Makkah & Madinah, I Miss You

This blog is so dusty kan.. who would have known, by the time this post is up, it's already the 5th day of Syawal. 

HOW'S RAYA?

For my family, it has always been simple. Just a celebration post Ramadhan with raya prayers in the morning for a kickstart. We usually go somewhere for vacation. I miss those days when my grandparents were still here. Gatherings were hardcore. I was still a small kid, always excited to balik kampung, greet my grandparents at the door & of course, main mercun. Haha. There's one time, I was rushed to the clinic because I didn't run fast enough and the jumping firecracker ended the last 'jump' at me - my leg, to be specific. Good times. (not where things got dangerous)

I miss Makkah & Madina. I don't know when will be my next 'invitation' to go there.

I miss how it's always fullhouse every prayer call. 

I miss meeting strangers that felt like family within seconds. 

I miss terawih prayers & the heartfelt Quran recitations.

There's something about Great Mosque of Makkah (Masjid al-Haram).. that everytime I look at kaabah, it calms me. If you've been there, you'd understand. It's different. Out of the world. A place that never sleeps, for real. People going in and out to pray.. never ending. It awakened my soul.. and I don't want to ignore the knock on my heart.

Kaabah.
Masjid al-Haram in Makkah.

Masjid Nabawi in Madinah.
Originally built by Prophet Muhammad S.A.W.

See that green dome?
Situated below is Prophet Muhammad's grave. It's within what used to be his house with his wife, Aisha.

We managed to enter Rawdah - what's known to be a garden from the gardens of Paradise. As said, with Allah's will, prayers here are never rejected. It's a tiny area of the mosque.. the thought of having to be pushed around just to enter, was and still is scary to me. Somehow, it makes me think of Hari Kiamat / doomsday? No kidding. Everyone's selfish to save themselves and get the best spot. May Allah forgive us and protect us all.

Quba Mosque in Madinah.
The first mosque built by Prophet Muhammad S.A.W.

Prophet Muhammad S.A.W.:

"Whoever makes ablutions at home then goes and prays in the Mosque of Quba, he will have a reward like that of an 'Umrah."

How easy it is, to gain rewards..

One of the ustaz said when we were visiting other places in Makkah.. he said something like this,
"Ask anyone who's been here, if they'd come again.. nobody will say no. There's a sentimental value nobody can ignore. It's not the same feeling when we go to Bali, Maldives (other places). Just give it few days after you leave, you'll miss this place already."

And I couldn't agree more. ❤

May the spirit of Ramadhan remains in our hearts. May we be given the strength to chase after good deeds. Amin.

Ending this post with this precious smile.