As people from all over the world are experiencing the most humbling and rewarding moment of their lives during Hajj season, it is really about time to share with you my trip details to Medina and Umrah, that I was blessed to perform last February.
The visa process is very easy, I got it online from the dedicated platform, as both my USA and Schengen visas expired else I could have used them to go. After getting the visa, make sure to download Nusuk app to reserve your Umrah spot, and if you were lucky enough to find a spot to pray in Al Rawda Al sharifa in Medina.
My trip from Lebanon was a bit long as there are not direct flights to Medina and the MEA direct flights to Jeddah are not convenient time wise, so I took Royal Jordanian with a stop in Amman to reach Jeddah after and I took the train (I pre-booked the ticket earlier) to Medina.
Make sure to put a mask on to minimize any possible infection while you are surrounded by the crowd, take a tote bag with you to put your shoes in it, a prayer mat and comfortable shoes. Keep your spirit open and focus on the prayer and dua’ .
Medina
I stayed in Elaf al Taqwa hotel, few steps away from the Prophet’s ﷺ Mosque, and I would recommend it not only for the location but also for the amazing service.
Let us check now the top places that you need to include in your visit.
Al-Masjid an-Nabawi asharif (The Prophet’s ﷺ Mosque): the second holiest mosque in the world, and the second mosque built by the Prophet ﷺ after that of Quba, The rewards of praying in Masjid al Nabawi is better than 1000 prayers in any other Mosque. It has the Rawdah al-Mutahhara (The Rawdah): it is a small area between the Prophet ﷺ and the Minbar; it is believed to be one of the gardens of Paradise, if you want to pray there, you have to prebook your time slot on Nusuk app. The chamber adjacent to the Rawdah holds the tombs of the Prophet ﷺ and his two companions Abu Bakr and Umar, under the Green Dome that was constructed in 1817 CE during the reign of the Ottoman sultan Mahmud II and painted green in 1837 CE. If you were not lucky to get a spot, men can always use Bab Al Salam, to pass and pay their prayers to the Prophet ﷺ and women can use the door 21 which is open after Fajr and Isha prayers to pray behind the Rawdah.
Jannat al-Baqi’ (Baqi’ Cemetery): near the Prophet ﷺ Mosque where many companions of the Prophet ﷺ, as well as members of his family, are buried, however women are not allowed there.
Quba Mosque: is the first mosque built by the the Prophet ﷺ after his arrival in Medina. he Prophet (ﷺ) said “Whoever purifies himself in his house, then comes to the mosque of Quba and prays in it, he will have a reward like the Umrah pilgrimage.
Mount Uhud: Mount Uhud is a mountain range located north of Medina. It holds historical significance as the site of the Battle of Uhud, a key battle in early Islamic history. Pilgrims often visit the mountain to pay their respects to the martyrs (Sayyedna Hamza’s tomb there).
Masjid al-Qiblatain (Mosque of the Two Qiblas) and Masjid al-Qubah (Mosque of Qubah), which hold historical significance for Muslims as the place where, afterProphet ﷺ received the command to change the Qiblah (Direction of Prayer) from Alquds to Mecca.
Check below the reel that summarized my trip, and I pray that we all have the opportunity to go there, at least once, and if you go please keep me in your Dua’.
Umrah
As I left a piece of my heart in Medina, I took the train (pre book your ticket) to Makkah, and there I stayed in Sheraton Makkah Jabal Al Kaaba Hotel, which is also few steps from Haram. Here are some important things to know about the Umrah, details via Hajj Umrah Planner. I also recommend downloading المطوف – مناسك الحج والعمرة app. Make sure to pray there as many prayers as possible as one prayer is equivalent to one hundred thousand prayers elsewhere.
Ihram: The state of ritual purity and intention. After the Ghussul, you pray two rak’ahs, change into Ihram clothes: for men two white, unstitched cloths and simple modest abaya for women. Make the Niyyah (intention) لَبَّيْكَ اَللَّهُمَّ عُمْرَةً ❁. It depends on where are you coming from, the miqat of ihram is announced usually on any mode of transportation, be careful to have your ihram clothes on already and start talbiya لَبَّيْكَ اَللَّهُمَّ لَبَّيْكَ – لَبَّيْكَ لَا شَرِيكَ لَكَ لَبَّيْكَ – إِنَّ الْحَمْدَ وَالنِّعْمَةَ لَكَ وَالْمُلْكَ – لَا شَرِيكَ لَكَ till you reach Makkah.
Once you enter Makkah, recite اَللَّهُمَّ هَذَا حَرَمُكَ وَأَمْنُكَ فَحَرِّمْنِي عَلَى النَّارِ ❁ وَأَمِنِّي مِنْ عَذَابِكَ يَوْمَ تَبْعَثُ عِبَادَكَ ❁ وَاجْعَلْنِي مِنْ أَوْلِيَائِكَ وَأَهْلِ طَاعَتِكَ. Head to Masjed Al Haram and enter using the dedicated door, step through with your right foot first and recite the supplication for entering a mosque. Either or both of these supplications may be recited: بِسْمِ اللهِ ❁ اَللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ ❁ اللّٰهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِي وَافْتَحْ لِي أَبْوَابَ رَحْمَتِكَ.
Upon seeing the Kaaba for the first time, raise your hands and make du’a with the utmost concentration and sincerity, as this is among those places where prayers are answered. Remember to recite Salawat upon the Prophet ﷺ when making du’a اَللَّهُمَّ زِدْ هَذَا الْبَيْتَ تَشْرِيفاً وَتَعْظِيماً وَتَكْرِيماً وَمَهَابَةً ❁ وَزِدْ مَنْ شَرَّفَهُ وَكَرَّمَهُ مِمَّنْ حَجَّهُ أَوْ اعْتَمَرَهُ تَشْرِيفاً وَتَكْرِيماً وَتَعْظِيماً وَبِرّاً
Tawaf: Around the Kaaba seven times in a counterclockwise direction. Position yourself in line with the corner of the Kaaba where the Hajar al-Aswad is situated. There is a green light on the wall of the Masjid opposite the Kaaba, which indicates where the Tawaf starts from. This is the starting point of each shawt (circuit). Stand just before this starting point facing the Kaaba:
Kissing – If you reach the Hajar al-Aswad, place your hands on it, put your face between your hands, and say (بِسْمِ اللّٰهِ وَاللّٰهُ أَكْبَرُ)” and kiss it lightly.
Touching – If you’re in reaching distance but unable to kiss it, touch it with your hand(s) and kiss your hand(s).
Saluting – If it isn’t possible to reach the stone, as is likely to be the case, perform a symbolic Istilam from afar by directly facing the Hajar al-Aswad and raising your hands up to your earlobes and say (بِسْمِ اللّٰهِ وَاللّٰهُ أَكْبَرُ).” no need to kiss your palms.
Turn to your right and start the first circuit of your Tawaf, ensuring the Kaaba is on your left. Proceed in an anti-clockwise direction and avoid walking through the Hijr Ismail.
During your Tawaf, you may recite prayers and supplications of your choice.
Upon reaching the Rukn al-Yamani (the Yemeni Corner), if you manage to get close enough, touch it with your right hand or both hands and say (اللّٰهُ أَكْبَرُ)”. If there’s too much congestion, as is likely to be the case, proceed without saying Takbir or gesturing towards it. It is a sunnah to recite the following du’a between the Rukn al-Yamani and the Hajar al-Aswad: رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِي الْآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ.
Returning to Hajar al-Aswad marks the completion of one circuit. Begin the second by doing Istilam of Hajar al-Aswad as previously described. You will be performing Istilam eight times in total during the Tawaf, one before the start of the Tawaf and one at the end of each of the seven circuits. The Tawaf should be completed in a continuous manner with no interruptions between circuits. However, if a congregational prayer is due to start, you must join the congregation and resume your Tawaf from the position that you stopped. If you are in a state of Idtiba, cover your shoulder with your Ihram.
Salah: Upon finishing the Tawaf, perform two rak’ahs of salah, preferably in a position where Maqam Ibrahim is between you and the Kaaba. If it isn’t possible to perform the prayer there due to crowding, it can be performed anywhere in Masjid al–Haram. While moving to the place where you intend to perform the two rak’ahs, it is recommended to audibly recite the following:وَاتَّخِذُوا مِنْ مَقَامِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ مُصَلًّى . It is sunnah to recite Surah al-Kafirun (Surah 109) in the first rak’ah and Surah al-Ikhlas (Surah 112) in the second, after Surah al-Fatiha.
After completing salah and making du’a, drink your fill of Zamzam water, which is available around the Tawaf area and from various water fountains and dispensers in Masjid al-Haram. The Prophet ﷺ said: “The water of Zamzam is for whatever purpose it is drunk for.” make an intention that its consumption will be a means of fulfilling your wishes, اللّٰهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ عِلْمًا نَافِعًا ❁ وَرِزْقًا وَاسِعًا ❁ وَعَمَلًا مُتَقَبَّلًا ❁ وَشِفَاءً مِنْ كُلِّ دَاءٍ
Sa’i: Walking seven times between the hills of Safa and Marwah. Proceed to the hill of Safa, which is located inside Masjid al-Haram, in line with the Hajar al-Aswad. There are signs which indicate where it is. As you’re approaching Safa, it is sunnah to recite the following: إِنَّ الصَّفَا وَالْمَرْوَةَ مِنْ شَعَائِرِ الله and then recite أَبْدَأُ بِمَا بَدَأَ اللهُ بِهِ ❁ Upon reaching the hill of Safa, face the direction of the Kaaba and raise your hands in supplication, It is sunnah to recite the following du’a:اللّٰهُ أَكْبَرُ ❁ اللّٰهُ أَكْبَرُ ❁ اللّٰهُ أَكْبَرُ ❁ وَلِلّٰهِ الْحَمْدُ ❁لَآ إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللّٰهُ وَحْدَهُ لاَ شَرِيكَ لَهُ ❁ لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ ❁ يُحْيِي وَيُمِيتُ ❁ وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ ❁لَآ إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللّٰهُ وَحْدَهُ ❁ اَنْجَزَ وَعْدَهُ وَنَصَرَ عَبْدَهُ وَهَزَمَ اَلْأَحْزَابَ وَحْدَهُ ❁After reciting this du’a, you may recite your own supplications. Read the du’a a total of three times, making your own supplications in between each time, as was the sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ. From Safa, make your way towards Marwa. Between Safa and Marwa, you will encounter two sets of green fluorescent lights approximately 50 metres apart, which indicate the distance that Hajar ran in order to get to higher ground. These two markers are known as Milayn al-Akhdharayn (the Two Green Mileposts). Between these two lights, it is sunnah for men to run at a medium pace while women should continue normally. No fixed dhikr or du’a has been prescribed to be read during Sa’i, so you may recite any prayers or supplications of your choice and send Salawat upon the Prophet ﷺ. Upon reaching the hill of Marwa, face the direction of the Kaaba, raise your hands in supplication and repeat the same supplications you recited at Safa. This completes one lap of Sa’i. Returning back to Safa is considered a second lap. Repeat this procedure until you have completed seven laps, at which point you should be at the hill of Marwa. It is recommended that you make a final du’a here and perform two rak’ahs of nafl salah in Masjid al-Haram following Sa’i.
Halq or Taqsir: Shaving the head (for men) or cutting a small portion of hair (for women) in order to leave the state of Ihram and complete your Umrah.
If you plan on performing another Umrah, you must travel to the boundary of the Haram in order to once again enter into Ihram. Most pilgrims choose to enter into Ihram at Masjid Aisha, which is the nearest and most convenient location from Masjid al-Haram. Taxis are available near the mosque.
Here is also a reel that I prepared with all the details, may Allah accept our deeds, keep me in your Dua’, and may we be next year among the pilgrims.
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XOXO
La Petite
Style, Travel and Lifestyle blogger 