An Umrah Photo Journey From Mekkah To Medina

and more to come

Continuing our journey from Mekkah to Medina, our driver picked us up from our hotel on a Friday. This was the worst time you can choose after the Friday prayer since it is so busy. Police block the streets around the mosque and they do not allow anyone to enter. It is chaotic. Our driver tried for 2.5 hours to enter and finally at 4pm we started our journey for Medina.

I am happy I had the opportunity to see the trip and the surrounding area even for a short while. I must say that it is utterly beautiful and the mountains were gorgeous especially as the sun was setting.

One thing I cannot imagine for the life of me is how during the time of the Prophet (peace be upon him) they travelled. The area is not only desert but also rocks. Black rocks which I am sure are hard to walk on and the heat must have made it unbearable.

It is really a strange feeling knowing that I am sitting safely in a car while millions of people have walked from one place to another in the blazing heat. Taking them days and many not returning to their families. Women and men alike. They were some strong women back then for sure.

The journey takes approximately 4,5 hours to complete and we only stopped in a small mosque for Magrib (evening) prayer. Once we got out of Mekkah the road is pretty much straight, though as our driver said there are many speed cameras in the area so we were going within the speed limit.

As our luck had it we arrived in Medina just before the Isha (night) prayer and the roads to our hotel were closed again. So we did have to figure a way to either spend time waiting in the car or take our luggage and walk the two blocks. We actually managed to get through and arrive close to our hotel.

I must admit I was tired. But once I walked into the hotel it was replaced with excitement since I had a room literally facing the Prophet’s mosque and only two steps away. More on Intercontinental Dar Al Iman tomorrow.