Mecca #2

Al Haram mosque is the holiest and most revered mosque in Islam, drawing millions of pilgrims from around the world each year... encompassing the sacred Kaabah at its center, the mosque serves as the spiritual heart of the Muslim world and the focal point of both Hajj and Umrah... its vast marble courtyards, majestic architecture, and profound sense of serenity create an atmosphere of deep devotion and reflection... For me, Al‑Haram msoque offers a powerful reminder of faith, unity, and the timeless beauty of worship in the sacred city of Mecca...

Mecca #1

all our clothes will be washed here... detergent is provided; we only need to buy the clothesline from the shop... I also purchased hangers and clips here... breakfast is not provided by Tabung Haji - only lunch and dinner are included... but breakfast is not a problem at all, as there are plenty of places to buy food... there are stalls within Masat Al-Badaya itself (run by Malaysian students and Pattani residents living in Mecca)... along the walk from Al‑Haram mosque to the Maktab, many vendors sell all kinds of breakfast options - Arab, Pakistani, and more... we usually pack the food and enjoy breakfast together in the room...

Schedule in Mecca

while we were in Medina, we were known as the KT09 group, meaning we were the 9th flight departing from Malaysia... upon arriving in Mecca, we were then identified as Maktab 76, which refers to our accommodation grouping - combining pilgrims from different KT batches under one designated hotel...

when we first arrived, many of the rooms were still unoccupied, and as usual, the lifts were not crowded... fortunately, our room this time is on the 2nd floor - not like in Medina where we stayed on the 7th floor... this means just two stairs down to the surau, one more to the dining area, and another three to the lobby... along those levels, there is also a laundry area and a space to hang clothes... 2 floors are reserved for female pilgrims and one for male pilgrims... the room allocation system fills up the 1st floor first, followed by the next levels in sequence...

from today until our departure to Arafah, our routine continues with performing the daily obligatory prayers in congregation at Al‑Haram mosque... for Subuh, Zohor, and Asar, we walk to and from the mosque, as I need to collect lunch and dinner for Walid and Umi... after Maghrib until Isya’, we return to the maktab...

each step of this journey carries great reward - 1.2 km × 8 trips a day means I walk a total of 9.6 km daily... truly a fitness routine in itself... in Malaysia, it’s rare to maintain this level of consistency...

tonight, the Tabung Haji officers will conduct a briefing on the management of Maktab 76, followed by a lecture on the history of Mecca... finally, we will undergo an assessment of our Umrah to ensure that all the rituals were performed correctly... Tabung Haji’s guidance has truly been commendable...

 

Umrah

Alhamdulillah, we have completed the Umrah for this year... after this, we will only need to make the intention for Tamattu’ hajj... the payment for the dam - a sacrificial goat - was already settled before departing from Malaysia... one of the blessings of performing Umrah at this time is that the crowds are not too large, making the experience much more comfortable... my heart feels incredibly at peace when seeing the Kaabah up close... Allahu Akbar... tears of joy flowed as I stood before it... thank you, Allah, for choosing me to be Your guest this year...

Location in Mecca

This is the accommodation area for the pilgrims in Makkah... we were placed in Zone A, at Masat Al‑Badaya... if walking to Al‑Haram mosque, the distance is approximately 1.2 kilometers... during the Hajj season, the walk doesn’t feel far at all because everyone moves together with the same purpose...

Alhamdulillah, we arrived safely at our Maktab 76, Masat Al‑Badaya, around midnight... we rested for a short while in our respective rooms... Subuh prayer was performed in congregation at the surau... the briefing on Tawaf and Umrah was conducted by the Tabung Haji officers after Subuh... after breakfast, we then made our way to Al‑Haram mosque together to perform our Umrah...

 

Bir Ali

Bir Ali, also known as Dhul Hulayfah, is the designated miqat point for us traveling from Medina to Mecca to begin our state of ihram... located approximately 12 kilometers from Medina, Bir Ali holds great historical significance as it is the place where the Prophet Muhammad SAW himself entered ihram during the journey for his farewell Hajj... we stop here to cleanse, pray, and make our intention before continuing our sacred journey... with its peaceful atmosphere and well‑organized facilities, Bir Ali serves as a meaningful and spiritually uplifting starting point for us...

Ihram for Umrah

I trimmed my hair using guard number 2... jus after completing the Saie, I fulfilled the requirement by cutting just three strands of hair... I then took a shower, trimmed my nails, made the intention to enter ihram, took my ablution, and performed the Asar prayer at the hotel... the bus arrived in front of the hotel at 4:30 pm... farewell, Nabawi mosque… I am truly grateful for the opportunity to perform my prayers in congregation so close to the resting place of Rasulullah SAW... I pray that I will be blessed with the chance to return here again in the future... the sadness is real, for the surroundings of Nabawi mosque are exceptionally peaceful... Allahu Akbar...

Final Day in Nabawi Mosque

today is our final day in Madinah, and we took the opportunity to visit the Raudhah once more... however, it was much more crowded this time, with many pilgrims gathered there... we couldn’t stay long, as the police would ask people to move if they lingered too much... after the Zohor prayer, I took some photos with the date and food sellers nearby... every day, at every prayer time, I would eat dates, figs, and nuts from the halal section - items that can be taken freely... at the same time, I also helped promote the shop’s products, and many pilgrims ended up visiting the place... honestly, all the sellers here are genuinely friendly...

Baggage Collection

our routine continued as usual... early in the morning, I bought a jubah for my wife and immediately stored it in the luggage... the highlight of the day was experiencing our second Friday in Medina - we were blessed to perform two Friday prayers at Nabawi mosque... Allahu Akbar... our luggage was tagged at 2 pm and placed outside the room, ready for the staff to transfer it to the transport... since we will be departing for Mecca tomorrow, I took the opportunity to walk around the areas outside the hotel complex... I had to use the underground passageways to get there... Alhamdulillah, I managed to explore the town area of Medina on my own, just strolling around... I also bought a shaver for tomorrow morning... later at night, we enjoyed a delicious kebab there - truly satisfying...

Departure Briefing

the hotel is getting crowded today... sometimes I take the stairs up and down for a bit of exercise... since I’m a hotelier, I’ve been using the staff lift, which is located near the Express POS area for parcels sent to Malaysia... regardless of the situation, performing congregational prayers at Nabawi mosque remains a priority... tonight, there will be a briefing on our departure to Mecca, along with a talk on the pillars of Umrah - essentially a revision session for us...

Medina #3

we always arrive early for Subuh... the cool morning air and the beautiful clouds make it a peaceful start to the day... as the sun begins to rise, the large umbrellas outside the mosque open up automatically... we took a walk around Nabawi mosque... so far, the Raudhah area is still calm, and we are able to spend more time there; even walking in front of it is not crowded yet... it’s still possible to pause for a moment or perform prayers near the main entrance... however, we can already see the number of Hajj pilgrims steadily increasing... I even had the chance to meet a group of Hajj pilgrims from Korea. 

Medina #2

our activities continued as usual... drinking Zamzam water at Nabawi mosque is never a problem, as it is always provided in special dispensers... we usually bring our own bottles and simply refill them there... the number of pilgrims has increased today, although it is still not too crowded... we also met Abang Mahdi’s friend, who happens to know Walid very well... we’ve also made new acquaintances with other pilgrims who have just checked in at the hotel...

Medina #1

our activities continued as usual, focusing on our daily acts of worship... for meals, we collected our breakfast, lunch, and dinner from the dining area on level B1 of the hotel, just like on previous days... today, I had the chance to meet one of the locals, and interestingly, he looked just like the comedian Param... they say there are seven look‑alikes in the world - and I guess I’ve just found one of them here! 

Historical Places

we joined the tour organized by Tabung Haji... there are additional optional tour packages available on other days during our stay in Madinah, but those require separate payment... since Walid is not feeling strong enough to walk long distances, we decided to follow only the tours included in the main schedule... this also gives us more time to focus on our ibadah at Nabawi mosque...

Majeed Date Farm offers us a delightful glimpse into the rich date‑growing heritage of the region... known for its lush orchards and generous hospitality, the farm allows us to stroll among towering date palms while sampling a wide variety of dates - from everyday selections to premium, high‑quality varieties... with its relaxed atmosphere and welcoming staff, this place provides an enjoyable and authentic experience for us looking to appreciate one of Medina’s cherished local treasures... it’s very convenient here - once something is labeled halal, it means we can taste it freely without paying... truly satisfying! we only bought a few to enjoy while in Madinah for now... we’ll save the bulk purchases for Mecca later...

Quba mosque, located on the outskirts of Madinah, is renowned as the first mosque built in Islamic history and holds a special place in the hearts of Muslims worldwide... established by the Prophet Muhammad SWT upon his arrival during the Hijrah, the mosque symbolizes faith, purity, and steadfast devotion... its serene environment, elegant architecture, and deep historical significance make it a cherished destination for us who come to offer prayers and reflect on the early days of Islam... a visit to the mosque is often described as spiritually uplifting and profoundly humbling...

Uhud hill stands as one of the most significant historical landmarks from the time of Prophet Muhammad SAW, symbolizing courage, sacrifice, and unwavering faith... it was here that the famous Battle of Uhud took place, where the Prophet and his companions defended Islam despite facing immense challenges... the hill, along with the surrounding plains where the battle unfolded, serves as a powerful reminder of the lessons of obedience, resilience, and trust in Allah SWT... today, Uhud hill remains a deeply meaningful site for us, offering a profound connection to the struggles and sacrifices of the early Muslim community...