Last year I visited 4 cities of Saudi Arabia, Jeddah , Mecca, Medina and Badar and I ain’t forget the memories of that journey.
On October 25, 2017 ( Wednesday) I with my family around 10'O clock reached Jeddah and after visa clearance my journey started towards Mecca. AT 3:30 PM, we were in mecca and after getting room keys we started moving towards Haram Shareef to perform Umrah.
I lowered my eyes and asked my sister to hold my hand because I wanted to see Kaaba closely and when there was a distance of 3 to 4 feet she said we’ve reached then I looked at the Kaaba and that was the most beautiful moment of my life. I performed my Umrah and after that went back to hotel for rest.
Next morning around 3:30 am again I went back to Haram and after Fajr prayer I touched Kaaba for the first time, well I can’t express those feelings and the whole day passed.
On Friday because of was great rush, they closed the entrance and I offered my fajr prayer on the 1st floor and after that I forgot the way. I started walking in a straight direction and I was at mecca library where the Holy Prophet ( PBUH ) was born. I was happy that I forgot the way and after that I started forgetting the ways.
4th day was amazing, after Fajr prayer I with my family went to Al-Noor mountain, the cave of Hira. I was holding my breakfast and monkeys started chasing me. I did’t want to give them my breakfast but I had to. But when they ate it then I felt happiness because the monkey called its young ones and they ate it together like a family. It took one and a half hour to reach the top of the mountain. I couldn't go inside the cave. Then we moved towards Arafat mountain and I offered my Asar prayer there. Visited other places of Mecca like Nimra Mosque.
Sunday was also amazing, we went to the Al-Thawr Mountain ( جبل ثور ), its height is about 4600 feet so I asked my father to take rest and said, “I will call after reaching the top then you will also see the cave from inside.” As the cave is on the top of mountain. My father agreed. I with my brother started my journey. when we were about to reach the top, I called my father to inform him that we’ve reached and he said “ I will be there in 30 minutes.” I said him the route is dangerous but he didn’t agree and came. It took about 3 hours to reach the top. I spent some time in the cave where the Holy Prophet ( ﷺ ) lived for 3 days.In the evening we went to Mecca exhibition center. The best place to know the history. Old coins , letters , everything is there.
Next day I performed another Umrah and then 31st October came, my last day in Mecca. That was a sad day for me. My 3 wishes were fulfilled on this day. I was doing Tawaf , I wished to pray inside Hateem ( Round circle around Kaaba) , I already had prayed there but due to crowd I didn’t get another chance. There was also rush at that time but somehow I got the chance. Then Zuhr time started, I stopped doing Tawaf and wished to pray in the first line. I was in the 2nd line but again my wish was fulfilled. The police man came and he canceled the 1st line and automatically I was in the 1st line. Then I wished, I want to touch the Aswad Stone and after prayer when I started my Tawaf again I got that chance also. In the evening , I did my last Tawaf with my family.
November 1, 2017, I prayed Fajr prayer on my favorite place and then my father said, “ Lets go Ali, we’re getting late.” That was most difficult time for me.
Leaving Mecca was not easy for me. I wanted to go back again but I couldn't. Those were best 7 days of my life. I was also happy because the next stop was Medina.
Do you have any memorable journey to share?
