Assalamualaikum.
Then it was time to go home.
After an eleven-day journey for Umrah 2026, the time had come to return home. Our six days in Makkah and five in Madinah were profound milestones in our spiritual lives. My wife and I are filled with immense gratitude and syukur to Allah SWT for every blessing bestowed upon us. While saying goodbye brought a touch of sadness—as all earthly journeys must end—reflecting on our experiences quickly turned that sorrow into pure joy.
Our journey is drawing to a close. Our flight home with Saudia Airlines is set for a quiet 2:30 AM departure from Madinah Airport tomorrow, marking the final chapter of this experience.
To get ahead of the late-night rush, the bus will be waiting to take us to the airport at 8:45 PM tonight. As we prepare to say our goodbyes to the city, our Mutawif ask everyone to bring their luggage down to the Level 11 lobby before 6:00 PM. It’s the final hurdle before we begin the long trek home, carrying more than just suitcases, but a lifetime of memories.
After the Asr prayer, we made our way to perform Ziarah Wada’—our farewell visit to the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
We began our final walk at the Northern Gates of Masjid an-Nabawi. As we moved through the Eastern Courtyard, the scale of the mosque felt more intimate despite its grandeur. Crossing into the Southern Courtyard, we felt the shift in atmosphere—a quiet transition toward the oldest part of the mosque, where history and prayer seem to merge.
The direction to offer Salam upon the Prophet (PBUH).
Ziarah Wada' (Farewell Visit) to the maqam (grave) of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ is a special act of devotion performed by pilgrims before leaving Madinah. It serves as a final, emotional farewell to the Prophet, marking the end of a spiritual journey and expressing a longing to return and a symbolic promise to remain faithful to the teachings of the Prophet SAW.
Key Aspects of Ziarah Wada'
🔹Purpose: To offer salutations and farewells to the Prophet ﷺ before leaving the holy city of Madinah, expressing love and deep respect.
🔹Timing: Done as the last action in Madinah, usually just before setting off for Makkah (for Umrah/Hajj) or returning home.
🔹Significance: It is a moment of deep emotional reflection (often with tears), where pilgrims reflect on their journey and ask for acceptance of their ibadah (acts of worship).
Even though I’ve stood at this threshold several times at the end of previous Umrahs, the sadness felt a little deeper this time. Perhaps it’s because this seventh journey was so unexpected. I hadn't dared to assume I’d still have the strength and health to perform another one. Standing there with my wife, I felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude that we are still blessed enough to afford this experience together. It made this goodbye feel different—more profound, more meaningful, and deeply moving.
On the walk back to the hotel, sheltered beneath the towering umbrellas of Masjid an-Nabawi, we came across a large group of Indonesian pilgrims. They were gathered around their Mutawif, listening intently to his guidance. The group was so vast that he had turned to technology to bridge the gap, broadcasting his explanation live on social media so that every member—no matter how far back—could hear his words clearly.
It’s fascinating to see how the landscape of pilgrimage has shifted. These days, the spiritual and the digital are woven together in ways we couldn’t have imagined a decade ago.
Watching that Mutawif stream his lecture to a sea of pilgrims is a perfect example. Technology has turned the "logistical nightmare" of managing large crowds into a more intimate, accessible experience. Instead of straining to hear a distant voice, pilgrims can now tune into a crystal-clear livestream on their phones, even in the middle of a bustling courtyard.
Beyond just communication, technology has changed the journey in several ways:
🔹Virtual Readiness: With apps and 3D tours, many arrive already knowing the layout of the Masjid an-Nabawi or the steps of Umrah, reducing the "culture shock" and allowing more focus on the prayer itself.
🔹Connectivity: Being able to video call family from the Southern Courtyard means the "Farewell" isn't quite as lonely as it used to be; you can share the blessing in real-time.
🔹Documentation: While some worry about distractions, others see digital storytelling—like the blog you’re writing—as a way to preserve these fleeting, sacred moments forever.
It’s a strange but beautiful paradox: using the most modern tools to connect with the most ancient traditions.
On the way back to the hotel, we stopped at the Global Food Village for some snacks. We needed to keep our strength up for the long night ahead—traveling from Madinah to the airport, checking in, and the inevitable wait for our flight
Light snacks of Vegetable fritters bought at the Global Food Village and Jacob's Cream Cracker and steaming mugs of teh tarik and Lipton tea.
Our last dinner at Madinah.
We also received the following messages from Andalusia Travel & Tours outlining essential travel procedures and baggage regulations for a group departing from Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz Airport (Madinah) via Saudi Airlines in February 2024.
📘Departure and Arrival Timeline
🔹Departure from Hotel: The group will depart for Madinah Airport at 00:45 AM.
🔹Check-In Information: Official airline check-in for the flight begins 3 hours before departure.
🔹Zamzam Water: Pilgrims are allowed to bring one 5-liter bottle of Zamzam water, which must be purchased from authorized airport factories.
📘Baggage Regulations
🔹Checked Baggage: Each pilgrim is typically allowed two pieces of checked luggage, with a maximum weight of 23 kg per bag. Overweight bags (over 28 kg) may be rejected at the counter.
🔹Hand Carry: A single piece of hand luggage (up to 7 kg) is allowed in the cabin.
🔹Prohibited Items:
- In Checked Bags: Power banks, lithium batteries, flammable items, gold/jewelry, and cash are strictly forbidden.
- In Hand Carry: Liquids must be in containers of 100 ml or less, placed within a single transparent bag. Total liquids cannot exceed 1 liter.
📘Key Traveler Responsibilities
🔹Self-Packing: For safety, travelers must pack their own bags and avoid carrying items for others.
🔹Documentation: Ensure all passports and travel documents are ready and accessible.
🔹Pre-Check: Pilgrims are urged to remove any old baggage tags or stickers to prevent routing errors.
Board the bus heading to Madinah Airport at 8:30 pm.
They say you never truly leave Madinah; you just leave a piece of your heart behind in its quiet streets. Watching the city lights fade from this bus window, my heart feels a heavy kind of peace. Thank you, Madinah, for being a sanctuary for my soul and for the stillness you’ve placed in my chest. Leaving is the hardest part, but I carry your light and the Prophet’s ﷺ peace back home with me. Ya Allah, please don't make this my last visit.
Under the glow of the Madinah night, every minaret feels like a silent prayer. As I head toward the airport, the world outside feels small compared to the tranquility I found here. This city doesn't just welcome you; it heals you in the most gentle way. Farewell to the City of Light—may my soul always find its way back to your gates.
We were all given stickers for our 5-litre Zamzam bottles. We filled them out with our names, group, and bus number to keep everything organized for the flight.
Our final meeting point at the airport is Hajj Pavilion No. 2. This is where we’ll handle our final bag drop and collect our pre-labeled 5-litre Zamzam water bottles before heading to the departure gates. The 5-litre bottles are typically checked in separately and not carried as hand.
The Hajj Pavilion 2 is one of the six specialized pavilions at Madinah Airport designed to handle pilgrim groups and streamline their departures. These pavilions are specifically designed to minimize congestion for large groups, offering seating and dedicated staff to assist.
After meeting at Hajj Pavilion No. 2, we dropped off our bags and labeled Zamzam water. Our physical boarding passes were issued right at the counter, marking the final step before we headed toward the departure gates for our long night of travel.
Final Check-In Reminders:
🔹Keep Your Pass Safe: Since you have a physical pass, keep it with your passport in a secure, easily accessible pocket for immigration and boarding.
🔹Gate Timing: Boarding gates typically close 30 minutes before departure, and it can be a long walk from the pavilions to the actual gate.
🔹Document Verification: Even with your boarding pass, keep your Nusuk card or any group identification handy, as they may be checked again before you enter the main terminal or at the gate.
Our seventh Umrah journey officially drew to a close as the bus pulled away from the hotel for Madinah Airport. Looking back, this trip with Andalusia stands out as our second-best experience in terms of depth and spiritual content. However, our 5th Umrah with Mursyid Alharamain in 2017 remains the benchmark for us, particularly for the profound knowledge and insights we gained during that journey.
While still on the blessed soil of Madinah, my wife and I have already begun reflecting on how to enhance our experience for future visits, should Allah SWT invite us to the Holy Land again.
I am documenting this list here on the blog as a personal reminder and a reference for others planning their journey, InshaAllah. Here are our goals for the next trip:
🔴 Package Selection & Logistics
🔹Route: Prioritise a "Makkah first, Madinah last" itinerary to end the journey in the tranquility of the Prophet’s city.
🔹Seasonality: Avoid the peak of winter. Aim for March or April; the longer gaps between prayer times allow for more rest and a more relaxed pace for mosque visits.
🔹Accommodation: In Makkah, opt for the Makkah Towers or Clock Tower for proximity. In Madinah, choose hotels situated directly adjacent to the Masjid Nabawi courtyard fence.
🔹Timing: Schedule the trip to experience two Friday prayers—one in each Holy City.
🔹Transport: Plan to travel between Makkah and Madinah via the Haramain High-Speed Railway (Business or Economy class).
🔴 Strategic Planning
🔹Nusuk App: Apply for Rawdah permits as early as the window opens.
🔹Connectivity: Purchase a Saudi SIM card immediately upon arrival to facilitate booking buggy services for Tawaf and Sa’ie.
🔹Rituals: Perform the first Umrah Tawaf on foot to be close to the Kaabah, then utilise the buggy service for Sa’ie to conserve energy.
🔹Spirituality: Review the itinerary in advance to designate specific days for voluntary fasting (Puasa Sunat).
🔹Flexibility: Feel empowered to skip organized group Ziarah (tours) in Madinah to explore at a personal pace using the Hop-On Hop-Off (HOHO) bus.
🔴 Health & Wellness
🔹Prevention: Ensure all three vaccinations are current: Meningococcal, Pneumococcal, and Influenza.
🔹Coverage: Register for Al Khairi Insurance for seamless access to private clinics.
🔹Supplies: Purchase a "Light Umrah Medicine Pack" from Andalusia Pharmacy (regardless of the travel agency used) and bring a sugar substitute like Equal.
🔴 Personal Comforts & Essentials
🔹Room Care: Pack air fresheners for the room/toilet and dedicated toilet slippers.
🔹Sadaqah: Budget for specific charities, such as Hadiyah or distributing Arab Rice meals.
🔹Must-Have Treats: Keep note of the best Karak Tea spots—Kyan at Makkah Towers (near Panda) and Dunkin’.
🔹Food & Toiletries: Bring personal tea bags (to avoid powdered tea), chili sauce packets, and bar soap.
Our Saudia flight SV 834 will depart at 2:25 AM.
Our flight departs from Gate 116. Luckily, it’s just a short walk from the main area, so we didn't have to trek too far.
With time to spare before boarding, we stopped at a nearby cafe.
We went for the 'Rocket Tuna' and an 'English Breakfast Tea' while waiting for our boarding call.
Boarding for Saudia Flight SV 834 commenced at 1:40 a.m., approximately 40 minutes prior to our scheduled departure.
“Glory be to Him Who has subjected this (transport) to us, and we were not capable of controlling it; and to our Lord is our final return.”
Qur’an, Sūrah Az-Zukhruf 43:13-14.
Although group check-ins often mean scattered seating, we were so relieved to find that my wife and I could still sit together. We could truly lean on each other and rest properly during the long journey. I even managed to snag the window seat, which made the long night flight much more comfortable and gave me one last view of the city as we took off.
As we settled into our seats on SV 834, the flight map displayed the long journey ahead: 4,488 miles from the peace of Madinah back to the familiarity of Kuala Lumpur. Watching the little plane icon move away from Madinah always brings a mix of nostalgia and gratitude for the journey we’ve just completed.
Our Saudia flight, SV 834, departed Madinah for Kuala Lumpur right on schedule at 2:25 a.m. Just like our arrival into Jeddah at the start of the trip, this flight was on a Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner.
The flight from Madinah to Kuala Lumpur spans 8 hours and 40 minutes, with two meals served along the way. About an hour after departure, we were served our first meal: a hot, stone-oven-baked pizza topped with mozzarella and basil pesto. It was a nice, comforting start to the long journey home.
Our flight to Kuala Lumpur was mostly smooth, with only a few patches of turbulence over the Arabian Sea. Interestingly, I've noticed a shift over the years; while the Bay of Bengal was once the area we feared for its bumps, the Arabian Sea now seems to be getting more turbulent, while the Bay has felt calmer lately. It feels like a firsthand look at the effects of climate change on our global flight paths.
Climate change is indeed linked to an increase in flight turbulence globally.
Is it true?
🔹Arabian Sea vs. Bay of Bengal: Historically, the Bay of Bengal is known as a major turbulence hotspot due to its high humidity and frequent tropical cyclones. While it remains a significant area for bumps, your observation about the Arabian Sea is also supported by recent data; rising sea surface temperatures in the Arabian Sea are leading to an increase in cyclonic activity and more intense storms, which in turn causes more mid-air turbulence.
🔹Climate Change Connection: Studies show that increased carbon dioxide emissions are warming the atmosphere, which strengthens wind shear in the jet streams. This has made skies about 55% rougher over the last 40 years. This shift is particularly noticeable on busy routes like those across the Middle East.
Our second meal was served as we cruised over the Bay of Bengal. There were two options: Stir-Fried Black Pepper Chicken or an Egg Shakshouka with Tomato Concasse. I opted for the shakshouka, while my wife went with the chicken.
As the familiar coastline of home finally appeared through the window, a wave of jumbled emotions hit me all at once. It was a beautiful, heavy mix of happiness and sadness, gratitude and syukur. I felt a sudden homesickness for the land I just left, yet a deep longing for the life I’m returning to—especially the thought of finally hugging our cat, Tam Tam. A lump formed in my throat and my eyes grew misty; it’s a strange thing to feel so full and so empty at the very same time.
There is such peace in syukur, yet a sharp pang of sadness that this journey is over. My heart was caught between the tranquility of Madinah and the simple joy of coming home to see Tam Tam. This 7th Umrah has left a permanent mark on my soul, and landing back in KL feels like waking up from a beautiful, spiritual dream
Ya Allah, we ask You with humble hearts to accept this Umrah from us. May every step we took, every prayer we offered, and every tear we shed be pleasing to You. Please turn our flaws into forgiveness and our efforts into Mabrur (accepted). We leave the Holy Land with our bodies, but please keep our hearts connected to Your House and the City of Your Prophet ﷺ. Ameen.
Oh Allah, do not make this our last visit to Your sacred lands. As we land back in our home, we carry the light of Madinah with us. We ask that You invite us back again and again, with even more knowledge and deeper Iman. May this journey be a witness for us on the Day of Judgment, and not against us. Allahumma Ameen."
Just two weeks after our return to Malaysia, the world was shaken by the sudden escalation of the Iran-****** conflict. Airspace across the Middle East was closed almost overnight, grounding thousands of flights and leaving many Malaysian pilgrims stranded in the Holy Land for nearly eight days. I feel a profound sense of syukur and gratitude to Allah SWT; we were truly blessed to complete our journey and return home safely just before these obstacles arose.
This journey served as a powerful reminder of a timeless truth: We can only plan, but ultimately, Allah SWT is the best of planners. We spent months carefully selecting our package and arranging every detail, yet the peace of our return was a gift we couldn't have planned for. Seeing how the world changed just two weeks later made me realize that our safe passage wasn't just luck—it was Divine decree. We do our part to prepare, but we place our ultimate trust in Him.
Looking back, the timing of our 7th Umrah feels like a mercy from above. It brings to mind the phrase, 'Man proposes, but God disposes.' We can create the most detailed itineraries and choose the best airlines, but only Allah SWT determines the outcome. To have returned just before the regional airspace closed was a reminder that while our efforts are necessary, our safety and success are entirely in His hands. Alhamdulillah for His perfect timing.
Till the next coming entry, inshaAllah. Meanwhile do take care.
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