In 2004, my company was very generous to sponsor long serving staff to Umrah during the fasting month Ramadhan. I was a great pleasure for me to accept the offer bcoz it has been my dream one day I want to go to Mecca for Umrah and Haji.
In the first photo was (from right) myself, Kamal, Nik and his wife. The photo was taken when we were at one of the historical site in Medinah. At the back is the graveyards of Mujahideens died during of the great war between Muslims and Kafirin. The Muslims led by our great Rasulullah Muhammad S.A.W lost the war simply because the Muslims Mujahideens failed to adhere the advice by our Rasullulah.
This photo shows some of us on the bus during excursion around Medinah. I was right at the back of the bus - my favourite place. Generally speaking, Medinah is quite small compared to Mecca. However, the town is full of stories and history. At the end of the outing, we were brought to one of the famous market for shopping. Medinah is so famous of dates and other dried fruits like At-tin and Zaitun. Not to forget other dried nuts. The famous "Kurma Nabi" cost about RM25 per kilogram. Malaysian Ringgit and Saudi Riyal is almost the same value. So, you can really shop in Medinah and Mecca using any currency. The traders accept Malaysian Ringgit as it is. Also, most of them speak Malay as the second language. The reason is very simple. Other than Arabs, other nationals that come to Arab Saudi and spend a lots of money are Malaysian and Indonesian. And ironically, Malaysia and Indonesia shares the same language. Very interesting ..
After 3 days in Medina, we are getting ready for the real stuff. Doing the Umrah in Mecca. The photo shows the group right in front of the hotel Anwar Movenpick just around the corner from Masjidil Nabawi. Everyone is in their Ihram waiting for the bus. Its is going to be a very long journey back to Mecca and the time is approximately 4 hours.
The next photo shows my Egyption boss Khaled posing at the corner of the hotel. Right behind is Masjidil Nabawi where out great prophet Muhammed S.A.W lies in peace. One more point to note that, Muhammad spirit is alive everywhere in Medinah. You can see that every body is calm and very friendly. One of the traders hug me as if I know him for many years. Every body is well behave. It was really amazing. You just don't appreciate it until you go to Medinah and stays there. I could tell you that the feeling is different. Mecca could not beat Medinah on this sense.
If you have the chance to go there, don't forget to visit Rasulullah tombs. It is the best place in Medinah. Right in the mosque where you perform your solah. Wake up early well before Fajr prayer and go to Raudhah and do your sunat prayers. It is a small area in the mosque where it is used to be the original mosque during our great prophet Muhammad time. The area ia marked with light carpet and you could notice the different. It is just next to Rasulullah tombs. The area is between the "minbar" and the tombs is noted as one of the garden in paradise.
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