Ramadhan in Mekah

Our first day of Ramadhan was in Mekah. We left Yanbu at 7.00 am on Thursdays by car and reached Miqat Juhfah two hours later. We continued the journey to Mekah at 10.00 am and arrived at 12.00pm. We parked our car at Tan'im mosque and then took a taxi to Haram Mosque. At that time the cost was 20SR per van. We heard two weeks later the cost increased 10 times which was about 200SR. At first it was so surprising, but later we understood that not only the cab rental price was increasing but almost everything including groceries and foods stuff. Even the hotel rate rose up to 900 - 1000 per night.

It almost Dzohor prayer when we reached Haram. People were walking to the mosque and we were walking opposite their direction towards to the hotel. Alhamdulillah we had booked our hotel rooms earlier through a friend, or else we will put our self in big trouble since the hotels were fully booked during Ramadhan and the room rates were hiking. Travel with 4 young children ages 7,6,5 and 2 years old was not easy. Our movement were very slow and of course we must always keep patience.

We started Tawaf (circle the Ka'abah) after Dzohor prayer end. It was so crowded with pilgrimages and the weather was so hot. My daughters couldn't bear with the situation and keep on asking when we are going to finish. (For non-muslim readers : Tawaf means circling Ka'abah for 7 times).

Next, we proceed to Mount Safa to do Sa'ei (walk between Safa and Marwa for 7 times). It was already Asar time. So we decided to perform Saei after Asar prayer.

Obviously umrah during Ramadhan is totally different from Umrah in the other months especially during the day. We will become tired and exhausted quickly since we are fasting. To my understanding after all experiences we have gone through, performing Umrah or Hajj required physical and mental strength. During tawaf we must know how to slow down and when to move quickly.While during Sa'ei, especially during Ramadhan, we can quickly get thirsty. At the end of Sa'ei you'll feel like you have totally lost all your strength and what comes to your mind is a glass of water will be so help full. I had almost fainted, both arms became numb and I feel like to throw out. Luckily I had my khadamah to help me to look after the kids, I just sat on the floor and tried to catch my breath. My husband help me to find some water and sprinkled on my face with hope that it will help me to refresh.

Suddenly the thought of Hagar(r.a) came to my mind. "Probably this is how she felt when she had to look for water for her son Ismail(a.s) running from mount Safa to Marwa". Allah is the only companion for her and also for us.

To Allah we bestowed and to Him we seek forgiveness.