My First Umrah: Makkah & Madinah
Getting on a international flight after 12 years of not flying anywhere felt like stepping into another dimension. My last flight was in 2013, a distant memory. Now, here I was, boarding from Adelaide, embarking on a journey that would change everything: my first Umrah.
The anticipation was a tangible thing, buzzing through me on the long flights from Adelaide to Doha, then Jeddah, and finally, Makkah. Nothing, absolutely nothing, could have prepared me for the moment I first laid eyes on the Kaaba. It was as if time itself paused. The sheer energy, the profound peace, the quiet tears that welled up – words simply fail. That's why I filmed it. I wanted to capture that raw, indescribable feeling for you.
Makkah: Where the Heart Finds Its Home
My Umrah began with entering the sacred state of Ihram. This isn't just about changing clothes; it's a profound shift in intention, a dedication of your entire being to Allah. Before even reaching the Miqat (the designated boundary for Ihram), I made sure to perform Ghusl (a full ritual bath) and prepare myself, both physically and spiritually. Men wear two simple, unstitched white sheets, while women wear their regular modest attire, free from adornments. It’s a powerful reminder of equality and humility before our Creator.
As I made my intention, a deep sense of purpose settled in my heart. While the intention is primarily internal, it's recommended to verbalize it. I whispered:
Arabic: لَبَّيْكَ اللَّهُمَّ عُمْرَةً
Transliteration: Labbayka Allahuma Umrah
English Translation: "O Allah! Here I am in response to Your call to perform Umrah." 2
From that moment, the Talbiyah became my constant companion, a rhythmic declaration of submission that echoed through the air, recited loudly by men and quietly by women:
Arabic: لَبَّيْكَ ٱللَّٰهُمَّ لَبَّيْكَ، لَبَّيْكَ لَا شَرِيكَ لَكَ لَبَّيْكَ، إِنَّ ٱلْحَمْدَ وَٱلنِّعْمَةَ لَكَ وَٱلْمُلْكَ لَا شَرِيكَ لَكَ
Transliteration: Labbayka Allāhumma labbayk, labbayka lā sharīka laka labbayk. Inna al-ḥamda wa-n-niʿmata laka wa-l-mulk, lā sharīka lak.
English Translation: "Here I am [at your service] O God, here I am. Here I am [at your service]. You have no partners (other gods), here I am. To You alone is all praise and all excellence, and to You is all sovereignty. There is no partner to You." 3
This sacred chant continued until I reached the Kaaba and began my Tawaf.
The Tawaf: Circling the Sacred House
Performing Tawaf, circumambulating the Kaaba seven times, was an experience of profound unity. You must be in a state of Wudu (ablution) for this, and keep the Kaaba on your left side as you move counter-clockwise. Each circuit begins and ends at the Black Stone (Hajar al-Aswad). As I approached it, I would say:
Arabic: اَللّٰهُ أَكْبَرُ
Transliteration: Allahu Akbar
English Translation: "Allah is the Greatest." 4
For men, the first three circuits involve a brisk walk called Raml, a Sunnah of the Prophet (peace be upon him). Between the Yemeni Corner and the Black Stone, a beautiful supplication is often recited:
Arabic: رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِي الْآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ
Transliteration: Rabbana atina fid-dunya hasanah wa fil-akhirah hasanah wa qina 'adhab an-nar.
English Translation: "Our Lord, give us good in this world and good in the hereafter and save us from the punishment of the fire." 4
There are no specific duas for each circuit, allowing you to engage in personal supplications, Quran recitation, and abundant remembrance of Allah.
After completing the seven circuits, the next step is to perform two Rak'ah (prayer cycles), ideally behind Maqam Ibrahim (the Station of Abraham). If it's too crowded, anywhere in the Masjid al-Haram is fine. I recited:
Arabic: وَاتَّخِذُوا مِن مَّقَامِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ مُصَلًّى
Translation: "And take the Maqam Ibrahim as a place of Salah." 5
It's Sunnah to recite Surah Al-Kafirun in the first Rak'ah and Surah Al-Ikhlas in the second.
Then, it was time for Zamzam water, readily available throughout the mosque. This blessed water is truly a miracle. It's recommended to drink it facing the Qiblah, saying "Bismillah," taking three breaths, drinking your fill, and then saying "Alhamdulillah." While there's no specific authentic hadith for a particular dua, many righteous predecessors made supplications. One beautiful dua is:
Arabic: اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ عِلْمَاً نَافِعَاًً وَرِزْقَاً وَاسِعَاًَ وَشِفَاءً مِنْ كُلِّ دَاءٍ
Transliteration: Allahumma inni as aluka 'ilman nafi'a wa rizqan wasi'a wa shifa'an min kulli da.
English Translation: "O Allah! Grant me beneficial knowledge, an abundant provision, and a healing from every disease." 6
Sa'i: A Mother's Perseverance
The next major ritual was Sa'i, walking or jogging seven times between the hills of Safa and Marwa. This commemorates Lady Hajar's desperate search for water for her infant son, Isma'il. It's a powerful reminder of reliance on Allah and perseverance. While Wudu is highly recommended, it's not obligatory for Sa'i.
Upon reaching Safa for the first time, I recited:
Arabic: ِإِنَّ الصَّفَا وَالْمَرْوَةَ مِن شَعَائِرِ اللَّهِ
Translation: "Indeed, Safa and Marwa are from the Signs of Allah." 7
Then, standing on Safa, facing the Kaaba, I raised my hands in supplication, repeating this profound dhikr three times, making personal duas in between:
Arabic: لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللّٰهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ وَهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ، لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللّٰهُ وَحْدَهُ أَنْجَزَ وَعْدَهُ وَنَصَرَ عَبْدَهُ وَهَزَمَ الْأَحْزَابَ وَحْدَهُ
Transliteration: La ilaha illallah wahdahu la sharika lah, lahul-mulk wa lahul-hamd wa huwa
ala kulli shay'in qadir; La ilaha illallah wahdahu anjaza wadah wa nasara `abdah wa hazama al-ahzaba wahdah.English Translation: "None has the right to be worshipped except Allah alone, without any partner. To Him belongs all sovereignty and praise, and He is over all things capable. He fulfilled His promise, aided His servant, and single-handedly defeated the confederates." 7
Men are encouraged to jog between the two green markers in the pathway, while women maintain a normal walking pace. There are no specific duas to recite between Safa and Marwa; it's a time for personal reflection, dhikr, and supplication. One lap is from Safa to Marwa, and the return is the second, completing seven laps ending on Marwa.
Halq or Taqsir: Completing the Journey
The final ritual of Umrah is either shaving the head (Halq) for men or trimming the hair (Taqsir) for both men and women. This act formally concludes the Umrah and allows you to exit the state of Ihram. For men, Halq is considered more virtuous. Women simply trim a fingertip's length from the ends of their hair. This act symbolizes disconnecting from worldly desires and committing fully to Allah's path.
With Halq or Taqsir complete, all the restrictions of Ihram are lifted, and you can change back into regular clothes. Alhamdulillah, Umrah complete!
After the spiritual intensity of completing Umrah, I spent time exploring the vast marble floors of the Haram and even found some amazing late-night food spots in Makkah. I also visited the Hira Cultural Centre, which includes the Hira Museum and the Quran Museum – a truly enlightening experience. And yes, I climbed Jabal al-Noor to see the actual Cave of Hira, where revelation began. It was a challenging hike, but standing there, imagining the Prophet (peace be upon him), was incredibly moving.
Madinah: The City of Light
After Makkah, I caught the Haramain high-speed train to Madinah – it's an amazing experience, by the way! Arriving in Madinah, the peace of Masjid al-Nabawi immediately touched my soul differently. Spending time in the Prophet's Mosque, praying, and reflecting, was truly special.
In the evenings, I explored the city center, visiting historic masjids like Masjid Abi Bakr, Masjid Al-Ghamama, Masjid Ali Bin Abi Talib, and Masjid Bilal. I also spent time at the As Saffiyah Museum. The next day, I took a city tour bus to the Uhud battlefield, standing where the companions fought and seeing the graves of the martyrs of Uhud – a powerful history lesson. We also visited Masjid Quba, the first mosque built in Islam. And yes, I found a fantastic Pakistani restaurant called Zaitoon (Zaytoon) for a delicious meal!
Packing Smart for Your Sacred Trip
For anyone planning their first Umrah, especially from Australia or other Western countries, packing smart is crucial. I share my personal tips on what to pack for Umrah in my video, including essentials like Ihram clothing, unscented toiletries (a must for Ihram!), comfortable footwear, and a travel prayer mat. I also talk about what I wish I'd brought! You can find my full packing list and gear details in my YouTube video description.
A Journey of the Heart
This trip wasn't just about visiting holy sites; it was a profound spiritual journey that truly sparked my spirituality and empathy. I found myself reflecting deeply on our shared humanity and the importance of kindness. While there, I made heartfelt duas for all of you – I asked Allah to answer your prayers and to grant everyone who yearns to visit Makkah and Madinah the chance to do so, just as He granted me.
May Allah give you the opportunity to visit His sacred House soon. Ameen.
Ready to see the journey unfold? Watch my full Umrah vlog on YouTube for all the sights, sounds, and emotions of this incredible trip!
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Umrah Guide
I made an Umrah guide for myself that allowed me to keep focused and follow all the necessary steps properly, which ensured that my Umrah was completed according to the Sunnah and gave me the confidence that I utilized my time and efforts efficiently. I have made it available for free in a PDF format to be downloaded. At the end of the guide, I have posted a link that leads to a Youtube video showing a simplified method on how to perform Umrah step-by-step. The duas mentioned at every step are included in my Umrah guide and the steps are listed in order from putting on the Ihram garments (with intention and necessary steps ritualistic cleaning) to Halaq/Taqsir (shaving or cutting of the hair at the completion of Umrah to exit the state of Ihram).
Download Umrah guide here:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1akzRzFSyi6PXFjEuQxug8UqeW7vC_6zF/view?usp=share_link
All I ask is if this guide benefitted you in any way, then make dua for me and for the whole Muslim ummah. May Allah give us all a chance to visit his sacred holy houses and accept our good deeds, including the major and minor pilgrimage, i.e. Hajj & Umrah. Ameen.
