Madinah felt like a dream. I would be reading salaah and then look up and be astounded that I’m actually in Masjid un Nabawi, and this happened during every salaah. 

There is something surreal of breathing the same air that Nabi ﷺ is in. Looking at the same sky and the same sunsets that Nabi ﷺ might have seen. Knowing that Nabi ﷺ is hearing your salaam and replying. Knowing that you are presenting your durood in person to Nabi ﷺ – there is no need for a medium between you and Him ﷺ. 

In Madinah, the air just feels different because even the air knows how blessed it is to have Nabi ﷺ. Nothing feels better than walking with your siblings at 1am in the streets of Madinah. 

Something I like to notice in Madinah is people’s reactions to being here. You can see the sincerity in their gaze on the Green Dome. You can feel the love for Nabi ﷺ in the tears that silently roll down their faces. You can hear the longing for Nabi ﷺ in their words even when it’s in a language you don’t understand. 

There are many things that divide us, but there will always be a shared love for Nabi ﷺ amongst us. Being in Madinah always makes me feel so utterly blessed to be part of Nabi ﷺ’s nation. It makes me realise that there is no deed or thought or anything that would make me worthy of this honour except that Allah had mercy on me in choosing me to be an ummati of Nabi ﷺ. 

A lesson that I carried with me is: 

لَنَا أَعْمَالُنَا وَلَكُمْ أَعْمَالُكُمْ

“For us are our deeds, and for you are your deeds.” (28:55)

My biggest learning in Madinah is to worry about my own actions and my own doings. To not worry about the aunty pushing in front of me in the line. To not worry about the lady standing on a chair craning her neck to see over the barriers. To not worry about the way a person ties their scarf or what they’re wearing. To focus on myself and how I can be better. This mentality honestly made me feel less stressed and so much lighter. 

Madinah tips

All things Haram related

For ladies, the Instant Track releases a few slots for Raudah at 10pm and for men, at 12am. It also releases one slot every 20 minutes (for example, check the Nusuk app at 8:19, 8:20 and 8:21). 

Uthmaan bin Affan gate 25 is my favourite to read in – if you walk to the front, there’s a section for woman without children. 

Gate 21 is open for salaam for ladies from after Esha – I would suggest going around 9pm and then you can sit and read for as long as you like.

Men can make salaam at any time during the day and night at Gate 1. 

The blue Qur’aans are most similar to the South African 13 line Qur’aans – I would suggest taking your own Qur’aan with you if possible, there is no better feeling than reading from your own Qur’aan in Masjid un Nabawi. 

The water canisters outside the masjid are not Zam Zam (look for ones that say “Suqya Zam Zam”) on them.

Essential kitaabs: Salaat and Salaam and a duaa card with the salaam to Nabi ﷺ, Abu Bakr R.A. and Umar R.A. Keep it light with the kitaabs – you probably won’t use most of them and if you really want something, you can always google the pdf.

Shopping/Food

Movenpick has very pretty abayas that are good quality. 

Karak Express is a must for karak (SAR 5). 

The Madinah rose ice cream was really good and available at the kiosks down Gate 333. 

Coffee culture has really taken over Saudi. Kiffa’s iced Spanish latte was my favourite. 

Row has a really good iced Spanish latte also but the chocolate pudding is the real winner here. 

If you’re going to Quba walkway, go fuelled with food. It’s a long walk with loads of shops. We didn’t buy any abayas from here but we did get the most delicious mango juice. 

Please visit Sauce Boss in As Safiyyah Museum and Park. The center itself is really pretty. The burgers here were easily one of the best burgers I’ve ever had. 

We bought from Omar Food’s (+966 50 976 2683) because khari kitchri is a must in Umrah and we also bought chicken biryani from Aapa Aaliya (+966 55 702 8132) which was also nice. 

My mum brought some heat and eat stuff from home (easy things – for example, we’d heat up chicken strips and buy chips to go with it) so we had a nice balance of buying out and eating in. 

Fresh rutab and the Al-Marai fresh cream is an elite combination.

Step count (Saturday): 12 926

Step count (Sunday): 16 041

Step count (Monday): 16 906

Step count (Tuesday): 16 434

Step count (Wednesday): 16 508