By Alya Balakrishnan

Ṣalawāt upon our beloved Prophet ﷺ

Alhamdulillāh, I was blessed with yet another opportunity to visit the Baytullāh, this time with my beloved classmates from Rose of Madinah.

To be invited back to the holy lands is a gift from Allah ﷻ, one I can never truly deserve, but can only be grateful for.

This trip was especially meaningful as I travelled with a dear friend who played a pivotal role in my journey to Islam.

I had often dreamt of one day performing Umrah with those who first introduced me to the faith—and Allah ﷻ turned that hope into reality.

Madinah & the Battle of Badr

Our journey began in Madinah, where we set our hearts on visiting our beloved Prophet ﷺ.

On the way, we stopped at the site of the Battle of Badr. Reading about it in the sīrah is humbling, but standing where it unfolded deepened its reality—the plain battlefield, Jabal al-Malā’ikah, and the very ground where the small Muslim army stood firm.

Though the site appears simple and quiet today, it marks one of the most significant events in Islamic history.

Despite being outnumbered, the believers placed full reliance on Allah ﷻ, and He granted them victory through the unseen help of angels. Allah ﷻ says:

[Remember] when you asked help of your Lord, and He answered you, Indeed, I will reinforce you with a thousand from the angels, following one another.
Surah al-Anfāl, 8:9

This teaches us the essence of tawakkul—to trust and rely on Allah ﷻ even when outcomes seem impossible.

A reminder much needed today, in an age where secularism encourages reliance solely on human effort while neglecting the All-Powerful.

Raudah – The Garden of Paradise

Another deeply moving moment was visiting al-Rawdah, “a garden from the gardens of Paradise,” not once but twice during our stay. The Prophet ﷺ said:

“What is between my house and my pulpit is a garden from the gardens of Paradise.”
Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, 1196; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, 1391

Queuing for hours, unsure whether we would be pushed aside or rushed by guards, was daunting.

With only a brief span inside, I felt disheartened for not being able to make enough du‘ā. But our Ustaz reminded us of another hadith:

“When you pass by the gardens of Paradise, avail yourselves of them.” They asked: “What are the gardens of Paradise?” He replied: “The circles of dhikr.”
Jāmi‘ al-Tirmidhī, 3510; authenticated by al-Albānī

This transformed our perspective—true gardens of Paradise can be found in gatherings of remembrance, even beyond the physical Raudah.

Journey to Makkah

After bidding farewell to Madinah and praying for the Prophet’s ﷺ intercession on the Day of Judgement, we travelled six hours by bus to Makkah.

Initially, we thought the train would have been easier, but the bus journey turned into a blessing—filled with dhikr and qasīdah, reviving our hearts together.

Upon reaching Makkah, we began our rites of Umrah. One test came when waiting long hours in a crowded station for our bus.

Being pushed around and frustrated was a lesson in patience—reminding us that the real test of worship is how we treat others in difficulty.

I‘tikāf and Seeking Knowledge

One of my hopes was to spend time in i‘tikāf at the Ḥaram, knowing that each ṣalāh there equals 100,000 elsewhere.

Yet, some nights were instead spent in collective dhikr and lessons with our ustādh. Initially, I felt regret for losing those moments of private worship.

But then I was reminded of the value of seeking knowledge. The Prophet ﷺ said:

The superiority of the scholar over the worshipper is like the superiority of the moon over all the stars.”
Sunan Abī Dāwūd, 3641; authenticated by al-Albānī

And in another narration:

“Seeking knowledge is obligatory upon every Muslim.”
Sunan Ibn Mājah, 224; Ṣaḥīḥ

These ahādīth humbled me. Worship in the Ḥaram is immense in reward, but seeking knowledge is what shapes worship, corrects intention, and guides us closer to Allah ﷻ.

Closing Reflections

Overall, this second Umrah was both humbling and eye-opening. Every challenge carried a hidden lesson, and every blessing a reminder of Allah’s ﷻ mercy.

May Allah ﷻ allow us more opportunities to visit His sacred House, grant us transformative journeys, and make us among those who benefit from knowledge and act upon it. Āmīn.