In early January, I surprised my entire family with a heartfelt announcement: the time had come for us to embark on a sacred journey to perform the umrah.
Although it was unexpected, especially with just a month to prepare for a February departure, the initial hesitation quickly turned into collective excitement. Even the presence of two young grandchildren, aged four and seven, did not discourage those who were older – including the elder grandkids, three of whom are still schooling and two in university.
Changes in dates meant they would miss some classes, but they assured me it was worth the trade-off.
There was an added surprise: a brief stopover in Istanbul. For years, we had talked about visiting Turkey, but the timing was never right. Now it would finally happen, and the announcement sparked cheers from the young ones.
Sadly, due to work commitments, one of my sons couldn’t join us. His absence left a void, but we reminded ourselves that Allah is the best of planners.
With 12 of us confirmed for the journey, I finalised the travel plans. I chose a private arrangement to allow for flexibility and family bonding. Organising flights and accommodations required meticulous effort, but my determination was unwavering – it was now or never.
Although my wife, eldest son, and I had performed umrah and haj in 2011, we still needed a refresher. The others were first-timers. I arranged a special session with an ustaz, whose explanations of the rituals were well-received by all.
It warmed my heart to see how eagerly everyone participated. I also distributed videos and reading materials to ensure they felt confident.
Beyond spiritual preparation, practical arrangements had to be made. We sourced suitable baggage, footwear, winter clothing (especially for Turkey’s freezing weather), prayer essentials, and personal items.
Passports were renewed, vaccinations completed, and vitamins purchased to boost our health. No detail was too small.
On the evening of Feb 10, we boarded a van to the airport. Our Turkish Airlines flight the next morning marked the beginning of an 11-hour journey to Istanbul. Upon arrival, our tour guide greeted us warmly and immediately took us sightseeing.
To my amazement, there were no complaints of fatigue, even from the young ones. And then, as if a divine blessing, it snowed. Snowfall is a rare event in Istanbul, but there we were – laughing, making snowballs, and cherishing the magic together.
For all of us, it was our first time experiencing snow. It was a dream come true, and a moment that deepened our family bond.
After four beautiful days in Istanbul – enjoying the stunning Bosphorus cruise, exploring vibrant bazaars, and admiring its historical marvels – we flew to Madinah on Feb 14. Upon arrival we were greeted warmly by our Indonesian mutawwif, a guide to support and assist us.
We boarded a coach to be transported to our hotel, close to the Prophet’s Mosque, Masjid Nabawi, experiencing a sense of awe and reverence at its majestic sight. That night, we performed our prayers in the mosque’s expansive courtyard, under its iconic umbrellas.
It is said each prayer there holds the reward of 1,000 prayers elsewhere, and we were blessed to earn that reward repeatedly. The tranquil atmosphere of Madinah – its serenity, cool breeze, and sacred aura – left a profound impact on all of us.
The two youngest members of our group showed boundless energy. Their laughter echoed everywhere, including through hotel hallways, streets, and the mosque’s courtyard while chasing pigeons, filling us with joy.
The older kids, too, explored the area enthusiastically, even discovering a shop that served my favourite drink – teh tarik! Their excitement was infectious.
Our days in Madinah included visits to sacred sites like Quba Mosque, Uhud Mountain, and a date plantation. During these excursions, our mutawwif guided us in prayer and shared historical insights.
I took every opportunity to share stories of Prophet Muhammad with my grandchildren, who listened attentively – moments that I will forever cherish.
After five peaceful days, we left for Makkah on Feb 18 to fulfil the main purpose of our journey. Before departure, our mutawwif gave us a comprehensive briefing. We donned our ihram in the hotel, recited the talbiyah at the miqat, and made our intention solely for the sake of Allah.
Upon arriving in Makkah, my wife and I were upgraded to a suite with a view of the Kaaba. That night, we performed our umrah – tawaf, sa’i, and the symbolic trimming of hair to exit the state of ihram.
The sight of the Kaaba, representing the House of Allah, the holiest place in Islam, moved us to tears. It is one of the most remarkable life experiences one can have.
Holding hands with our loved ones, shielding the little ones amidst the crowd, we walked as one unit, our hearts beating with gratitude and awe.
The following days were filled with prayer and reflection in the Grand Mosque, where each prayer is rewarded 100,000 times more than in other mosques. We also visited sacred sites such as Mina, Arafat, Muzdalifah, and even made a day trip to Taif – a cool mountainous retreat linked to the Prophet’s life.
Some of us performed additional umrah on behalf of departed loved ones. In the midst of all these activities, my eldest grandson was thrilled to observe his 23rd birthday on a Friday in the Holy Land.
We had a simple meal in my room to acknowledge this with gratitude to Allah. We also took time to explore the surroundings, food courts and shopping malls. There were blessings in every moment.
The time to leave the holy city came on Feb 25. We all felt sad after performing the farewell tawaf, and many of us cried because of the deep spiritual connection built during our pilgrimage. We then waited in our rooms for our transport to Jeddah Airport, to take us back home via Istanbul.
Performing the umrah was such an intense spiritual experience; we returned with hearts full of love, memories etched in our souls, and a renewed faith that will, insya-Allah, guide us forever.
Rafique Sher Mohamed is a historian, author and freelance writer.