Monday, 20 September 2004

2004 7th Umrah: Madinah al-Munawarah

"Travel brings power and love back into your life..." - Rumi

Madinah al-Munawarah
(16 - 19 September 2004)
Hotel Andalus Plaza, Madinah

Thursday, September 16, 2004
KL - Dubai

We went to KL Sentral by cab and later took the ERL. Met Senator Ubai and her delegation. They were going to Turkey on an early morning flight. Promised to contact each other after our trips. We would be away for nearly 2 weeks. To the three kids, we messaged them before boarding. None were able to come. Sara was sitting for her exam today. Iwan, just came back to KL last week and Ja was in Kuantan. There were 12 in our group led by Haji Husni. He was with TH Travels before. Had dealt with him several times for our previous Umrah packages.

(On the ERL to KLIA)

Reached Dubai International Airport around 1 a.m. The airport was still very busy. It took a while to clear the Immigration and baggage. We were transported to Millennium Hotel for one night transit.
Reached Dubai International Airport around 1 a.m. The airport was still very busy. It took a while to clear the Immigration and baggage. We were transported to Millennium Hotel for one night transit.

(Millennium Hotel Dubai)

We had enough time to rest. Our onward flight to Jeddah would be at 5 p.m. tomorrow.

Friday, September 17, 2004
On a sacred path

We had heavy breakfast at the Hotel restaurant. A few of them chartered a taxi for a private tour around Dubai. Today being a Friday, all shops were practically closed. We decided to stay in the hotel and collected some brochures from the travel agent. Will have ample time to go round and shop during our stopover after the Umrah trip later.

Our flight from Dubai to Jeddah was at 5 p.m. Had to wait a while at Jeddah International Airport until Ustaz sorted out the transport for us. From Jeddah, we traveled by van to Madinah. We were lucky to travel at night. The weather outside was quite unbearable.

Reached Andalus Plaza Hotel around 2 a.m. Managed to get a few hours of sleep before the call of the first azan for subuh prayer could be heard from Masjid Nabawi.

(Masjid Nabawi Madinah)

Saturday, September 18, 2004
Gardens of Jannah

(Andalus Plaza Hotel)
(The courtyard of Masjid Nabawi)
(Our room in Madinah)

Had breakfast right after subuh prayer. The van was already waiting for us for the ziarah. We visited Jabal Uhud and Maqam Saidina Hamzah. Recited doa for the shuhada’. Did solat sunat at Mesjid-el-Quba’, the first mosque of the muslim and at Mesjid-el-Qiblatain, the mosque where the qiblat was changed from Baitul-Muqaddis to Kaabah. At the end of the ziarah stopped at ladang kurma and the tamar souk for a little shopping spree.

(Street vendors at Jabal Uhud)
(Masjid Quba')
(The young jemaah at Masjid Quba')
(Coffee break at Tamar Farm)

After the zuhur prayer promised the ladies to bring them to Maqam Rasulullah and the Raudhah. We were lucky as the crowd was less compared to in the morning. The ziarah to the sacred court of Rasulullah was indeed among the greatest blessings and fortunes for all Muslims. After doa at the Maqam, I took the opportunity to recite the salam from family and friends.

May Allah fill our hearts with the true love of Rasulullah, a love which will manifest itself in our practical life in the assertion and dominance of the Sunnah. Amin…

Rasulullah said, “Between my home and my Mimbar is a garden of the Gardens of Jannah."

Sunday, September 19, 2004
The state of ihram

(Masjid Bir Ali for miqat)

The group gathered in the morning to ziarah the Kubur Baqi’. The fenced-up area was the most sanctified graveyard of Madinah, where friends of Rasulullah and Ahlul Bayt were buried. Inside Baqi’, women's graves were marked by two headstones and men's by one stone. After the visit went to perform the ziarah wida’ to say goodbye to Rasulullah and solat sunat at the Raudhah.

(Masjid Nabawi after Subuh prayer)
(With Ustaz Husni at the mall near Baqi')

By 2.30 p.m. everyone was ready in their ihram to start the journey to Mekkah. Miqat at Bir Ali. Performed the solat sunat ihram and niat for the umrah. Ustaz lead the group to recite the talbiyah together.
'
Here I am at your service,
Oh Lord, here I am - here I am.
No partner do you have. Here I am.
Truly, the praise and the favor are yours,
And the dominion. No partner do you have.

2004: Singapore ðŸ‘‰

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