Assalāmu ‘Alaykum wa Rahmathullāhi wa Barakāthuhu

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I have just uploaded the pictures taken during our amazing visit to the Holy Lands (Makkah & Medina, in Saudia Arabia) in March/April 2009; where my parents and I embarked upon the greatest journey of our lives so far, for Umrah (Inshaa Allah Hajj is next!).  I’m still suffering from HWS (Haramein Withdrawal Symptoms) and I think it will take a very long time to recover! I’d rather not recover, and inshaa Allah forever keep those moments close to my heart, I don’t ever want to forget my 2 weeks there and loose that special feeling, thinking back now, it all just seems like a dream.. it was the best 2 weeks of my life, it was the life I always dreamt of living and being the person I always dreamt of being…  You can only but smile, and remember how much peace you were at there, and how everyone strove hard to seek the Pleasure and Forgiveness of their Lord SWT; and now that we have returned back to our “homes”, we must inshaa Allah continue striving and praying for that day we take our steps into Jannah.

O Allah please accept our Umrah and our Ibadah, and make us from Ahl Jannah, Ameen.

Masjid Al Haram – Makkah, Saudia Arabia

Masjid An-Nabawai – Medina, Saudia Arabia

During our stay in Makkah we visited:

Masjid Al Quba (Outside Medina)

I do not even know where to begin to explain how amazing my journey to Umrah was, each person shared their own special moments being a guest of Allah in His House. I had an absolutley spectacular time, what a journey Indeed, even if I try to explain it.. I will not be able to do it any justice.. those who have been will understand what I mean, it is a place you can not describe how it truely beautiful it is.. one can only truely experience and realise once they are there…Every hour spent there was an adventure…and so unique…and such a challenge – not just physcially, but mentally, emotionally, spiritually and of course your patience is tested throughout your stay there!!

As soon as we departed from Medina to Jeddah airport, making our way back to the UK…. I looked around..and I just knew things will not be the same again..it was asthough we were leaving another world .. although I am now back in the UK … my heart will always remain in Makkah & Medina, this place feels so alien to me, I look around and everything around me is so strange and doesn’t seem real….I am guessing everyone goes through this feeling, Allahu Musta’an!

May Allah have mercy on us,forgive us and guide us to live righteous lives in obidience to him…

May Allah accept from all those who went for Umrah and all those who go until the end of time…

I ask Allah to invite us back to His House very soon,and invite all those who have not yet been…

I ask Allah to call us all for Hajj, enabling us to fulfil this big obligation we owe to Him SWT, and to have an accepted Hajj. Ameen

I can’t stress it enough, you will not truely know how amazing it is, untill you go! and your life will never be the same once you return! It is a place where you truely feel at peace and so close to Allah, and you realise your true reason of existing, .. I ask Allah to keep our hearts steadfast upon His Deen, Alhamdulillahi Rabil Alameen, I end with:

Ashadu an La elaha illlah, wa ashadu anna Muhammadur RasoolAllah.

~sisterQamar

In Abu Dawood and at-Tirmithi, the Prophet Muhammad (saws) said: “A person is likely to follow the faith of his friend, so look whom you befriend.”

In Al-Bukhari and Muslim, the Prophet Muhammad (saws) said: “The example of a good companion and a bad companion is like that of the seller of musk, and the one who blows the blacksmith’s bellows.. So as for the seller of musk then either he will grant you some, or you buy some from him, or at least you enjoy a pleasant smell from him. As for the one who blows the blacksmith’s bellows then either he will burn your clothes or you will get an offensive smell from him.”

In his commentary of this Hadith, Imam an-Nawawy said that the Prophet (saws) compared a good companion to a seller of musk and spoke of the virtue of having companions who are good, who have noble manners, piety, knowledge and good culture. Such are those who grant us from their virtue. And he (saws) forbade us to sit with those who do evil, commit a lot of sins and other bad deeds, as well as with innovators, backbiters, and so forth. Another scholar said: “keeping good company with the pious results in attainment of beneficial knowledge, noble manners and righteous actions, whereas keeping company with the wicked prevents all of that.” Many times a Muslim is encouraged by his friends to do evil and to forget his duties. The result is that Muslims themselves are often ashamed to leave them to perform prayer, their friends thus causing them to clearly deviate from the Right Path.

[Source: http://www.missionislam.com/knowledge/Friendship.htm]

Subhaan’Allah! How important are friends?! Not just any friends, but the right friends. Those friends who encourage you towards righteousness, those friends who help you to enjoin the good and forbid the evil, those friends who keep you in rememberance of Allah and make you a better Muslim. Have you got friends like that? Are your friends like a blacksmith or like a musk seller?

Alhamdulillah, I must say, I have been blessed with the most amazing friends, majority if not all are musk sellers! Each and every one of them are special in their own way, and each have a special place in my heart.

I would like to thank in particular, my sisters Lola, Fatou, Sameha and Najima ..

Let me tell you abit about ‘my’ dear sisters: Lola is my Malaysian friend and Fatou my Gambian friend whom I met while at uni, we were all so lost before in between Islaam and our culture, and by the grace of Allah we were all guided to the Sunnah at more or less the same time! We learnt together,… changed our ways together. Alhamdulilllah! Sameha is my friend, who found me via the Internet, via my website! – and we have been in touch ever since. Last but not least, Najima (a.k.a Um Umar) is my Holland friend, she is so far yet so near to me, she always makes time for me, listens to all my worries and concerns, and helps me find the best sollutions. It feels as though she is just next door – mashAllah!

… Sisters, words can not express my gratitude enough, for the things you do for me : ) I ask you to please forgive me my shortcomings, for the times I mess up,,….im sorry and I love you all fesabeelilllah…..May Allah forgive us our sins and let us be together in the Akhirah under Allahs Shade on the Day of Judgement, and be amongst the People of Paradise, ameen.

As you can see, we are all so different, and the one thing that binds us together is Islaam — our Love for Allah, and His Messenger (s)! If you have such friends, treasure them, because wallahi they are a blessing from Allah and are very rare to find in todays world.

Asalaamu’alaykum, I came accross this picture, and Masha’Allah — it is qute!!

May Allah make it easy for the people there.Ameen