Umrah Vibes
If you haven’t performed Umrah yet, after reading this you will want to go.
My umrah trip starts long before even boarding the flight to Saudi. I remember watching endless YouTube videos centered around;
Umrah experiences and what to expectHow to perform Umrah properly
How to get the most out of Umrah
What dua’s (prayers) to make when there
All to prepare me better, see performing Umrah is not a typical holiday, rather it’s a pilgrimage, with specific rituals which must be followed to validate you have completed it. For me, I wanted to truly experience Umrah, rather than simply doing it.
It was around July 2023, when we confirmed and booked the tickets. The feeling was surreal in knowing we were going to Makkah & Medinah.
Fast forward x10 (4 months later) arriving in Medinah, going through airport security and hearing the adhan for Fajr as we arrived at our hotel, the influx of people was astonishing. 5:30am and the streets were packed, a stark difference to how I am use to experiencing Fajr in England, cold, dark and rainy, for the most part.
Medina had a surrealness to it, everything was peaceful, people were welcoming, the only thing missing was good restaurants…
Masjid-Al-Nabawi - Pre Maghrib
What made this trip to Medina special, was it prepared us for Umrah. I don’t think I’ve ever been to the mosque five times in one day, let alone staying in the mosque for hours after. It was humbling - it made me realise how fast we live our lives.
Being in a state where the focus was on prayer and the Quran throughout the day with minimal distractions really did increase my level of taqwa (God-consciousness). Which made the trip to Makkah much easier, as that’s where you step it up a gear.
Below are a host of pictures to remind myself how special the trip was. Also, hit me up if you need a model for thobes.
A few core memories on this trip to share:
Arriving on a Friday, in Madinah, meant one thing and one thing only, Jummu’ah. My core focus was being in the front few rows of the Prophet’s (SAW) mosque. Speaking to people before arriving, they mentioned getting there 2 hours before, so ofc I got there 3 hours before the Iqamah (commencement of the prayer). It was a memory I will likely not forget, a truly special Jummu’ah.
The journey from Medinah to Makkah, on the Haramain train. Board the train and after 5 minutes you hear the announcement you are entering the Miqat point, that’s when the intention to perform Umrah starts and you enter a state of Ihram (specific rituals are to be observed). It was a 2 hour journey, made much better by the AC blasting as you accelerate through the desert.
Performing Umrah, the Tawwaf (7 times around the Ka’aba), touching the Ka’aba’s kiswah was a highlight. Also trying to get my mum to do the same despite 20 malay women all vying for the same spot, but we got there. Safaa and Marwa, walking between the two hills, and praying Maghrib there. The whole ritual was surreal and surprisingly smooth.
Shaving my head, which was lowkey liberating. Seeing my dads face as though he had a new son. The barber has me in and out in 3 minutes and I paid a fraction of the price that I would for a fade back home. Explaining it to my colleagues was another story though.
Maghrib and Isha time in Masjid Al’Haram was special, the amount of people swarming inside was immense. Praying side by side with my dad was special. Seeing people from all areas of the world in one place, with one purpose, again that feeling you wouldn’t get anywhere else.
Post Umrah, I must have spoken to 5 people separately about my experience as they too were planning a trip. Despite everything I watched, read and thought about pre the trip, nothing prepares you for the feeling when you are actually out there.
It’s unique and personal. You come back a changed individual. More intentional, more focused.
Let me know some of your top Umrah experiences, and if you haven’t been yet I pray you go soon inshAllah.
