Umrah Travelogue - Part 1

Alhamdulillah, I have returned from my trip to Meccca and Madinah one week ago. The trip lasted about 2 weeks and within those periods, many significant events happened in Malaysia. 

First was the massive flood that involves multiple states in Malaysia. My hometown was also not spared from the disaster and even my own parent has to relocate as my house was next to Sungai Perak. Half of my hometown was flooded for more than one week.

Second was the crash of Indonesia Air Asia aeroplane. Until today, they are still looking for the dead passengers and the black box. This event will have significant impact to the future of budget airlines in Indonesia.

Back to my umrah journey. This trip was planned for few months in advance. This is my first time visiting the Holy Land. Alhamdulillah, there were few surprises and lots of nice memory that I have collected throughout the journey.

Preparation

1.     Travel agent

Many Malaysians used to go to perform umrah via travel agents albeit few will go independently. In my case, I follow the majority and arrange the entire trip using a travel agent. There are many travel agents available in Malaysia and it is up to you to choose which agent suits you the best

2.     Knowledge

In order to perform umrah while hoping that it will be blessed by Allah, we need to increase our knowledge and learn the best way to perform this act of worship. In this matter, I read few guides of umrah and explore hundreds of blogs regarding their experience at Mecca and Madinah.

3.     Physical

The journey at Mecca and Madinah requires lots of stamina. Umrah is a physical form of worship. During the trip, I used the pedometer app in my smartphone and on average, I walked about 20000-25000 steps per day which translates to about 18-23km per day!

4.     Spiritual

This is a journey to cleanse a soul and a time for self-reflection. This is not a journey of shopping, photography or any worldly matter. Prior to the trip, it was advisable to perform night prayers and frequently asked forgiveness from Allah for any wrongdoings, whether intentional or unintentional. Personally, I always check regarding my nawaitu of visiting the Holy Land. It is best to go there with an open, sincere heart and willing to prepare for any tests that we will encounter during this journey.