10:20 am . The speed train Haramain pulled into the station gracefully and left at exactly the scheduled time. Comfortable seating and smooth ride all the way.the max speed today was 300 km/h.
By Zohor we arrived in Madinah. Journey time less than two hours— no hassles no problem. Visiting Madinah has changed a lot. madinah itself hasn’t changed much since our last visit. The mosque stood elegantly as before. The ambience inside filled with positive gestures; people offered the space with a smile even pakcik with red beard from India who famous for taking spots without consent. Many people trying to get a place for Solat and everyone seemed to get one before the first ruku’. I knew this mosque is huge but being there again reassured it is majestically huge and that there is a place for everyone. Alhamdulillah.
Getting into a hotel was a bit messy but I really don’t want to get into that. Operational setbacks should not ruin your good day.
Madinah almunawarah…. So glad to be back. A rain welcomed us today; not much just a way of saying—-“where have you been my friend?”
I am here now, that what matters. We passed Jabal Uhud and the famous battlefield that the enemy defeated the prophet and his companions but strengthened the frontier of Muslim. Lesson learnt and a retreat was necessary to regain better strategy.
I’m going to play it cool here and collect myself from the chaotic endeavour in Mecca. The ladies were separated completely so no big ladies trying to intimidate me for whatever reason there might be. I wanted to get down and feel the presence of sahabah run their horses through the dusty roads of Madinah.
Today Madinah is a modern city prospered throughout the years from visitors of the masjid. Like myself, people came to be part of the history that changed the world. Being here is at least the proof of our salutation and respect to the efforts of our prophet (saw) and his companions brought Islam to us. Although started in Mecca, here is where the lights of Iman and Taqwa began to travel throughout the world. But when you were here, the early struggles within the vicinity of Madinah would be so close to be felt and touched.
Visiting raudhah is now a complicated practice. You have to register with the apps at a designated time that they open the raudhah . Not like it used to be when we waited on the frontline and on count 1-2-3 once the gate opened….boom! we ran like hell was coming upon us and if someone fell infront you better jump high or you will fall with him and get trempled. Now they closed Raudhah and fenced around it like some kind of shrine. Someone tried to make money by offering a vip service for 300 riyals. Things are getting weirder and weirder here in this place.
