Umrah 2013 - Days 8, 9, 10 in Madinah

Ya Rasullullah, I could not visit your makam, nor your raudah or your home. But I'm here to convey my gratitude and my love for you. I'm here to convey the salams of friends and acquaintances from Singapore. I'm here, so near, and yet so far. I will get to meet you one day Rasullullah. I will. Ya Rasullullah, I pray that you will be my intercessor for I have many sins. I pray that Allah will forgive me for all my sins, accept my repentance and place me in His Jannah. Amin, Amin Ya Rabbal Alamin.

May I be a good Muslimah, wife, daughter and mother to my children. May you grant me a purposeful life, and give me clarity to that purpose.

🌠🌠🌠🌠🌠🌠

My family just outside Masjid Quba.

Us, at Mount Uhud, where the battle of Uhud took place.

Fresh dates sold outside the mosque, including vendors selling many items.

After 15 years of marriage, I'm giddily in love with my husband

It must be the drama, Adam dan Hawa, that has made me giddy. In a good way but also in a painful way.

I'm in love with my husband. Not that I wasn't but I feel 200% in love with him now. I feel like a silly schoolgirl, wondering, thinking and pining about my love, the same man I married to in 1999.

Our umrah journey last december was also pivotal in many ways. I prayed hard and I know that Allah has granted some of my doas. If I could feel this giddy, I would love to do umrah again with my husband, my love - to experience this immense giddiness that is joyful and painful at the same time. But knowing that it is also pain, it is love of the highest degree, isn't it?

I'd love to do umrah again with my husband and I hope to do it this year, or very soon. With much hope, Allah, please grant my doa.

Umrah 2013 - Day 6 and 7

There was no planned itinerary for Day 6. Apart from the usual ibadah, we shopped what we could for family, friends and our well-wishers. Hubby and Afzal decided to do their shavings today. So here they are in their new do.

🐪🐫🐪🐫🐪🐫

Our final goodbye was tawaf wadaq which I could not perform. I stood and sujud in front of one of the doors of Masjidil Haram catching a tiny glimpse of the black cloak. It was an emotional farewell. As Ustaz said, 'the prayer of someone in difficulty is mustajab' and he considered me as being in difficulty. Ameen. It was not a good-bye for me. I believed I will be here again.

🐪🐫🐪🐫🐪🐫

5 hours drive, we arrived in Al-Madinah Al-Munawarrah.

The beauty and magnificence of Al-Masjidil Al-Nabawi was a sight to behold, as the orangey sunset greeted us for the call of azan maghrib.

As my husband and sons made their
way into the men's section of the mosque, I had to content myself with sitting outside the mosque but within the women's compound, alone among the sea of female worshippers and their children. It was a very personal journey for me - deep in my own thoughts, and murmuring prayers repeatedly as much as I can. My greatest wish was to perform solat and meet Rasullullah. But perhaps, Allah has other plans for me.