Hajj Update

Latest news, we will leaving from Yanbu Al-Bahr at 4.00pm 16th Disember 2007 (7th Zulhijah 1427H) to Mekah. Estimate to arrive at 12.00 am due to heavy traffic. We will perform Tawaf Qudum and Sai'e Hajj. On the next day we will move to Mina and stay there until 9th Zulhijjah.

We will start moving to Arafah on the 9th for Wukuf. After Maghrib prayer, again we move to Mudzalifah and stay there for the whole night. After Fajr prayer on the next day, we will move back to Mina and soon after Dzohor prayer, we will perform stoning at the Jamrat Aqabah.

Hajj 1428H

We (me and my wife) is planning to perform hajj this year. This is the main purpose we came to this place; perform hajj, umrah and pay visit to Rasulullah (p.bu.h). We received our Tasreh (security pass for doing hajj for local people) yesterday. Alhamdulillah everything was fine.

We will follow a local "hafilah" named Rakbul Huda. As we were told, our tent in Mina is around 600 mtr to 1km from Jamrat. The Hafilah will provide us transportation from Yanbu-Mekah-Mina-Yanbu, meal and tent.

Saudi government had annouced the day of wukuf will be on Tuesday 18th Disember 2007 (9th Zulkaedah 1427) that's mean we will depart from Yanbu to Mekah on Sunday 16th Dis 2007.

Our children will be taken care by our servant as well as our neighbours. We pray to Allah for their safety. To readers, please pray Allah will grant us hajj mabrur.

Gathering in Madinah

Almost 2 month we have not update our blog. Not purposely, but too many stuff need to be settled.

We went to Madinah last 2 weeks, 23rd November 2007. Our neighbour in Saujana Utama, Sungai Buloh (Abg Rahman and Kak June) was here to perform Hajj. We are still in contact since we left Malaysia last year. Thanks to Allah who gives man idea to invent internet and other technologies. With these technologies, the world become closer although we are thousand kilometers away from others.

We met Abg Rahman and Kak June in Mawaddah Hotel Madinah, after Jumaat Prayer. My children, especially Eiman, Aina and Yasmeen still remember them. We had a long chat at the hotel lobby. Abang Rahman just like always, simple and humble.

We took them go around Madinah city by our car. We went to Uhud and Quba' Mosque and we stop there for 'Asr Prayer. After that we went to Dates shop behind the mosque. Abg Rahman and Kak June was enjoyed bought the dates while we enjoyed eating free dates. The prices are quite reasonable compared to other places and the dates also new. Rotab also sold there.

We left Madinah after performing maghrib prayer. InsyaAllah we will meet them again in Mekah during hajj.

Stop Over at Jeddah

On the way we went back to Yanbu, suddenly we decided to stop and had a tour in Jeddah. At first we thought just want to stop for an hour or two and finally we changed our mind to stay overnight and may be we can enjoy sight seing in Jeddah city.

Here are some photos snapped during the sightseing in Jeddah Corniche and Historical Distric Area.

Before we drove home, we had our Thai-style lunch in a Philiphine restaurant. Not bad.

Eidul Fitri Mubarak, Kullu 'Am Wa Antum Bi Khair

Since this year is our second year in Kingdom, and we did not know what will happen next year, we would like to take this oppotunity to celebrate Eid in Mecca ~ perform Solat sunnatu Eid in Masjidul Haram together with the children is our wish.

I still remember and I always want to remember my wish and my promise I made to Allah when I performed my Umrah in 2002, during Wida' my last wish before I left Baitullah deeply in my heart, I really hope Allah will grant me a chance to stay in Kingdom together with the children so that I can visit as often as possible Baitullah with all of them. Now, I guess He had fullfilled the wish, so now it become my responsibility to keep the promise.

Every weekend during Ramadhan we tried to make ourself in Mecca. Alhamdulillah, finally we managed to do it. Now Ramadhan has end. I feel the Yanbu city is so quite now. Before it was so alive because all mosques recited a surah during Terawih prayer. Towards 10 days to Eid, almost all mosque were opened 24 hours to the public to do i'tikaf and qiyamullail. Towards 10 days to Eid, you can hear the voice of the imam reciting the surah everywhere. But now no more. I wish every month will be like Ramadhan. The month where the poor will get a chance to eat better food because more people giving "sedeqah".

We spent 3 days and 2 night in Mecca. Since I have relatives in Mecca , so we visited them and celebrated Eid together. With us were other 2 Malaysian family (also working in Yanbu) and a few Malaysian family from other cities that spent their Eid Holidays in Mecca. According to calendar , Eidu will be on Saturday, so we still wait for Terawih on the Thursday night. Initially we heard sound of cannon blast several times and an anouncement, but since we did not understand arabic well so we did not know what was happening. Suddenly, we realized people were leaving. Few hours ago, the mosque were packed up to the third floor.Suddenly, no more. Actually it was announcement for Eidul Fitri for the next day. My friend said, if you think the this is packed, during Hajj is even worse( she had performed Hajj for two times previously). I could not imagine how it would be. I had uploaded some photos at for view. Please see link OUR PHOTOS IN KSA.

The next morning, after Sunat prayer we visited the house of Tabung Haji employees. There were 8 houses. But we managed to visit 4 of them. Among of them are Pak Wan+wife(Tabung Haji driver), K. Normah+husband(who have been staying in Jeddah more than 20 years) - t.q for a nice laksa. Fredi+wife - t.q for a tasty nice mee(home-made) rebus. During our visit, we also met En.Aziz the Consulat of Malaysia+ wife(K.Jah) and all their children + son in law. As well as Pak Long from Madinah(Insya-allah if permit by Allah we will visit you soon in Madinah).

We spent an overnight again in Mecca. The next day, we left Mecca at 11.30 and now we would like to try new route instead of Mecca - Yanbu, now we used the route Mecca- Jeddah - Yanbu( to be continued..........). Probably we will stay for another day in Jeddah.

Celebrating Eid in Mekah

We will celebrate Eid-ul-Fitri (Eid Mubarak) in Mekah this time. We will go to Mekah tomorrow after morning prayer. InsyaAllah we will reach there before Dzohor prayer.

To my friends out there and also to the visitors, Happy Eid Mubarak and may Allah bless you all.

Selamat Hari Raya dan Maaf Zahir Batin.

First year in Yanbu

29th September 2007, marks our first year in Yanbu. So far, we are happy with our life here. The childrens have good schools and friends though they missed their relatives in Malaysia. We have good jobs, neighbourhood, less traffic in the streets which release you from headache (this one I like most), nice food and the best ever, proximity from Mekah and Madinah.

We don't know yet what it will be in future. According to plan, there is another year for us to enjoy such a living in Yanbu. But somehow, I remember my former friend always told me, nothing will happen except by the will of Allah. Allah knows what will happen after a year, a month , a week or even tomorrow. So we leave to Allah to decide our future.