10 most beautiful days, ‘DIY’ Ramadan umrah by Astro AWANI reporter
I would like to open the writing of this article by expressing my gratitude and infinite gratitude to Allah SWT for giving me the opportunity to set foot in the Holy Land at the beginning of Ramadan this time to perform Umrah.
Without ever having crossed my mind, my visit was not just about doing worship alone or ‘DIY’ ( do it yourself ), in fact, what made me twice as grateful was that the spiritual journey was me alone without anyone from my homeland to accompany me.
Yes! I went to Mecca and Medina alone to answer the call to perform Umrah and experience fasting in one of the holy cities of Muslims.
Undoubtedly, before leaving for Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), all kinds of feelings nested in the chest.
Afraid and worried especially about health and safety since Umrah this time is done DIY and not through a travel agent.
Leaving on March 14, I arrived safely at King Abdul Aziz Airport, Jeddah around 12.30pm.
Since the ticket to board the Haramain high-speed train to Madinah will only leave as early as 8am, I have to wait around eight hours at the airport to board the next day’s train.
With the time available, I had the opportunity to surround and enjoy the atmosphere of the airport while enjoying a late dinner at the famous fast food restaurant in Saudi Arabia, Al-Baik.
It’s true that the best chicken meal set costs SAR30 (around RM35).
The food offered at the famous fast food restaurant in Saudi Arabia, Al-Baik is very pleasing to the writer.
After cleaning myself and praying Subuh at the surau available at the airport, I headed to the waiting room for the Haramain high-speed train located next to the airport.
Haramain train ticket price to Madinah RM150 one way.
To get to the track, the journey is not far. You only need to walk there and the passenger needs to scan the QR Code on the provided ticket.
For information, tickets can be purchased online at https://www.hhr.sa/home#.
To get to the track, the journey is not far. You only need to walk there and the passenger needs to scan the QR Code on the provided ticket.
At exactly 8 am, the fast train moves to Medina. The atmosphere is very calm during the journey.
Along the way, I surveyed the beautiful scenery while praying for the Great Lord, Prophet Muhammad SAW.
The journey from Jeddah to Madinah took an hour and 45 minutes and I finally arrived safely at Madinah station.
There, I was greeted by a driver named Haji Farid. For your information, Haji Farid is a Malaysian who has been resident in Madinah for a long time and is hired to pick up and deliver passengers to hotels in the city.
Around 30 minutes, our vehicle safely arrived in front of the Movenpick hotel (now known as the New Madinah Hotel).
Located approximately 300 meters from the Nabawi Mosque, the location of the hotel makes it easy to walk to the mosque (enter through Gate 365).
Pilgrims at the Prophet’s Mosque, Madinah.
Subhanallah! Those are the words that came out of my mouth as soon as I arrived on this earth full of blessings.
At the same time, I felt sad because after five years I finally got the sustenance to come back here.
Medina certainly has a very special place in the hearts of all Muslims, especially those who have visited it.
Therefore, the precious opportunity I have is best utilized by spending time sitting in the mosque, performing worship as best as possible.
For information, after the epidemic of COVID-19 hit the world, the activities of visiting the tomb of Prophet Muhammad SAW (Raudhah), pilgrims need to register through the Nusuk application.
Alhamdulillah I managed to get a slot on Friday night. The female pilgrims are required to line up at Gate 37 after finishing the Isyak prayer and are allowed to enter in order.
For those who do not have the opportunity to enter after Isha as the door for the women’s slot closes after 12 midnight, pilgrims can queue at Door 32 after the Fajr prayer because the mosque staff will give them the opportunity to pray near Raudhah.
Female pilgrims wait their turn to enter the Raudhah room.
Although the mosque is getting crowded with visitors, Alhamdulillah He allowed me to pray inside the mosque until the last day I was there. Just come early to get the best spot!
After five days in Medina, it was time to move to Mecca.
To get there, I once again chose to take the Haramain high-speed train.
The journey only takes about 2 hours 45 minutes. Saves more time than taking a bus that takes around seven to eight hours.
The train to Mecca leaves at 2.45pm. After leaving the bag, the pilgrims can start praying in the train.
“Only I perform Hajj/Umrah and I put on Ihram with him for the sake of Allah Taala,” said the intention when the train started moving.
The atmosphere in the Haramain train to Mecca.
Along the journey as well, all the passengers chanted talbiah (Labbaikallah) in a simple voice.
Arriving at Haramain High Speed Railway Makkah station, I was greeted by a driver who is a Malaysian resident in Makkah, Haji Wajdi, who took me to Novotel Thaker.
The challenge starts here when the position of my hotel accommodation is quite far from Masjidil Haram.
Even so, thankfully the hotel provides a shuttle bus from the hotel to the mosque, you only need to walk about 15 minutes from the bus stop to the mosque.
Perhaps for the elderly, it is advised not to choose a hotel location far from the mosque to make it more practical to go back and forth to the mosque while there.
Alhamdulillah, even though Masjidil Haram began to be crowded with pilgrims coming from all over the world, I finished performing the first Umrah around 11pm.
The atmosphere of the mosque that night was really lively. From the place of tawaf to the saei’, all corners are packed!
Although I did not have the opportunity to do pilgrimage activities, I used the opportunity of the available time to worship as best as possible.
Pilgrims crowded into the Grand Mosque area to get a place to pray.
Alhamdulillah, I along with other pilgrims also had the opportunity to perform 10 rakat Tarawih prayers on the night of March 22 at Masjidil Haram.
Even though it is only 10 rak’ahs, the recitation and the sound of the imam’s voice at night make the congregation shed tears.
There are too many experiences that I want to share, however, I would be more than happy if you also take up the challenge to go through this beautiful journey personally.
Something close, I gained a 10-day experience (five days each in Madinah and Mecca) that was quite beautiful and will remain in my memory.
Thank God for this opportunity!
For those who ask if it’s fun to do umrah by yourself in a DIY way, I can only remind you all, don’t ever worry and get angry because God will still take care of you there, God willing.
* Faida Rahim is an Astro AWANI journalist.
source – astro awani
