Visiting Makkah and Madinah for the first time with my family during Umrah was one of the most treasured and meaningful moments of my life. When I first heard the news, I was jumping up and down with excitement, knowing that I would be going to the holy places. I prepared my things and felt a kind of fear mixed with excitement and joy, as I would soon witness the beauty of Islam with my own eyes.
When we reached Makkah and I first saw the glorious Kaaba with my own eyes, I felt blessed and in awe. This was a very sentimental moment, as I had only seen the Kaaba in pictures before. We performed Tawaf by walking around the Kaaba and also performed the ritual of Sa’i by walking between Safa and Marwah. I prayed with all my heart, asking Allah to bless my family, my friends, and everyone. I felt very thankful for being there.
I loved the bright, warm lights of Makkah, and it was amazing to see a large number of people united and performing the rituals peacefully.
After visiting Makkah, we travelled towards beautiful, calm, and peaceful Madinah. Visiting the Prophet’s Mosque was also a pleasing experience, and I felt blessed while my heart was filled with joy. It was amazing to see Muslims of so many nationalities come from all over the world and be united by Islam, just like a massive family of humanity.
This made me realise what a marvellous thing Islam is. Despite speaking different languages and coming from different regions, Muslims gather together for one soul-filling duty. Through this journey, I learned many values, such as patience, helpfulness, and gratitude for everything. I learned to appreciate the blessings of Allah and to take nothing for granted.
My Umrah journey will always be one of the best memories I have made with my beloved family.
It was an amazing, enriching, informative, and soulful experience. I would love to come back again with my whole family one day.
Written by: Anabia Ahmed Sherwani – 4B