Day 04: Makkah – Ja‘ranah, Our Third Umrah...

 “Some days on this journey are not carried by strength, but by quiet perseverance and faith...”

(Riding on a buggy for Tawaf and Saie)

Day 04: 24/01/26 (Saturday)
Activity: Makkah - Ja'ranah and various ziarah sites
Hotel: Safwah Hotel Mekkah

I woke up this morning with a sore throat and a slight fever. I hoped a Panadol would help, but instead my body felt heavier and weaker. After Subuh prayers on the rooftop, I kept breakfast light so as not to upset my stomach. Hubby, on the other hand, was clearly enjoying himself, sampling pastries and cakes with delight. I couldn’t blame him; the breakfast spread was tempting.

Later in the morning, our group set out on a road trip to Ja‘ranah, another prominent miqat for Umrah. Along the way, we stopped at several significant sites on the outskirts of Makkah, Jabal Thur, the Hajj sites of Jamrat, Mina and Muzdalifah, and finally the historic Jabal Rahmah at Mount Arafat. The heat, the crowd, and the long walk to Jabal Rahmah drained me completely. Not even my favourite ice cream could soothe the sore throat and pounding headache.

At Masjid Ja‘ranah, we performed our sunnah ihram prayers and recited our niat for the third Umrah. Once the talbiah was recited, exhaustion took over and I slept most of the way back to Haram. Back at the hotel, we quickly booked a buggy online and made our way to the top floor of Masjidil Haram for tawaf and sa‘ie. Alhamdulillah, we completed our Umrah just in time for Asar prayers.

By then, my body had clearly reached its limit. I skipped dinner, focused on drinking plenty of water, and rested. The planned visit to Ka‘Kiah Wholesale Market and the famous Nasi Unta restaurant was eventually cancelled, perhaps everyone felt the same quiet fatigue.

By 9.00 pm, I was already in bed. The night was restless, interrupted by frequent trips to the bathroom, but beneath the discomfort was a sense of gratitude. Even in weakness, Allah allowed me to complete the Umrah. Some days are not about strength or comfort, but about preseverence, tired, unwell, and still trusting that every step is counted.