SPIRITUAL JOURNEY : UMRAH 2015 > MEKKAH, SAUDI ARABIA

Hj Zulheimy Maamor

17 April 2024 

Thank you Allah s.w.t. for answering to my prayers all this time to be able to set foot in the Holy Land of Mecca and Medina. Thank you so much to my dear sister who sponsored me and my wife to perform Umrah from December 10 - 19, 2015. May God bless my dear sister with good fortune and good health...Amen.

My wife, sister, niece, and I departed from KLIA airport on December 10, 2015, to perform Umrah in Mecca. We went with the Umrah package of Syarikat Al-Fajr Travel and Tours Sdn Bhd, which is located at Jalan Ipoh - Rawang, Selangor (near Selayang).

We departed on Flynas flight XY 921 at 6.45pm. Flynas Airlines is an airline from Saudi Arabia that was established in February 2007. Formerly known as NAS Air, it launched its maiden flight from Jeddah to KLIA on April 6, 2014.

ARRIVAL JEDDAH - DECEMBER 11, 2015

Thank you, Allah. We landed safely at King Abdul Aziz International Airport in Jeddah at approximately 11.30pm after an 8-hour flight from Kuala Lumpur. Our first challenge in this holy land was being stranded for almost 7 hours at Jeddah Airport. Mutawwif reminds us to be patient because we will face more challenges later. All of this is to bring us closer to Allah S.W.T.

In 2015, King Abdulaziz International Airport (KAIA) in Jeddah was operating its existing North and South terminals while a major new terminal complex was under construction and was initially scheduled to open that year. The airport handled a record number of nearly 30 million passengers despite being over its actual capacity.

A little info about the city of Jeddah

The name Jeddah is said to come from the word 'Jadda' in Arabic or grandmother, referring to the mother of all mankind, Siti Hawa, whose tomb was found in this city. The tomb has somehow been disposed of as an effort by the Government of Saudi Arabia to avoid the act of shirk, worshiping tombs.

Jeddah, the city nicknamed the 'Jewel of the Red Sea', is the gateway to Al-Haramain, the holy cities of Makkah and Medina, a meeting point for traders from all over the world, and also a route to the Holy Land, a reminder of the return. This route was once taken by Siti Hawa to find her lover, Prophet Adam a.s.

The Haram is the sacred boundary of Mekkah within which certain acts are considered unlawful which may be lawful elsewhere. It is prohibited to hunt wild animals, damage any plant or tree, graze animals, carry weapons, fight or behave in a manner that will violate the sanctity of Masjid al-Haram. If a violation is carried out within the precint of the Haram, Damm or Sadaqah is required as expiation.

The boundaries of the Haram are as follows:

1. Taneem – Masjid Aisha, also known as Masjid Taneem, located about 8 km (5 miles) from the Kaaba and 5 km (3 miles) away from Makkah, in the direction of Madinah.
2. Adaat Laban – On the road to Yemen, 11 km (7 miles) away from Makkah.
3. Wadi Nakhla – On the road to Iraq, 11 km (7 miles) away from Makkah.
4. Arafat – On the road to Ta’if, close to Masjid al-Namirah in Arafat, 11 km (7 miles) away from Makkah.
5. Ji’ranah – Masjid al-Ji’ranah, located about 14 km (9 miles) away from Makkah.
6. Hudaibiyah – Masjid al-Hudaibiyah, on the road to Jeddah, about 16 km (10 miles) away from Makkah.

If a pilgrim intends to perform an additional Umrah, Ihram must be assumed outside the boundary of the Haram before reentering Makkah to carry out the rites of Umrah. Many pilgrims choose to enter into the state of Ihram at Masjid Aisha which is the nearest and most convenient location from Masjid al-Haram. Transportation to get to this location is readily available near the mosque.

Pilgrims residing in or travelling through al-Hil must also enter into a state of Ihram before crossing the boundary of the Haram.

After all the documentation at the airport was completed, we were taken by bus to our hotel in Mecca, which is Areej Al-Falah Hotel, to leave our luggage there.

Areej Al Falah Hotel is located at Ibrahim Al Khalil Street in the AshShubaikah/Al Misfalah district,  approximately 500 meters from the Masjid al-Haram.

PERFORM UMRAH - TAWAF, SAIE, MASJIDILHARAM AND KAABA

MEKKAH AL MUKARRAMAH

Makkah or Mecca is located approximately 75 km east of Jeddah. Mecca is the birthplace of Prophet Ismail a.s. and Prophet Muhammad s.a.w and also the place where the first revelation came to the Prophet s.a.w in Gua Hira in Jabal Nur.

In Makkah, Masjidilharam is located, which contains the Kaaba, the Qibla for Muslims all over the world.

Flocks of the Haram pigeons roam the vicinity of the Masjidilharam and around its minarets, and some of them flap their wings and circulate in the neighbourhoods of Mekkah Al Mukarramah. As soon as you come to Mekkah, those birds race against you in receiving visitors and pilgrims. 

Historian Sheikh Mohammed Al-Kurdi says the sanctuary pigeons can be traced  to decendants of the Ababil birds, which were sent by God to destroy and expel the army led by Abraha Al-Ashram. 

Met my mother-in-law and brother-in-law in Mecca. They left a day earlier than us with another group.

Golden Al-Abrar Hotel where my Mother-in-law and brother-in-law staying. 

On the way to and from Masjid al-Haraam there is a small Ice Cream place that sells different flavored ice cream for 5 Saudi Riyals and a topping of your choice for an extra riyal. This is a convenient spot for pilgrims to get a quick refreshment to cool down in the sweltering heat of Makkah.

THE CLOCK TOWER (ABRAJ AL BAIT)

The Abraj al Bait tower (Mekkah Royal Clock Tower) was completed in 2012, reaching a height of 601 meters. In this complex, there are 7 towers, with one tower called Hotel Tower, which can accommodate up to 10,000 people.

While the top clock of this minaret can be seen from all over the city of Mecca, With a diameter of 46 meters, it is the largest clock in the world, five times larger than Big Ben in London.

Upon its 2012 debut, it was recognised as the second-tallest buildng in the world and the world's tallest clock tower.

The tower houses the five-star Fairmont Mekkah Clock Royal Tower Hotel, a five-story shopping mall, and a prayer room capable of accommodating thousand of worshippers. 

13 DECEMBER 2015 - JABAL THUR

A mountain located in the lower part of Mekkah to the south of a district of Misfalah. The height of the mountain is 750 m.

It was within a cave here that the Prophet (PBUH) and his companion Saidina Abu Bakar As-Siddiq r.a hid for three days from the Quraysh tribe. To protect them both, Allah s.w.t had a spider spin a web at a cave's entrance, preventing their enemies from seeing within and finding them. 

MASJID NAMIRAH,ARAFAH

A mosque in Wadi Uranah near Mekkah in a Hejazi region of Saudi Arabia. It is believed to be where the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) stayed before delivering his last sermon in Arafat. During the month of Zulhijjah (9th Zulhijjah), Masjid Namirah is opened and fully packed. I had visited the Mosque during Umrah (2015) dan Hajj (2017) and had pleasant experience.  

MASJID AL KHAIF, MINA

Al-Khaif mosque is the most important mosque in the land of Mina in Mekkah, where the Prophet Muhammad s.a.w performed prayer and delivered one of the speeches of Hajjat al-Wada.

JABAL RAHMAH, ARAFAH

Jabal Rahmah is a hill located in the east of Arafah, about 18 km from the city of Makkah. In Arafah, this is where the pilgrims make their endowment on the 9th of Zulhijjah. In Jabal Rahmah, this is also the meeting place of Prophet Adam and Eve after being brought down from heaven. They had been separated for 40 years and were reunited on this hill. It was also here that the Prophet SAW delivered his last sermon.

JAMARAT BRIDGE

On the way, we passed the Jammarat Bridge, which is a pedestrian bridge in Mina used by Muslims for the Jamarah throwing during the Hajj season. It was built in 1963.

This bridge reminds us of the tragedy of the stampede that claimed 717 lives last Hajj season (September 24, 2015) following the collision of two waves of pilgrims at an intersection.

We also passed through Muzdalifa and Mina, which are used during the Hajj season. However, we didn't have time to stop, so no memorable photos could be recorded.

AIN ZUBAIDAH

Along the way, we were shown the ruins of Ain Zubaidah springs, better known as Ain Zubaidah. Located in Wadi Nu'man, the water used to be channeled to Arafah, then to Wadi Uranah, and then to Mecca.

This spring was built through the efforts of Siti Zubaidah binti Jaafar, also known by her real name, Amatul Aziz. She was the wife of Caliph Harun al-Rasyid when they performed the Hajj to Mecca in the year 186 Hijrah.

Siti Zubaidah built this spring using her own money, without involving government property.

Siti Zubaidah had as many as 100 workers who had memorized the Quran. She died in 216 AH in Baghdad.

WADI MUHASSIR

A valley situated between Mina and Muzfalifah. It is a sunnah to walk brisky through this area when crossing between the two sites. It is a location where the army Abraha was destroyed as they marched towards Mekkah, as mentioned in Surah Al-Fiil. Allah sent flocks of Ababil birds that pelted the invaders with clay stones said to be from Hell and destoyed them

Further reading:

Wadi Muhassir - Destruction of Abraha's Elephant Army

JABAL NUR

Jabal Nur is quite famous in Islamic history. It is located 14 km west of the Grand Mosque and is approximately 642 meters high. It is called Nur, which means "Light," because it is on this hill that Hira Cave is located, where the Prophet s.a.w received the first revelation from Allah s.w.t.

Due to a lack of time, we only passed through and did not have time to stop.

AL-MA'ALA CEMETERY

We were also taken through the Ma'ala cemetery, which is located on the east side of the Grand Mosque. It is the most famous cemetery in Makkah because it is here that the greatest woman, Saidatina Khadijah bt Khuwalid, is buried. She was the wife of Rasulullah s.a.w and also the first person to embrace Islam. However, it is not known where the grave of Saidatina Khadijah is because it has been demolished by the Saudi Arabian Government in an effort to get rid of the practice of worshiping graves. However, I was also able to find pictures on the internet of Saidatina Siti Khadijah's grave before it was demolished.

14 DECEMBER 2015

On this day, the pilgrims will be taken to make miqat in Hudaibiyah to perform the third Umrah.

On the way we stopped at the Camel Farm which I don't remember where it is located in Mecca.

Indeed, Allah s.w.t has created camels with many virtues. Allah has said in Surat Al-Ghasiyah verse 17, which means, "Then do they not pay attention to the camel, how it was created?"

This camel is not only able to survive in the hot and extreme desert weather, but it can also live without water for 3 weeks.

MASJID HUDAIBIYAH

After the visit at the Camel farm, we were taken to the Hudaibiyah Mosque which is located on the old Jeddah Road in an area known as Al-Shumaisi, near the city of Mekkah, Saudi Arabia. Masjid Hudaibiyah is approximately 24 km from Masjid Al-Haram. 

It is a mosque which marks the location of the Treaty of Hudaibiyah, a peace agreement between the Prophet s.a.w and the Quraysh tribe of Mekkah. It is used as a Miqat for pilgrims intending to enter into ihram. 

After changing into Ihram, the pilgrims are taken back to Mecca to perform the third Umrah.

TAWAF WIDA (FAREWELL TAWAF)

Today we will leave Mecca to go to Madinah al Munawarrah. Before that, the pilgrims are required to do Tawaf Wida' (Farewell Tawaf).

The tawaf is to be performed after the completion of Umrah right before leaving Mekkah. In order to performed Tawaf Al-Wada, we have to circumambulate the Holy Kaaba seven times and pray two Rakaats (not mandatory). This tawaf do not include Saie between Safa and Marwah. 

I feel sorry for my wife because she is sick at the moment, so she can only wave from outside the Grand Mosque. I perform Tawaf Wida' together with my sister and niece.

So sad to leave the beautiful city of Mekkah, Alhamdulillah it was an amazing experience to perform Umrah. 

May Allah grant everyone the opportunity to visit Mekkah and Madinah, Is Sha Allah....Ameen

Next:

SPIRITUAL JOURNEY : UMRAH 2015 > MADINAH AL MUNAWARRAH

Hj Zulheimy Maamor

Lembah Keramat, KL

18 April 2024 > 9 Syawal 1445H: 7.41 p.m

HAJJ JOURNEY 2017 - RETURN TO THE HOMELAND

Hj Zulheimy Maamor

17 April 2024

After being in the Holy Land for 39 days, it was finally time for us to return to our Motherland. It is a human habit when we are abroad for a long time, we will definitely miss our homeland, our food, and our hometown.

Although it is sad to leave the land of the ambiya, the ahlul bayts, the companions, the ulama, and awliyah in Mecca and Medina, but we have to go home when the time comes.

We were instructed to be at the lobby outside the hotel at 4.30 a.m to board the bus to King Abdul Aziz Airport in Jeddah.

The journey from Madinah to Jeddah takes almost 4 hours, covering a distance of approximately 417 km. We then stopped at a rest stop that I didn't even know where it was because we weren't informed by the Hajj officials.

KING ABDUL AZIZ INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA

The Malaysia Airlines flight MH 8359 that will take us home. The flight takes 9 hours 5 minutes with a distance of 7074 km. The most popular airlines for this route apart from Malaysia Airline are AirAsia, Flyadeal, IndiGo Airlines and Batik Air Malaysia. 

 

My Hajj brothers and sisters, who were together, we went through all the difficulties and happiness we had during the 39 days in the Holy Land of Mecca and Medina.... May the friendship between us not end here... In sha Allah we will meet at another time... The memories we all have together are some of the sweetest moments in my life...

WITH THE HOPE OF A BLESSED HAJJ ... AMIN...

MH 8359 LANDED KLIA 08.07 A.M

Alhamdulillah, we landed safely at Kuala Lumpur International Airport, Sepang at 8.07am, earlier than scheduled. So, this is the end of our 2017 Hajj journey. In sha Allah, if there is sustenance from God, we pray to God that we would be able to set foot in the Holy Land again, maybe for Umrah later... Ameen...

It is also common for pilgrims to shop for momentos to bring as gifts to loved ones back home. Prayer rugs, prayer beads, Qurans, clothing, and Zamzam water are the most popular items. 

Those whom Allah favored to perform Hajj, should be thankful to Allah, Glorified and Exalted be He, who has chosen us from among His servants to perform these acts of worship, and should implore Almighty Allah to accepts our good deeds. 

"O Allah, our Lord, grant me a successful Hajj and forgive the sins of the servant and the work of the Hajj that is praised, the pious practices that are accepted, and the business that is not harmful."

The Prophet s.a.w said:

"The reward of Haji Mabrur, (the one accepted by Allah) is nothing but Paradise."

For a person returning from Hajj, it is often a bit of shock to return to "regular life" upon returning home. The old habits and temptations come back, and one must be vigilant in changing one's life for the better and remembering the lessons learned during the pilgrimage. It is the best time to turn over a new leaf, nurture a life of faith, and be extra vigilant in fulfilling Islamic duties.

At the end of their sojourns, pilgrims are often spent, but feel renewed and closer to God. According to The Prophet (PBUH), those who perform Hajj will return without sins, like the day they were born.

Those who have performed the Hajj are often called by an honorific title, “Hajji,” (one who has performed the Hajj).

ALLAHU AKBAR

Hj Zulheimy Maamor

Lembah Keramat, KL

17 April 2024 > 8 Syawal 1445H: 1.23 a.m