Another Dream Came True – Part 1

Ponn Sabra | May 7, 2012 | Comments (1)

kabah I’ve been so overwhelmed, and there’s so little time. I have so many pictures, audio, and video, but don’t know what to share or send first! We’ve made three umrahs with the girls so far, Alhamdulillah, and my hubby made two additional ones. We visited MANY sacred lands that Muslims only dream about stepping on as our blessed Rasul salallahu alayhi wa sallam stepped on 1400 years ago.

I just know that I’m ever so humbled by ALL of Allah’s blessings, Alhamdulillah.

Umrah with the Kids, Another Dream Come True

First my dream to go to Hajj was fulfilled with my husband. Then I returned to the girls two weeks later, and all three with eager eyes and ears awaited my answer to their question: So, what’s your dream now Mama?

My answer: To return to Mecca and make umrah with you!

After being SO drained from the over-exhausting and difficult, life we lived in the oppressed lands of Gaza, little did I ever believe that Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala would bless my family so handsomely to have us return together to His most sacred land just five months later!

I cannot go into details, as I have yet to even share the wealth of knowledge, humility, blessings, and gratitude I gained, learned, and felt from experiencing Hajj. But, umrah with kids–what a blessing! SO different, SO rewarding, and SO challenging in many, many ways. Hard, yet easy. Exhausting, yet invigorating!

But, rest assured, my family is eager to share our many tips, so you and your family can make umrah, too, in an affordable way. I mean without a travel agent, so you can experience much more than an agent can EVER arrange for you and your family to experience as much as your umrah visit allows.

We walked and hiked the streets and mountain tops from all the locations of Hajj, to all the places of Hajj. Some were closed off or too crowded, and pilgrims actually died this year (and all previous years, Allahu hamil, May Allah bless them).

Masjid Nimarah in Mount Arafat
Mountain Rahmah in Mount Arafat
Mountain Noor to the Cave Herah where the revelations of Angel Gibrel alayhi salam where made
Then to Medina, such as Masjid Qubaa where 2-rakas equals an umrah (sunnah)
Mountain Uhud
All the graveyards in Medina, Uhud, and Badr, though the girls and I did not look at them–only hubby and our boy cousins
Masjid Aresh in Bader

We attended the masajid or drove to visit all six of the miqaat (destinations to make ihraam). I know there are many more places I’m forgetting but we learned SO much Islamic history, geography, and of course renewed our eman (faith) to always have taqwa (God-consciousness).

Heaven on Earth

Oh! How could I forget?! I brought my girls (as I did it myself during Hajj) to Rawdah! The only place on Earth that’s a part of Jennah, the place between the Rasul’s (salallahu alayhi wa sallam) house & his minbar (where he gave his khutbah). As the adventurous homeschooling, inquiring, and curious mom that I am, I got one of the scholarly workers to tour me and my girls to see the details of the Rawdah. We even got to see the place where Sahabah Bilal radiallahu anhu made the adhan. The tour guide even let us stay until the mu’adhin himself climbed to call Asr’s adhan ending the women’s visitation time for men-only!

Hubby (as it was not conducive or safe for women) individually took each girl to pray IN the Ka’bah, inside the Hijri, and touch/look in Miqam Ibrahim. They were four feet away from the door as he touched it while he made our precious du’a for dunya and akhira. We all made tawaf almost every day in Mecca, and got so close to the black stone. Many times we saw it, but it wasn’t worth going to touch it, as men were literally fighting, kicking, yelling, swearing, pulling, (haram) just to get to it.

I’m still in awe, and my extended family both Muslim (hubby’s side) and non-Muslim (my side) are overwhelmed by my change in demeanor, attitude, and sense of peace to live more profoundly and deeply for Allah’s sake, approval, pleasure, and His alone. MashaAllah, I’m the first woman in my generation to be so fortunate to make Hajj, let alone umrah…and our girls the same. I want SO much for all my brothers and sisters, the Mu’minun to accomplish the same dream, Insha’Allah.

Why do you think Hajj & Umrah with kids is an impossible dream? Ask me what concerns you most! Money? Savings? Where do kids stay during Hajj? Will kids enjoy, understand, and appreciate umrah?

Stay tuned for Part 2 of this blog post, Insha’Allah. Thanks for reading.

Comments (1)

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Tawakalt says:

May 23, 2012 at 10:44 pm

Masha Allah. I’m so happy for you. May Allah accept your hajj and Umrah and make it possible for those of us who are yet to fulfill this duty, Ameen.

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