abandoned, ultimately leading to a disaster ending to the battle. I think the reason why these two places had the greatest impact on me was because I have grown up, like many of you have, watching ‘The Message’ where both events are depicted in this film, and so it was easier for me to imagine what happened. Just being there really touched my soul

Breaking The Fast

One of the highlights of going to Umrah during Ramadan was undoubtedly breaking the fast. Right after Asr, hundreds of volunteers roll out plastic mats and start putting dates, yoghurt, bread, nuts and water out for the people. After a long day, with the sun’s heat, to be looking at food for such a long time and not to be allowed to eat it…subhanAllah, such is a test from Allah! I tried to keep my concentration on making dua and reading as much Quran as I could but even then it was quite difficult. However, this feeling would disappear as Maghrib would approach; there was a buzz around the mosque as everyone would get ready to break their fast. Some were making one last dua’, some were finishing off a surah, and some were quietly chatting with their neighbours, but everyone felt that brotherhood amongst themselves and that’s what made  it so special. As the Adhan would be called, we were all reminded that we were doing this for one purpose: for the sake of Allah.

Desert Travel

Travelling from Medinah to Makkah by car really put into perspective the hardships the Sahabah and Prophet had to endure while travelling to spread the word of Islam. The rocky mountains, the scorching heat, and the plain desert land with nothing in sight could have only been an extremely arduous journey. It was the anticipation of seeing the Kabah that was eating away at me; it was the excitement as well as the nervousness (which I will explain later).

Ka’bah

Upon seeing the Kabah, I could not help but start crying. I had seen it when I visited Makkah before but for a strange and unexplainable reason, the emotions were as raw as ever. I felt at home. It is difficult to describe the exact feelings that one has when facing the house of their God, only someone who has been there will be able to understand exactly what I mean. The first thing we did was to perform our Umrah which was a remarkable experience. I had never seen anything like it before; crowds were intently focused on their Ibadat as they went around the Kabah and ran between the two hills. That’s exactly what I was trying to do: just focus on every word I was saying, understand and really feel the depth of all that I was asking from God. My legs were aching and the soles of my feet hardening but I kept on going and was giving encouragement to my mum at the same time. During the Umrah, I began to feel very scared and remember the Day of Judgment as all I could see around me were people asking for forgiveness. Surely this must be like that Day, but the difference being that we won’t be able to change anything then unlike in our current state. This realization shook me and I began to repeatedly ask myself, “Am I doing enough to save myself from Hellfire and earn Allah’s Mercy?” I pray that I can one day positively answer this question…

Taraweeh Prayers

Another highlight of coming to Makkah/Medina during Ramadan is the Taraweeh prayers as well as the Qiyam prayers during the last ten nights. The Tawareeh prayers start right after Maghrib and last for about two hours, and the Qiyam prayers including the Witr start at 1:00am and again last for another two hours. These prayers are spiritually uplifting – to stand in congregation with your brothers facing the Qiblah while listening to some of the world’s best Qaris is mesmerising! Standing for so long is not easy especially if you weren’t able to stand on the carpet and instead have to stand on the marble, but subhanAllah it is all worth it when you think of where you are, what you’re doing, and how much reward you could be earning.

Ramadan 27th & 29th

The masjid is always packed with people but on the 27^th night, my mother and I made the mistake of going back to the hotel between Maghrib and Isha because just within twenty minutes, all of the entrances to the Masjid were blocked off and the roads were full of people coming from all directions. We ended up having to pray our Taraweeh prayers in the middle of the roads, with ambulances driving in between the rows of people, and with no space and nowhere to move or go. Everybody was stuck but it was exciting and both terrifying as there was every likelihood that we could be crushed.
I have never seen so many people than on both the 27^th and 29^th night of Ramadan. As far as my vision could go, all I could see were people. At times, my mother and I felt suffocated with the number of people around us; just to walk a hundred metres, it would take half an hour. Therefore, there was no real point of moving but since my mother was ill at the time, we had to regularly go to the bathroom, resulting in being squashed from all directions as well as being worried of getting separated. Alhamdulillah though, we managed to stick together, even when my mum disappeared into a huge crowd as I was able to find her within a few minutes.

Adhans

One of the most special moments on my visit was standing in front of the Kabah during both the Fajr and Maghrib Adhan. I purposefully walked up to the front of the rows near the time of the Adhan so that I would be one of those who prayed in the walkways and had a full view of the Kabah. It was easily one of the best moments of my life hearing the Adhan while looking at the House of God – again it was just one of those indescribable moments that cannot be matched by anything in this world. My heart just felt so at peace and as I write this, I wish could be there right now.

The Journey Home

Two weeks quickly flew by and before I knew it, I was on my way to Jeddah to fly back to London. From what I have written and from what people have heard from me, the visit seems to have appeared to be rather perfect, but unfortunately, there were many things that went wrong such as feeling ill, stifled by the sheer number of people, and being let down by our tour organisers. However, this was fine because nothing ever works out to be perfect and especially since there are always lessons to learn. However, my biggest hardship was not the physical tribulation that I faced; it was rather a test of my faith…
During my visit. I was repeatedly attacked by Shaitan who made me question many core elements of our faith such as, ‘Why do we worship God?’, ‘Why do we pray Salat five times a day?’, and ‘Why do we praise God?’ Astaghfirullah (I seek refuge in Allah). These thoughts were continually circling my mind and it made me very depressed at times because I was in the most holy place on Earth but I still having these silly thoughts in my mind that were disabling me from being able to fully focus on my Ibadat at all times.
It was strange as these questions never troubled me before, and only later was I slightly comforted as someone told me when I came back that Allah tests people in different ways and this was just one of my tests. My heart only came to rest when I came back as I spoke to people and read up and found the answers which I always knew and understood deep down. Therefore, although this was the best trip I have ever made, it was also the most difficult and I was very worried that my Iman was decreasing in such a place.

Reflections

So what have I gained from this visit? Have I become closer to my Deen through this visit? The troubling thoughts were definitely taxing, but as there is always something good in what happens, I pray that by going over these questions, I have reaffirmed my faith, strengthened my Iman, and allowed me to answer questions that many Non-Muslims pose. By reflecting on the feelings and emotions I experienced while I was there, I felt like I have become closer to Allah. Usually after people come back from Umrah/Hajj, it is a time of deep reflection and improvement but truth be told, it had not been anywhere near enough as I would have liked, especially since I still had those thoughts circulating in mind, and as I was continuously preoccupied with work and charity. However, now that my responsibilities have reduced and I recollect my thoughts on paper, I realize that I must now look to my ultimate responsibility: to become a better Muslim.
Of course this journey does not end on the aeroplane, but is one that is continuous until I go back to my Lord and one that I hope to continue to learn from and improve myself inshAllah. Visiting the Holy Land during Ramadan was truly amazing and I pray to Allah to be granted this opportunity again for it is an experience I will never forget.

“So, it is a must for the souls to be nurtured by way of tests, and to be severely tested during the course of the battle between truth and falsehood with fear and hardship, and with hunger and decrease in wealth and life and fruits. This testing is a necessity so that the believer can give his share of what his belief requires; so that it becomes dear to him in accordance with that he gives for its sake of sacrifice and burden; so that it becomes dear to him in accordance with what he is willing to give for its sake!

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The Journey of a Pilgrim

The Journey of a Pilgrim

He leaves his house happy and contented. He has pledged to his Lord to try hard to make his Hajj Mabroor (i.e. accepted by Allaah The Almighty, performed with the intention of seeking His pleasure only and not to show off, without committing a sin and in accordance with the traditions of the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention )). He dreams of all the good deeds he will perform to please Allaah The Almighty and arrives at the airport feeling as if the heavens and earth are congratulating him on Hajj.

Tension:

At the airport, he has his first brush with reality, when he experiences the extreme overcrowding and flight delays. At first, he attempts to be patient but with the passage of time, he starts running out of patience, especially as all those around him begin to grumble and lose their temper and the atmosphere becomes tense. His eyes survey the pilgrims as they jostle amongst themselves roughly. Some of them start fighting with those responsible for this delay and when he is about to join them, he remembers the verse in which Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {so whoever has made Hajj obligatory upon himself therein [by entering the state of Ihraam], there is [to be for him] no sexual relations and no disobedience and no disputing during Hajj.} [Quran 2:197]

Thus, he stays in his place glorifying and remembering Allaah The Almighty, finding solace in the verse in which Allaah The Exalted Says: {And remember Allaah during [specific] numbered days.} [Quran 2:203]. He finds it to be his best friend and companion, just like the other verse in which Allaah The Most Merciful Says (what means): {And whatever good you do - Allaah knows it.} [Quran 2:197]

This verse urges him to help the others calm down and contain their anger with soothing words, until some of his companions in the hall lowered their voices, seeking the forgiveness of their Lord. He remembered the saying (which means): {And take provisions, but indeed, the best provision is fear of Allaah.} [Quran 2:197]

Change of conditions:

He takes out a book from the folds of his clothing to read the order of the rituals of Hajj and the supplications of the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ). Then, he starts reminding pilgrims of this and they listen to him with rapt attention, their angry expressions changing to cheerful ones and their shouts turning to whispers of remembering Allaah The Almighty, praying and asking Him to confer His blessings upon His Messenger sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ). They are encompassed by a cloud of tranquility when recalling the verse in which Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {And fear Me, O you of understanding} [Quran 2:197]

Time passes quickly and it is time for the plane to take off. People rush towards the plane, attempting to precede one another. He allows them to pass him, while remembering, praising and glorifying Allaah The Almighty, thus abiding by the verse (which means): {and mention the Name of Allaah on known days.} [Quran 22:28]

When he enters the plane, he observes a chaotic scene: everybody is trying to sit in the plane with no order or numbering, even in the first class, whoever bagged the seat and was able to sit there had "won" – or so it seemed. The competition was intense and one brother even started quarrelling with another. For what? For a seat which they would leave after a short while? At this, he remembered the Hadeeth in which the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) said: "‘The Mabroor Hajj has no reward other than Paradise.’ It was said, ‘How can it be Mabroor?’ He said: ‘By feeding the needy and speaking kindly to people.’" So where was ‘kind speech’ in this spectacle? He smiles when he remembers the noble verse which he wanted to act upon and apply (which means): {but righteousness is [in] one who fears Allaah} [Quran 2:189]

He remembers and glorifies Allaah The Almighty and keeps walking quietly until he takes the seat upon which he should have sat, by the will of Allaah The Almighty, whether he had rushed or not. The plane took off and the pilgrims recited the supplication (which means): {"Exalted is He Who has subjected this to us, and we could not have [otherwise] subdued it. And indeed we, to our Lord, will [surely] return."} [Quran 43: 13-14]

Practical examination:

The pilgrims remembered the Hadeeth in which the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) says: "‘No one pronounces Tahleel (saying, La Ilaaha Illallaah (none is worthy of worship except Allaah)) except that he would receive glad tidings.’ The people asked, ‘Of Paradise, O Messenger of Allaah?’ He sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) replied: ‘Yes.’" [At-Tabaraani, with an authentic chain of narrators]

The plane arrives at Jeddah Airport and they are obliged, due to the crowd, to stay in the arrival hall until Allaah The Almighty encompasses them in His mercy. Hour after hour passes while they see nothing but walls and seats and their eyes are fixed on the same door, all hoping that it would open to start the departure procedure. This delay is a practical examination to test if the hearts have attained piety, which has been mentioned repeatedly by Allaah The Almighty in the verses of Hajj, almost nine times. Indeed, how can Allaah The Almighty alone be in the heart of the pilgrim, if he does not remember anything but Him and does not think about anything except obeying and pleasing Him?

Occupying oneself with Allaah The Almighty:

He tells himself, "If I occupy myself with Allaah The Almighty in a way that fills my heart and controls my actions, He will certainly help me. As long as Allaah The Almighty is with you, don't worry about anything else." After this inner dialog, he feels calm and purposeful.

However, some of the pilgrims, in spite of their Ihraam (the sacral state), lose their temper and patience and start grumbling and complaining, to the extent that some of them, in their rage forget to remember Allaah The Almighty. While others would recite Tahleel from time to time, their hearts were occupied with things other than Allaah The Almighty.

Eventually, because every trouble comes to an end, the departure procedures were finally over and the group headed towards Makkah. Within just a few hours of their journey, some of the pilgrims had lost their provisions of righteousness over minor issues. Pilgrims face minor problems continuously during the Hajj, and they should be aware of these to avoid losing their composure, and consequently, their reward.

Buses start approaching the Sacred Mosque and our pilgrim is still reciting the Talbiyah (saying “Labbaykallaahuma Labbayk, Labbayka laa Shareeka laka Labbayk, inalhamda wan ni’mata laka wal-Mulk, laa Shareeka lak”), glorifying and remembering Allaah The Almighty, and shedding tears with humble submissiveness.

When the bus arrives at the building where the pilgrims are to reside during the period of Hajj, they start putting away their luggage while the hearts of some of them are still attached to the world and they start quarreling over the accommodation. This happens at a time when they are preparing for Tawaaf (circumambulation), prayer and Sa’y. This is how Satan works, conniving to distract us from the purpose for which we have come. He keeps away, repeating in his heart and upon his tongue, "Labbayka Allaahumma Labbayk, Labbayka la Shareeka laka Labbayk, Inna Al-Hamda wan-Ni‘mata laka wal-Mulk La Shareeka Lak (O Allaah! I hasten to You. You have no partner. I hasten to You. All praise and grace belong to You and the Sovereignty too; You have no partner)."

He sits quietly, waiting for his turn to use the bathroom, keeping Satan away by remembering Allaah The Almighty and reciting Talbiyah. He remembers the Hadeeth of the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) in which he says: "The Mabroor Hajj has no reward other than Paradise."

There are many afflictions on the path to an accepted Hajj. Pilgrims must remember that if the pleasure of Allaah The Almighty is the only purpose of this blessed journey, then piety is one of the necessities that should accompany the obligation of Hajj.

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Article by: www.islamweb.net/