Ahhhh....Bliss!

Bism Illah wa as salaamu alaykum.

Perhaps people imagine that living in Madinah means praying every day in Masjid an Nabawi and making ziyaarah to the Prophet's grave (sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam) as often as one likes. Not so! This is the second most important stop for all the hujjaj and umrah visitors, so those places are packed to bursting most of the year. After over one year living here, I still haven't made ziyaarah, Qadr Allah.

Imagine then, the feeling of us residents when all the hujjaj leave. There is a hiatus on umrah visas for a period of 6-8 weeks after the deadline date for the hujjaj to leave and finally there is a chance for us. Today was the first jumu'ah since the hujjaj left. We went for the prayer...and it was so empty we could sit wherever we liked, mashaa'Allah. We could see the beauty and grandeur of the Masjid. We could sit in peace and read surah al Kahf before the prayer. Subhaan Allah, we could just walk up and get a drink of Zamzam water without waiting for anyone ahead of us! These are precious days for us. Days when we can finally enjoy and spend quality time at Masjid an Nabawi and know the peace (sakinah) of Madinah.

I'm hoping that these days will provide me with the opportunity to make ziyaarah. I missed the chance today after Jumu'ah, but inshaa'Allah next week. Then I'll give salaams from all of you dear sisters as well, bi ithn Illah, taala.