Makkah & Madinah: Amazing Holy Places

"I miss it."

This thought always comes to my mind.

I miss those Holy Places, I miss the moments, I miss everything.

These places never fail to amaze people, including me!

Well, I've been to Makkah and Madinah three times to perform Umrah.

I went there in 2005 for the first time if I'm not mistaken.

Then, in 2007 for the second. I was still a kid at that time, but I still remember all the memories.

And last March was my third visit with family. Yes, I was there from March 26 to April 3, 2016.

It was only a week after my graduation at university.

MADINAH

Madinah, the second holiest city in Islam after Makkah, became our first destination.

In Madinah, we'll find Masjid Nabawi (The Prophet's Mosque). It is also the final resting place of the Prophet Muhammad PBUH and early Muslim leaders.
So, we flew from Jakarta to Madinah thru Muscat by Oman Airlines.
After arriving at the airport in Madinah, we went to the hotel by bus.

The airport

I remember the atmosphere, the beautiful night sky. It was actually almost Fajr prayer time!
In Madinah, we stayed in Al Haram Hotel. Alhamdulillah it's so close to Masjid Nabawi.

We had only couple hours to sleep before Fajr tho, but that's not a problem.

Before the Fajr time approached, we immediately left the hotel to Masjid Nabawi.

It's always better to go to the mosque before the Adhan, because it will be already full of people.

What I thought first was it's so different from when I was there for the last time.
It looked more beautiful. What a lovely mosque, what a lovely city!