After the welcome back chit-chat from yesterday where I gave some snippets of Hajj, I browsed through my phone and found I had just enough images to do a little walk through with you guys so doing a little photo story of our Hajj today.
But first, can I just thank you guys for the terribly generous messages on my post yesterday? I kid you not, I got a little emotional over reading so many mubarakbaads. It turned out to be such an important journey for me (other than doing the farz bit), that every message got me overwhelmed. Thank you.
Back to this, I’m starting from the day we set off for Makkah. (feeling such unexpected excitement as I type this :))
Hanging at Dubai airport in the check-in line for Jeddah. Changing into the ihraam at the airport, getting ready for duas during your flight, the pilot welcoming you specifically for Hajj, people saying Talbiyah on the way, it’s all goosebumps 🙂 Felt like such a slow but powerful welcome to our Hajj. The wait at Jeddah airport was super long, but you know what, there is no better intro to the experience you’re up for. Seeing Muslims from practically everywhere altogether, it made me so emotional (and usually I’m a zero when it comes to such stuff). Also quite fun to see how bright and cheerful some of the nationalities are – like most of the Indonesian Hajj groups attire was coordinated jackets, matching bright yellow/green bags and the best one: tiny pink bows on the top of the women’s hijabs. I mean, imagine seeing a cluster of pink bows busily drifting in one direction – so cute.
Doing our Umrah the day we got to Makkah. We rested at the hotel a bit and then went to the mosque around midnight; it was semi-crowded but very peaceful. Nabeel’s done a few Umrahs before so he’d seen the Kaaba. But my friends, I hadn’t, and while I’m pretty matter-of-fact about most things, this one really blew me away. I don’t know what it is about it, but the Kaaba stuns you. I know people say that all the time and you hear it and you’re like sure, okay but really, truly, it does. I had a bit of a struck-by-lightning kind of moment for a while; I just couldn’t stop looking at it. Anyhow, once I realized I could come many more times and hang out to my heart’s content, we said some prayers and did our Umrah (my first one ever, so I’ll let you imagine my excitement).
Hanging outside the Grand Mosque. The streets our Prophet (PBUH) walked, the place he lived his life. And then you and I get to hang at the same spots…! You hear it, you imagine it, but being in the place where he was and all that happened here, GOOSEBUMPS. This may sound wrong, but I always felt a deep respect for our Prophet (PBUH) but never the kind of love that you’re expected to have. Being here, imagining his life, his journey, I finally understand that love. Hajj is an obligation, sure, but coming to this place gives you a connect with your history that I definitely didn’t have. If you can come here sooner than you planned, you won’t regret it.
Casual strolls inside the Grand Mosque between prayers.
Waiting for namaz like a good Muslim cuppalz.
Waiting for Jumma prayers together in the courtyard of the Mosque. It was crazy hot but it was also memorable. (p.s. we went 5 hours early and still couldn’t get inside, if you want to pray inside on Friday, go the night before and sleep there, otherwise take loads of water and get ready to bake in the sun).
My fan and me using all waiting time to read duas, etc.
Nightly walks to the Mosque.
Chilling in our room, waiting for the bus to take us to our cheaper and a little further-from-the-mosque accommodation (we were right opposite the Mosque the first few days).
Our room in Aziziya. This place was about 15 minutes from the Mosque but a big bonus for the actual days of Hajj because it was so much closer to Mina where you get to camp (and have to walk back from during the Hajj days because the roads are closed).
Long distance twin-bed relationship in our room in Aziziya courtesy the flu. I tried to keep my distance from Nabeel so he wouldn’t get it but resistance is futile, friends, everyone falls sick.
Major exam prep vibes for the night before Hajj. Listed down all my duas for Arafat (Arafat is where all your duas come true and I really believe that). I didn’t want to forget anything so I wrote pages and pages, Nabeel actually thought I had lost my mind 🙂 But it worked out well for me because I didn’t spare a second not asking for something the entire time in Arafat (except lunch time and a cheat break to meet Nabeel and compare notes).
The start of Hajj (such a feeling to recall). Camping in Mina in tents with women and doing namaz time like this.
I really learnt the value of tasbeeh on this trip. I always saw the tasbeeh as something extra, didn’t see much value for it. Until we were in Mina, where I didn’t want to lose out on any time and just pray constantly. I used the tasbeeh to do continuous zikr and it helped me SO much. You don’t really have to do a ‘100 times’ or ’50 times’ of anything, you do what you want to do. But going a set number of times on any dua just helped give me a goal and kept me focused.
Praying under the sky in Arafat, the most grand day of all. I kept reading the day of Arafat is the best day ever and it never really hit me until I got there. Life changing, soul cleansing, eye-opening, major connection building with Allah. You look around you and everyone is asking from God and yet you turn to your duas and it’s like He’s only listening to you. I asked for duas like there was no tomorrow. I prayed and prayed and prayed.
Long walks from Mina to the Mosque the last few days of Hajj. It’s hot, sweaty and the distances are very long. But I think what can help is to look for the tiny wins everywhere. Terribly long walk in the sun and suddenly there’s a surprise breeze from somewhere (which takes all the heat away for a few seconds and feels like the best thing in your life). You’re dying of thirst and suddenly someone offers you a bottle of water. You can find what you look for. Look for hardship and it’s right there, look for the silver lining and that’s also right there.
One fresh tind and me posing after our farewell tawaaf at the Kaaba. It was such few people at the time we got there that we got to do it right next to the Kaaba 🙂
Our last night in Mina. We stayed an extra night in Mina, 80% of the people leave at this point because it’s optional. It does have extra sawaab so if you’re not in a rush to go anywhere, think about staying back. It’s exciting and less crowded (even though they start pulling the tents apart so major demolition is happening around you, lulz). Prayed in much quieter surroundings, Nabeel and I hung out for a bit on the empty road at night and talked about our Hajj and got to do stoning on the fourth day. Surprise perk: I got to stay in a private, deluxe tent that night (hain??) because nearly everyone had left. Not something I’d recommend to get for yourself because it’s not really something you want for Hajj, but right before I was about to sleep we found out it was empty and the organizer offered and I was like why not :O
Bus ride from Makkah to Madina. I wanted to pray all the time during our trip but I realized I’d get tired and would need a break. So I brought this book along with me so I wouldn’t be reading something too disconnected from my purpose at that point. I haven’t finished it yet so wait for it.
One of the many, many gifts I got from Allah mian during our trip. We got to our hotel in Madina and randomly got a suite for our stay instead of a standard room. (The curse of the twin beds followed us in every hotel we stayed in though)
Even though praying in the Grand Mosque in Makkah is the best thing you could do, I found Masjid-e-Nabwi to be so relaxing. I loved, loved, loved saying my prayers there. Plus, it was crazy beautiful.
I mean, look at it.
The umbrellas outside the mosque that were also so gorgeous.
The Prophet (PBUH)’s Rawdah. I prayed for myself and my dad at the Riyaz ul Jannah inside, was such a private, intimate, grounding experience (despite people literally walking over you). Can’t explain.
Our bus for the ziarats on our last day in Madina. (The ziarats are optional but don’t miss them, no matter how tired you are. I was so sleepy from staying up the night before, I almost skipped it, but I’m extremely glad I didn’t).
The ziarat bus took us to a few important spots around Madina, one of which was Masjid Quba. It’s said that that one namaz here equals an Umrah.
Prayed some at the Masjid Qiblatain too and saw many tiny mosques built where the homes of the sahabas used to be. Nothing more powerful to bring these people to life in your heart than going where they’ve been before. No textbook can compete.
And then finally after seeing the historic Jabal Uhud, life got way too surreal and I was glad the ziarat was over because I couldn’t take it anymore. There is so much I’ve unemotionally lived with over the years through books and words and stories; I now finally feel a relationship with all these individuals and incidents from my past that I didn’t even consider important to have. It’s *my* Islamic history. Such a big part of me.
Finally got back home to these faces that made us feel so welcome and ended our Hajj on such a high note. Feel so lucky for everything and everyone that made this trip possible. Gratitude, dua and forgiveness are my most important takeways from this trip (amongst many others). If you’ve already been on this journey, I hope your Hajj is accepted and if you haven’t, I hope and pray you get to go soon.
Bye 🙂
Loved this account. So real that I imagined myself there. Mubarak again.
Thank you so much <3
This post made me tear up and I have bookmarked it. Experienced many similar things on my Hajj but never got down to write them down. I am so glad you did – you can always come back to it when you’re feeling low/unhappy/upset about anything.
My favorite blog post ever as it helped me relive my journey.
Thank you so much!! I tried to write down bits of everyday during my whole trip in my journal as well but couldn’t keep up till the end so I get what you’re saying. Our memories though are our best friends, hope we can keep them forever 🙂
Shehzeen… You look too cute in hijaab 😍
(PS: I myself don’t do hijaab… so I’m not preaching)
I’ve not yet read the whole post…. just browsed through the pictures and their descriptions….
And they’re awesome! 😀😁
Haha thank you so much <3
You made me remember my days and I am missing those days very badly now. VERYYYY badly! I always want to go back and do all the things with more energy and enthusiasm. Even though we tried our best to perform all the Arkaans correctly but still I feel that I have to go again and do each and every thing with more passion and effort. Please pray that Allah calls us again (your prayers will be answered for 40 more days dear fresh hajiyani) so keep praying for yourself and us all.
Stay blessed always 😊
Haye I feel you! Exact same emotions. And I didn’t know about that 40 days bit so thank you, I’m going to get busy immediately haha
Shehzeen congratulations on your hajj. Lots of Mubarak baads to you both. And this post made me wish so hard that I can go for hajj soon ..
Loved how you described each thing!
Inshallah! Thank you so much 🙂
Can not begin to tell how beautiful this post and your experience is. May Allah accept your ibaadat and give us all a chance to visit 🙂
So kind of you man! Thank you. Inshallah for everyone 🙂
Hajj Mubarak! It is an incredible experience indeed. Al Hamdulillah for all the blessings. 🙂
Yakeenan! <3
Hajj Mubarak once again and this post was absolutely beautiful! Cannot wait until I get to go. May Allah accept your ibaadat and give us all the honor to go as well. Ameen <3
Thank you so much! Inshallah you’ll get to go very soon, hope you have an absolute blast 🙂
Beautiful. I haven’t yet been there for Hajj, but I have been there for Umrah. And once I came back, I feel as if a part of my heart just stayed back. May all your efforts and duas and hajj be accepted. May Allah help you maintain the spiritual gain throughput your life.
Yasss, a part of your heart totally stays back! Thank you so much for the duas, Inshallah to everything!
Hajj mubarik! Allah Taala qubool farmai…
n great post!
Thank you :*
Subhan Allah! Amazing pictures ma shaaAllah! 😍 you two look great as usual.. ❤
thank you so much 🙂
Just loved each and everg bit of this post. I imagined myself there ♡
You are an inspiration to many.
Hajj Mubarak again ♡
Thank you so, so much! <3
Loved reading this ! Hajj Mubarak ! I have been to Makkah and Madinah both, many times in my life. I lived in Jeddah for two years. But every single time, the feeling is pure bliss. There is no other feeling like that in the world. Nothing even comes close to comparison.
Also, Nabeel is a PIRACHA ???? Like whaattt ? I am a Piracha too. Just got over excited to see that I am related to you. *choti choti khushiyan*
Wow, that must have been something, so lucky mashallah! And Nabeel is a nakli paracha, at least that’s what he says, I have no idea what that means 😛
beautiful 🙂 your account took me back when i performed umrah. Many Many Congratulations to you and may Allah accept it from you.
Thank you so much! I can’t wait to go for an Umrah myself now 🙂
Absolutely mindblowin accoubt. Masha Allah. Thousand mubarak sss
Thankaaaaaaaaa
Many congrats, may Allah grant u hajj e mabroor and may Allah swt accept all ur duas,,,,.btw u look gorgeous in the head scarf!! Consider making it a regular part of your attire, u’do look as pretty as ever. ….*load of kisses*.
I have been to kaaba many times alhumdulilah and as u said, it stuns….and ot does that every single time!
We are so blessed to be born into such an amazing faith with so much perfection and beauty. May Allah unite us all in jannah!
Thank you so much! So lucky for you Mashallah to have experienced the Kaaba many times 🙂 <3
Shehzeen , you look so beautiful in hijab😍😍.i can relate each and every word and eamotions related to this journey.
Much love and Many congratulations 😗😗😗
Thank you, thank you so much! <3
You made me cry…bahut bahut Mubarak:)
Mission accomplished 😀 Haha, thanks ficky
Such a wonderful post…going to read it again n again its this much relaxing… u r really lucky MashAllah for the true coupe goals 🙂 Hajj Mubarak 🙂
You made my heart melt. Thank you so much! <3
I cried while reading your post makes me want o go even more!! Bohot bohot Mubarak to you and Nabeel bhai! P.S when you announced you’ll be away I had a feeling you’re going on Hajj and I’m so happy I was right very happy that you got to take this trip of a lifetime! MashaAllah may it be accepted! Ameen!
Thank you so much! Inshallah we all get to go baar baar 😀
Many Congrats to u both!!
Thank you :*
Wow, mashAllah 🙂 🙂
Thanksss 🙂
Thanks <3
Bohat Bohat Hajj Mubarak to the both of you once again. Loved reading this post and made me all emotional and nostalgic thinking of all my trips. Mann I can so relate to what you said about Madina; there is really some magic in the air of Madina; I mean when ever we are there, its like the most peaceful and relaxing place on this entire universe. The vibes you get there cannot be put into words. I can stay up all night sitting in the masjid doing zikr/tasbih and just staring at the ceilings and the place or outside in bahir ka sehan and seeing the Green Dome , its like thandak to the eyes I feel.
P.S you look uber cutiee in Hijab 🙂
A hundred percent on the same page with you! It’s hard to believe these things until you experience them. I cannot wait to go back! Your times there sound fab, thank you so much for the wishes 🙂
Masha Allah! May Allah accept it. ♡
Thank you :))
Assalamalikum Shahzeen .. hajj Mubarak darling .. May Allah (saw) accept your hajj , bless you and ur family and keep you safe . It’s a pure bliss reading this post . N u r so lucky .. Masha allah ! Hey dear I guess u should practice hijab and u luk more cuter with hijab and I guess everyone wanted to say this but since u would mind they said indirectly and most of all allah would be much more happy with it . And yes yes I love you blog as well you .
Asslam u alaikum, I am an old class fellow of Nabeels and when Insaw many of my girl friends sharing this I came to have a look. BarakAllahu feekum- mabrokm on your hajj! I love the way you have narrated your experience. Its very honest and touching. May Allah Make you experience more and more of such. Its so surreal that unless one loves through it ‘soul’ wise one cannot ‘feel’ it and it remains a ritual over with feeling. Anyhow I am happy that Allah opened this window and let you peep inside and you took us with you. All the best
Awesome. Felt great reading this as I really want to do Hajj. Some years ago, I used to love saying duas and used to really feel it. I do still pray five times a day but I dont have those powerful feels anymore. I hope I get to go for Hajj where I can revitalize my faith. Its inspiring to read such articles and motivate myself to start zikar, tasbeeh and duas even in normal days at home. I loved the pic of you surrounded with duas like in an exam. Well done! and I\m so happy for you both! Congratulations.
Happens to all of us. Need a refresher in some way from time to time 🙂
Love ua post n really helpful too☺☺
Congratulations! Bohat bohat mubarak! Love all the pictures, so so beautiful!
Loved reading this post even though I cried through out! Hajj Mubarik! May Allah accept all your duas and ibadaat! 😀
Loved your Hajj account and the minute details that you added to it. Made it quite an interestingly beautiful read.
Reminded me of my first visit to the Ka’abah. It really is a hair raising experience for all.
Wish we could all get such an opportunity . Ameen !
And,
Hajj Mubarak to you two lovelypeople <3
First of All May Allah SWT accept your Hajj and Mabrook !!! What better to ask for at this time when when we are preparing for our Hajj this year and counting days.I think there are always signs and gifts upon us from Allah SWT that sometimes we don’t understand.Your post is like that for us at this point.Reading this post not only gave me goosebumps but also made me in tears thinking as what all we are going to do on this amazing journey.Already my excitement is on peak everytime topic is discussed I cannot hold my feelings.I can totally relate to your before feeling and can’t wait to experience the after ones😊 Would really like to know about the tips and preparations that can help us on this journey, like the fan in Jumma prayer from this blog👍 Looking forward for the next post on this
Stay blessed always
Jazakallah Hu khairun
Aliya 🤗
Beautiful post ❤️
Your blog helped me recall my hajj journey in 2015. I’m all teary now and i wanna go again. Bless you :’)