Umrah Day 04: Makkah – Ja’aranah - Makkah

“If you lose money you lose much, if you lose friends you lose more, if you lose faith you lose all...”- Eleanor Roosevelt

(A cloudy and misty morning at Jabal Rahmah)

Day 04: 22/08/24 (Thursday)
Route: Makkah – Ja’aranah - Makkah
Hotel: Makkah Pullman Zamzam Hotel

Breakfast was at Al Zahra Restaurant. It was a rushed breakfast because we had to board the 7.00 am bus for ziarah and later miqat at Masjid Al Ja’ranah for our third umrah.

 

(A good spread of food for breakfast) 

(Looking for souvenirs)

(On the bus for the half-day tour)

On the way to Ja'aranah, we had a tour of interesting and historical areas around Makkah. Our first stop was at Jabal Thur, a mountain about 4 km south of the Makkah. Jabal Thur is very synonymous with a cave known as Gua Thur where Prophet Muhammad and Saidina Abu Bakar had hidden while on his way out of Makkah to migrate to Madinah.

 

(A group photo at Jabal Thur)

(Pigeons flying over our heads)

Our next stop was at Jabal Rahmah. Based on Islamic history, it is believed that after being taken out of Jannah and placed back on Earth on Jabal Arafah where Prophet Adam and Hawa reunited. Jabal Arafah is known as “Mountain of Mercy.” It is also the place where Prophet Muhammad stood and delivered the Last Sermon, also known as Khutbah al-Wada, to his companions and all Muslim pilgrims who accompanied him on the Hajjat ul-Wada. After visiting Jabal Rahmah, the bus drove passed Mina, Muzdalifah and the three Jamrats.

  

(A group photo at Jabal Rahmah)

(Wet and misty weather)

(The crowd at the summit)

We reached Masjid Ja’ranah about 11.30 am. This mosque on the road to Taif is an important place for Muslims, especially those who are preparing for Hajj or Umrah. The Prophet Muhammad after the Battle of Hunaian, stopped at Masjid Jaanah and entered Ihram here before continuing to the holy city. That is why Masjid Jaaranah is a popular miqat area, especially for residents of Makkah.

(Miqat at Masjid Ja'aranah)

(The main prayer hall)

We were back late and missed solat Zohor berjemaah in Masjidil-haram. We had Lunch at the Food Court of ZamZam Tower. A Burger King meal and beef pilaf rice were a bit on the expensive side.

(The view from the food court)

Today we had to perform our Tawaf on the upper floor as the Mattaf area was fully packed. Half way we stopped for Maghrib prayers, then continued to complete the seven rounds of tawaf. We rode on the golf cart buggy for Saie. Isya' prayers was performed at the Massa area.

 

(Stopped for Maghrib prayers, halfway through our tawaf)

(Isya' prayers at the Massa area after performing the saie)

It was raining heavily when we left Masjid al-Haram. For dinner we had roti canai and beef curry at the Safwah Tower food court. The curry was super-hot and delicious.