“Never have I dealt with anything more difficult than my own soul, which sometimes helps me and sometimes opposes me...” - Imam Al-Ghazali
|
(Full house in Masjidil Haram) |
Makkah al-Mukkaramah
(6 - 12 April 2019)
In Makkah we stayed in The Hera Hotel, a decent budget hotel about a kilometre from Masjidil Haram. A good twenty minutes of walking each way, five times daily to perform our prayers.
|
(Makkah sky is covered with clouds) |
|
(Isya Prayer under clear sky at Masjidil Haram) |
|
(The three domes on the rooftop of Masjidil Haram) |
We performed our Umrah almost every day. The travel agent had arranged for two visits to Jaaranah Mosque and Hudaibiyah Mosque where we would have our miqat for the Umrah. The rest of our Umrah, we had our miqat at Saidatina Aishah Mosque, Tana'eem which is the closest miqat location from Makkah.
|
(Completed the tawaf) |
|
(Performing the Sa'ei on the upper floor) |
|
(The crowd after Zohor prayer) |
On the way to have our miqat in Jaaranah we visited some historical attractions around Makkah including Jabal Nur where Gua Hira’ is situated, the Jamrats in Mina and Jabal Rahmah in Arafah. Jabal Rahmah is not just where Nabi Adam AS was reunited with Siti Hawa but Padang Arafah is the location of the defining Wukuf, where believers are challenged mentally and physically during their hajj. We used to climb up Jabal Rahmah to the peak in our younger and stronger days. Then after had a cone of yummy ice-cream. The perfect complement for the hot blazing Arabian sun.
|
(Miqat at Masjid Jaaranah) |
On the day we were scheduled to miqat at Hudaibiyah, the group visited the Haramain Museum. Divided into seven sections, the Haramain Museum offers guided educational tours. But most visitors simply amble along taking in the artifacts and photos of Masjid Nabawi and Masjidil Haram. Though there are no information pamphlets or brochures available, most of the exhibits are well described or self-explanatory.
|
(A visit to the Museum of Two Holy Mosques)
|
|
(One of seven exhibition halls) |
In Hudaibiyah, we performed sunat prayers in Hudaibiyah Mosque. We later visited the remains of the old Hudaibiyah Mosque situated behind the new mosque. In Islamic history, the pivotal Hudaibiyah Treaty was enforced here affirming a ten year peace and removing hostilities between followers in Madinah and the Quraish of Makkah. In this treaty, muslims were allowed to perform their first hajj pilgrimage.
|
(The remains of the historical old Masjid Hudaibiyah) |
On the last day before we leave for the airport, we performed tawaf wida'. This is off peak season but Masjidil Haram was packed with pilgrims from all over the world. Thousands more will descend here
during Ramadhan and millions during the Hajj season.
|
(A view of the Kaabah during tawaf wida') |
|
(Performing the tawaf wida' on a scooter) |
No comments:
Post a Comment