Part B
Madina, Saudi Arabia
21st January, Wednesday
En route to Madina from Makkah: A wide road amidst desiccate desert and mountains on the adjacent sides, neither any vegetation nor any habitation. I’m surprised why the government hasn’t kept train / metro service between the two Holy Cities. One can easily make out how much the torchbearers of Islam must have suffered, before the religion reached us. It would’ve been challenging to traverse through the arid deserts from one place to the other. Nowadays, there is a lot of infrastructure put in place, as opposed to erstwhile times. Indeed, Prophet Mohammad (SAW) revolutionised and transformed the whole world, and made it a structured and organised place to live.
We checked in the Hotel – Al Shourfah New Hotel – it was very near to the Holy Masjid Al-Nabawi.
22nd January, Thursday: Entered the premises of Al-Masjid Al-Nabawi with Greetings and Salutations to the Holy Prophet (SAW), glimpses of a breath-taking architecture is flabbergasting, it's designed to perfection. Everything and every piece of embellishment are so perfect in whatever way or place it’s been kept. Masjid is an architectural marvel, the forethought involved in adjusting the intricacies and a well thought out design, must've taken a great deal of time, effort and acumen.
Technological advancements of all sorts leveraged viz. robotic cameras, high quality speakers, automatic sliding domes etc. – interior & exterior of Masjid. Moreover, if I talk about the exterior areas – sun protecting umbrellas (retractable) are no less than an architectural genius.
Thanks to Almighty Allah, All praises to the Government for making it such a marvellous Masjid, an experience spiritually uplifting and soothing to the core.
Salutations and Greetings to the Holy Prophet (SAW) continued throughout. We were fortunate enough to get multiple opportunities to offer prayers near to the Holy sanctum sanctorum and around Prophet’s (SAW) sermon pulpit – Riad ul Jannah. Indeed, a spiritually uplifting, and soothing to the core experience. One feels that the Holy Prophet (SAW) on the other side listens to what you are beseeching – truly pure and pious feeling.
Riad ul Jannah is a part of Paradise; you don’t feel an iota less than paradise when you’re there. Subhan Allah
23rd January, Friday: We woke up to the news of King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz’s demise. King had died in the Night. King Salman bin Abdul Aziz assumed charge of the kingdom; with heir apparent Muqrin bin Abdul Aziz, on the same day.
We offered Friday prayers along with the schedule of Prayers in Masjid Al-Nabawi; the feeling was over-the-top.
24th January, Saturday: Prayers and Shopping. Early mornings are very cold and nippy, but the enthusiasm to offer early morning prayers is always much more than the biting cold. Aura of Islam forms a halo over the followers head, it’s pleasurable and therapeutic.
25th January, Sunday: En route to the sacred places of Madina. Prophet (SAW) has given a significant time in Madina, so most of the places are associated to Him.
We started with:
Masjid Al-Quba: The first Masjid in Islam, foundation laid by the Prophet Mohammad (SAW). Prophet (SAW) Said, “Whoever makes ablutions at home and then goes and prays in Quba, he will have a reward like that of an Umrah.” After migrating from Makkah, Prophet (SAW) had spent the initial days, (from four to ten days) in this place, establishing the first Masjid, and then went to Madina city. 
Masjid Jumaah: It was a Friday Morning, when Prophet (SAW) started to move towards Madina city. On way to Madina, at the time of noon (Friday), He (SAW) stopped for Friday prayers. First Friday prayer and sermon was delivered from the same place, now Masjid Jumaah. 
Mount Uhud, Jabbal e Uhad: This Mountain has a huge religious, historic significance. Battle of Uhad was fought in the foothills of Uhad, Muslims lost around seventy warriors including Hazrat Hamza (RA), but the battle ended inconclusive, a kind of truce from both the sides. However, the opponents ran back to their own territories, and Muslims retained the area. The mountain has a special feature of changing the colour, I was myself surprised to see the change in colour, in a moment – you witness the change from red to black. Prophet Mohammad (SAW) said, “I love Uhad, and Uhad loves me.” Lot of references are seen in the Holy Quran and Hadith vis-à-vis the mountain of Uhad.
Date Factory: Beautiful date orchids, with sales outlets. The Prophet (SAW) said, "If somebody takes some 'Ajwa dates every morning, he will not be affected by poison or magic on that day till night."
Masjid Al-Qiblatain: In the early days of Islam, people used to face towards Al-Aqsa, Jerusalem, during prayers. Prophet (SAW) had a desire of making Makkah, the praying direction for Muslims; He used to pray to Almighty Allah for the same. Finally, Almighty Allah revealed a verse in the Holy Quran allowing the change of direction. Prophet (SAW) ordered the believers to change the direction towards Makkah. The communique reached Qiblatain Masjid (Present Name) – People were in the middle of prayer, imagine the quality and steadfastness in their faith/ belief, they changed the direction towards Makkah in the middle of prayer, they didn’t even wait for the prayer to end. On the said account, the Masjid was named as Qiblatain. All praise to Almighty Allah, may we become Muslims of such pertinacity, these days as well, Ameen.
Khandaq: Battle of Trench (Khandaq) – Khandaq is a deep trench. Muslims were in a pitiable condition, they didn't want any war, and they didn't had enough strength to fight. One of the strategists in Prophet’s (SAW) brigade, Salman al Farsi suggested digging up the deep trenches. Deep trenches to thwart the attempts of adversaries, who were hell-bent on striking Muslims – this suggestion was approved and actualised. Excavation work was initiated, the entry to Madina was dug up, enemy forces came, and they couldn't cross the deep trench, but they were able to stop the supplies of all sorts to Madina. Prophet (SAW) prayed to Almighty Allah, seeking his intervention, subsequently there was a huge windstorm, forcing the opponents to retreat. Subhan Allah.
Maqbaratul Baqi (The Baqi Cemetery): At last, went to the garden of heaven. The place of introspection, didn’t find any epitaph on any of the grave neither any plant/greenary, as opposed to Kashmir.
26th January, Monday to 28th, Wednesday: While shopping I found the sales persons more jovial and amiable than other parts of Saudi. They welcome, greet and talk in a very genteel way. I liked to shop in Madina, Indeed.
29th January, Thursday: Leaving from Saudi Arabia. At last, I went to the place where Hazrat Abu Bakr (RA) had taken the oath of Caliphate.
Alhamdulillah. May the divine aura perpetuate, every fraction of past two weeks is going to remain cemented to my soul, heart & mind. This soul refreshing religious expedition, more so (captivating) because of the company of family will remain with us throughout our life. Aura and ambience of the place is enchanting. The more you visit, the more you love; indeed, mesmerising.
Flying from Madina, Saudi Arabia: As I am in the flight, I’m thinking – the enthusiasm, with which I used to follow the real purpose of life in Saudi, may get diluted once I land in India. Why don’t we take our religion on priority? Everything that happens in life is a priority, but the real reason of existence has become an ancillary matter. While I’m flying away from the headquarters of my religion, I wouldn’t want to walk away from the practices of it.
I pray to Almighty Allah to keep me firm on my religion.
At the end, the major takeaway from the religious expedition is fixated at the circumspection about the future course of action. How to lead what we ought to lead? And reach where Allah has prescribed us to reach – to attain salvation and live a righteous life.
Thanks to the Family – Father, Mother and Brother. Without the collective effort, this expedition wouldn’t have been so prolific and unforgettable.
Thanks to Almighty Allah for providing us an opportunity and means, to get together for this Holy Journey. We would always want to get this privilege again and again; it was a life changing experience.
Thank you all for sparing your time to read this travelogue – May Almighty Allah consider all your genuine wishes and aspirations.
Yasir Reshi
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