Initially I wanted to give Ramadan Umrah 2014
a break as I was having some financial constraints due to forthcoming
commitment. By sheer of luck I was approached to supervise and handle a couple
of Jemaah who had signed up to perform the Ramadan umrah. An offer of
discounted price was within affordable and I gladly accepted. Allah had been
kind to me and pave the way for another spiritual journey of 2014 Ramadan
umrah.
09
July 2014: SV 829 taxied out at Gate C2 KL
International Airport (KLIA) at 1450 hrs and took off for Riyadh/ Medina at
1500 hrs. The plane was spaciously empty
and to my comfort, I got a row of four (4) seats to myself. Landed at Riyadh at
1715 hrs local time and took off for Medina at 1830 hrs. Iftar was served on
board just before landing at Medina at 1940 hrs. It was a very long hours of
fasting due to time factor as iftar is only permissible when the sun sets.
Immigration formalities were swift as it is
a small Airport and we arrived at Fairooz Shatta Hotel just as azan Isyakh was
called. Had a quick dinner and checked in into Room 711 with Ustaz Mazlan
Ibrahim as my roommate.
After a quick shower, rushed to Masjid
Nabawi, performed solat jamak takhir of Maghreeb / isyakh and manage to catch
up with only four (4) rakaat of terawih and solat witir. Spiritual obligation in the Holy Land thus began.
It had been a long and tiring day.
10
July 2014: Was up at 0300 hrs for sahor and subuh
was just after 0400 hrs.
Immediately after zohor, I visited the Holy
Prophet (pbuh) Tomb & His two Comrades and paid my homage. I conveyed the
salam of family members and close friends. Raudah was near but was filled up
with Jemaah.
After asar I got organized by getting new pair
of slipper, sejadah and hand phone Saudi card topped up. I tried to enter
Raudah but it was overcrowded again.
Iftar was inside Nabawi and was great to be
among the Jemaah of all races from all over the world again. After terawih I
had to sort out my Iphone with a stuck sim card. For a simple task of
unscrewing and screwing, the Arab Technician charged me 50 Saudi Riyal. Crazy charge
but what choice do I have?
11
July 2014: Friday. Early morning, the Muslimah were
taken for a tour of Masjid Nabawi and surrounding by Ustaz Mazlan but I abstained,
instead went to sleep. Suddenly I woke up and the time at the hand phone was
1220 hrs and it’s time for solat Jumaat.
Down at the Hotel Lobby, I suddenly realized it was only 0720 hrs. Gosh!
I forgot to change the hand phone time to Saudi time. The phone timing had
tricked me and I smilingly took the lift up to the room and resumed the morning
nap.
Solat Jumaat inside Masjid Nabawi and
normally Friday prayer is overcrowded however managed to squeeze myself a
little space.
Iftar was at the Nabawi Dataran with Ustaz
Mazlan and Termizi – a final year student of Medina University. Outside the
Mosque they served nasi briyani for
iftar.
After terawih I did not performed my witir
as I planned to enter Raudah at whatever circumstances after midnight. On the
way back to the Hotel, I stopped by at the Food Court and bought a takeaway
pack of beef burger (in Arabic it is kudu).
12
July 2014: At 0045 hrs I slowly walked to Masjid
Nabawi hoping to sneak into Raudah. There was a new ruling to enter Raudah and
I fully agree with the new system. Entrance is only permissible after every ten
(10) minutes when the Jemaah in Raudah being evacuated. I waited for my turn
and once I was inside it was only between me and Allah. I prayed all that I
could think off and said all the doa in mind.
I
then performed the witir and walked back to the Hotel at 0140 hrs, mission accomplished.
Journey to Masjid Nabawi in Medina is definitely incomplete without entering
Raudah. I was so excited that I went to the wrong floor instead and surely I
could not open the room door.
After subuh at 0630 hrs, the Bus picked us
up for Outside Medina Tour. Starting with Masjid Quba, Date Farm, Jabal Uhud
(Makam Syuhadah), Masjid Qiblatin, Masjid 7, the site of Qandak War and finally
the Date Market. All these places are familiar to me. We were back at the Hotel
just before zohor.
Iftar was back in the Mosque. I preferred
inside the Mosque as the food was simple and the atmosphere was very much
spiritual.
After terawih started packing as we were
leaving for Mekah the following morning.
13
July 2014: Immediately after subuh, I performed the
widaq Rasullah – bidding farewell to the Holy Prophet (pbuh).
Clad in the ihram, the Bus made its way out
of Medina at 0930 hrs and stopped by at Bir Ali to perform the miqat. We left
Bir Ali at 1020 hrs, the Bus sped through the desert road and we arrived in Mekah
at 1440 hrs. There were no stoppages as we were all fasting. I slept through
most of the journey.
We checked into Room 510 with Ustaz Mazlan as
roommate again at Haneem Firdaus Hotel behind Mekah Hilton. It was a corner
room on the fifth floor and we had a good view facing Masjidilharam. Down at
the lobby, the Hotel has wifi facilities. We performed the jamak takhir of
zohor and asar in the room. The Jemaah were free to perform their umrah at
their own convenience.
First iftar in Mekah was at the Hotel
Dining. After Maghreeb in the room, I walked to Masjidilharam and performed the
umrah ritual on my own. The other jemaah were all veteran and needed no
guidance. As the terawih prayer was in sessions I performed the umrah ritual
and completed during the witir prayer. Raised my hands in doa, I thank the
Almighty for inviting me to the Holy Baitullah again. Last at the Kaabah was
early January 2014 and in July 2014, I was here again. Alhamdullillah and
syukur alhamdullillah. There are millions of Muslims in the world who dream to
be at the Kaabah and here I am being invited again and again. It is Allah
blessings that this was my tenth Ramadan since 2005 that I was presence in
front of the Holy Kaabah. I seek for your compassion, Ya Allah.
Rested for a while in front of the Kaabah
and admire the majestic structure architected by Almighty Allah. Took a few
gulp of zam zam water and looked for my slipper. I was very sure where I kept
it but someone had an interest on mine by mistake or otherwise. Since the Hotel
is quite near, I decided to walk back to the Hotel barefooted. Mafi
musykillah……..when I was a small kid in the kampong, I used to run around barefooted
chasing after the chicken.
14
July 2014: Food for sahor served to the Jemaah
starting at 0300 hrs and prepared by Haji Radi, Mekah born Malay with
Indonesian wife. My first suboh at Masjidilharam and the Mosque was partially
empty. It was expected the last ten (10) days of Ramadan that the Mosque would
be overfilled.
After asar I went shopping at Bangla Lane
as things are much cheaper along the Lane. I was going to do my own washing and
bought a pail and soap powder.
15
July 2014: Ustaz Mazlan and I took a cab and we
went to Aziziyah looking for a Tailor Shop to specially tailor made a jubah.
Unfortunately all orders were rejected as it was closed to Aidilfitri and the
Tailor got their hands full.
It was closed to 0230 hrs and we went to
Hedramaut Nasi Mandy Restaurant for sahor. It was overcrowded and we decided to
return to Mekah to have our sahor at the Hotel instead.
Subuh – for the first time since 2011, I
entered Masjidilharam Underground to perform my prayer.
After asar, I went to Felda De’Saji
Restaurant to get some Malay homemade cookies.
Since I like the Mosque underground because
it was very cooling I decided to perform the terawih at underground.
16
July 2014: After subuh the Jemaah were taken for
outside Mekah tour. We went to Jabal Thur, Arafah, Mudzlifah, Mina, Jairanah
and finally Jabal Nur. Some Jemaah did their miqat at Jairanah to perform
another umrah. We only stopped at jairanah.
After asar, I decided to walk down memory
lane and entered the local Market. The fruits were damn cheap; water melon only
cost; three (3) Saudi Riyal. Bought one and cut into pieces to sedekah for
iftar.
17
July 2014: Went shopping with Hajah Mala, Hajah Cik
Wan and Ustaz Mazlan to Jabal Omar Shopping Complex looking for fashionable
jubah. We got a few of the latest fashion in the market.
After asar, very shocking news from Ustaz
Mazlan – MH 17 was down somewhere at the Ukrainian/ Russian border and all
perished. It was hot and breaking news among the Malaysian Jemaah. My son at
Astro Awani updated me of the latest.
Just before iftar, my good old friend, Haji
Adenan came down from the Hill to meet and joined me for iftar. I was very glad
to rendezvous with him and he is always a good buddy. We went for terawih
together and he decided to rejoin me in the room a few days later. He took
along the jubah that I just bought, for modification.
18
July 2014: Friday. Ustaz Mazlan and I went to Zam
Zam Tower Shopping Complex to do some shopping as Ustaz Mazlan would be
returning home early and tying matrimony after Aidilfitri. I also joined Ustaz
Mazlan and got something for my family back home.
My first solat jumaat in Mekah. After Friday prayer, Fitri Pak Sheik) – a
student from Riyadh University came and visited us in the room.
19
July 2014: The last ten (10) days of Ramadan began and
qiamulai prayers commenced at 0100 hrs nightly.
After zohor, Ustaz Mazlan and I got to transfer
Hotel to a two (2) bedded room at Luluat Al Rahman Hotel, about fifty (50)
meters down the road. We got to give up the present four (4) bedded room to
accommodate a family coming in from Medina late in the evening. We still take our
food at Haneem Firdaus Hotel. The room was now higher at Floor 10, Number 03.
This Hotel seem to be more convenient with the two (2) wide lifts.
Terawih – with Haji Adenan, we went to the
new Masjidilharam new expansion Building. The surah for the night was Yasseen
and I could really concentrate as I am very well verse with the surah. As the
surah was recited, my tears rolled down my cheek as I began to realize how
fortunate and lucky the Tahfiz (the person who can memorize the Al Qur’an) are.
How I wish, I can memorize the whole Al Quran?
20
July 2014: I performed only six (6) rakaat instead
of ten (10) of qiamulai prayers.
After asar, I fulfilled my Mother’s request
to pay of my late brother Mahmud Abd Hamid, “fidiyah”. Ustaz Mazlan accompanied
me to the Muasasah kiosk at Zam Zam Tower. It was a relieved that I had fulfilled
as promised with my Mum.
Since I was at Zam Zam Tower, I also fulfilled
a promise to my good kampong buddy, YM Raja Sahar to get him some replicas.
21
July 2014: After asar, I was looking around for
Shasha’s dress but I was rather disappointed as there was no new fashion on the
shelf.
Just before iftar, Haji Adenan came down
from the Hill with his backpack to join me in the room. I now have a sparring
partner. We went for terawih together at Masjidilharam new wing.
Ustaz Termizi just arrived from Medina and also
joined us in the room.
22
July 2014: I decided not to join the qiamulai as I
was very sleepy. During the terawih, I had to wash my face twice (2X) to keep
awake.
In the afternoon, Ustaz Mazlan left for
Jeddah Haj Airport for home. From now on, I will be responsible for the welfare
of all the Jemaah in the entourage.
After asar, I returned to Bangle Street
with Haji Adenan to look for ridak. Ridak – coffin cover. I got two (2) pieces
to be donated to the kampong Kereta Jenazah.
23
July 2014: Qiamulai with Ustaz Termizi at
Masjidilharam.
After subuh, I escorted the six (6) new
arrived Jemaah by van for outside Mekah tour. Haji Adenan also joined and we
decided to miqat at Jairanah for umrah. This umrah was on behalf of my late
brother, Mahmud Abd Hamid. On arrival in Mekah I performed the ritual by the
Kaabah at the first floor of the Mataf.
It was shady and I took my own sweet time. This time around, I carried
my slipper in my sling bag.
I did the tahlul and instructed the
Barber for No 1 haircut. It was quite close to bald.
Terawih – threesome as Ustaz Termizi also
joined. The surah was Al Rahman and Wa’qiah.
24
July 2014: Qiamulai of eight (8) rakaat just
opposite of the Hotel at the open space.
Tonight was the Night of 27 Ramadan and the
Arabs believe it was the Lailatulqadar Night. Masjidiharam,
the New Wing and the Dataran were jammed packed. It was on Friday night and
Jemaah from the surroundings including Jeddah make the trip to Masjidilharam.
Isyak started at 2100 hrs but by 2000 hrs, all entrances to Masjidilharam by Misfalah
area was closed. We were diverted to Masjidilharam New Expansion through just
an entrance and we had to walk among the packed crowd about one (1) kilometer
away. One has to be strong to sustain the big size Arabs. Pushing and jostling
were common. The Arabs are impatient species and they are never orderly. Haji
Adenan and I finally managed our way into the new Expansion first floor to
perform our Night 27 Terawih.
Returning to the Hotel from the Mosque
after terawih was a major problem. The Jemaah going back to Misfalah area from
the New Expansion got smacked into the jemaah exiting from the main
Masjidilharam. Stepping on someone toes was common.
At the Hotel, I was shocked to learn that
an Indonesian Muslimah from the same Hotel was trampled to death somewhere at
the narrow lane beside Hilton Hotel. The husband was seen fainted at the Dining
Hall and I just observed from far. I was glad to learn that the Allahyarhamah solat
jenazah was conducted after subuh prayer and it was Friday morning. About a
million Jemaah was praying for her. The overnight Jemaah was still around. Her
passage to Paradise made easy, insyaalah.
25
July 2014: Friday, Qiamulai of ten (10) opposite
the Hotel.
After subuh, found difficulty to doze off
and so I called home and reported my well being. Surprisingly, this year I had
no health problem, at times I even forgot to take my medication. No cough and
no flu. With my past experiences, I learnt the trick, don’t shower during the
day.
Friday prayer was at the Hilton Surau,
which is also declared as part of Masjidilharam.
As usual, for terawih, Haji Adenan and I
preferred the New Expansion Building. After terawih, I called Dato Aziz who
resided at Makkah Hilton. Dato Aziz from Johor was with me during the January
2014 Palestine tour.
26
July 2014: Qiamulai of six (6) opposite the Hotel.
At 1100 hrs, I escorted Hajjah Cik Wan to
Jeddah Haj Terminal vide a Taxi as she was returning to Malaysia. I was so
disgusted and lectured the Saudi Arab Taxi Driver as he was very impatient and
inconsiderate. He disallowed me even for five (5) minutes spare to assist Hajah
Cik Wan to obtain a trolley for her luggage. I reprimanded him that’s not the
way to handle Allah’s Guest. God forsaken, if there is no Kaabah and Masjid
Nabawi, no Muslims in the world would want to visit Saudi Arabia. The problem
with Arabs, they don’t know the meaning of “ukhwah”. I was really
cheesed off with the Taxi Driver. I was back in Mekah at 1400 hrs and headed
straight to the bed to catch up with sleep.
Just before iftar, the sky suddenly darkened
and rain started falling in Mekah during iftar.
What a blessing!! It was another crowded night as during the terawih,
the completion of the Holy Al Qur’an recitation and followed with the doa Al
Qur’an. The crowd situation was more or less similar to the Night of 27.
Haji Adenan and I managed to squeeze our
pint size bodies among the crowd to perform the khatam Al Qur’an terawih at the
New Expansion.
I was glad one of my Jemaah assisted a lost
Indonesian Muslimah and took her back to the Hotel and fed her. One of the
local Indonesian helper led her back to her residing Hotel.
27
July 2014: I did not attend the qiamulai. Haji
Adenan returned to his home base at the Hill. I now left alone in the room, had
space of my own and started packing.
After subuh, I just could not sleep and
decided final shopping at Ben Daud Zam Zam Tower. I got to get some cookies and
sweets for Shasha.
Just after Maghreeb, there was an
indication that the following day would be Aidilfitri. The clock tower at Zam
Zam Tower was lighted with laser beam light pointing to the sky with the word
“Eid Mubarak”. There was cannon fire fired from the hill top. Therefore, 27 July 2014 was the last day of
Ramadan and the following day 28 July
2014 was AIDILFITRI.
After isyakh there was no more terawih and
the streets and shopping complexes was filled with Jemaah of all races, on last
minute shopping spree for Aidilfitri. Things were bit expensive on that night
and I was advised to stay away.
28
July 2014: AIDILFITRI.
At 0300 hrs, I started walking to
Masjidilharam for subuh prayer at 0415 hrs. If I was late, there no way I could
enter the Mosque. After subuh, I stayed put and solat Aidilfitri only commenced
at 0700 hrs. It was very lonely but my tasbih (rosemary) accompanied me.
We had a small feast at the Hotel after
solat Aidilfitri. Aidilfitri in Mekah is no big deal and no posh celebration.
There was no such thing as lemang and ketupat.
The moment after solat Aidilfitri,
Masjidilharam is very quiet, no more crowd and not much security personnel
around. After asar, I went up to the Mosque rooftop to take some photographs
and I even ventured to the wheelchair Mataf to take a nearer shot of the Holy Kaabah
and surroundings. No security personnel to stop me.
Dinner was late at 2230 hrs as the Cook was
on Aidilfitri break.
29
July 2014: LAST DAY IN MEKAH. Surprisingly, during
the subuh prayer, the Imam sobbed all the way. Presumably, he was sad that
Ramadan had gone and the next Ramadan is Allah’s will.
At 0830 hrs, I took the Jemaah passports
and flight tickets to Saudi Airline Office at Makkah Hilton fourth floor. The
boarding passes were only issued two (2) hours later at 1030 hrs. Only one
personnel was handling the issuance when there were several SV flights out on
that day. One thing I observed about the Saudi Arabs; they are very pleased to
see people in distress and in difficulty.
Rushed back to the Hotel and headed for
Masjidilharam to perform my widaq – farewell to the Kaabah. I seek in doa with Allah
to be invited again to Baitullah – the House of Allah. At 1130 hrs I completed
the widaq and back to the Hotel for final packing.
I made sure everything was in order, the
jemaah luggage and zam zam water before loading them into the Bus. We left
Mekah at 1530 hrs and headed straight for the Haj Terminal - the designated Departure
Airport for umrah pilgrims.
At the Terminal, we smacked into a major
problem. There were no trolleys around as we arrived at the peak hour; however
we remained calm as we were far too early for our flight. We waited a while and
got 14 (fourteen) trolleys at three (3) Saudi Riyal each.
For the very first time, I took off my hat
to the Saudi Airline Staff at the Haj Terminal. They came looking for us and
directed us personally to C1 Check in Counter. I had twenty (20) Jemaah and
twenty three (23) zam zam water to check in. I got all of them checked in. It
was made simple as I already had the boarding passes. They even issued a new
Boarding Pass for one Jemaah who accidently lost her boarding pass. That was
very kind and obliging.
Immigration formalities was systematic and
adequate, however there were some Middle East Arabs (God knows from where?) who
wanted to jump the queue and I just told them off to back the line. Arabs never
know how to queue at Money Changers, cash counters, Pharmacies and any check in
counters.
We all got into the Departure Hall and I prayed
the solat jamak takhir of Maghreeb and Isyakh. I now felt relieved, suddenly felt
hungry and had my dinner.
SV 329 took off at 2330 hrs, nonstop to
KLIA and I felt comfortable as we were not flying above the Ukrainian/ Russian
border. The plane was full as Saudi Arab was visiting Malaysia for Aidilfitri
holidays.
30
July 2014: At 1330 hrs local time, touched down
safely in KLIA and all Jemaah were happy that their luggage and zam zam water
was intact and in good condition.
Insyaalah, I shall return.
HOME
SWEET HOME.
The many faces of Pakmus in the Holy Land:
