Visiting the Holy Sites for the First Time

Everywhere you look, you hardly see someone from your own country or who speaks your mother tongue. The pilgrims are very kind and helpful, transcending differences in color, nationality, language, and even dress code.

Entering Mecca and seeing the Kaaba for the first time is an indescribable feeling. We felt immense gratitude for the opportunity to be there. Being near the Haram, performing Umrah, circling the Kaaba, and praying in the Al-Haram Mosque, where prayers are multiplied by one hundred thousand times (100,000)—the experience is beyond imagination for anyone.

The experience of being in Medina's Prophet Mosque is equally amazing, with millions of Muslims visiting every year. Compared to other mosques, praying here earns 1,000 times more blessings. Praying inside the mosque creates a special connection that is unparalleled. Hearing stories about the Prophet, his companions, and his wives enhances the longing to stay there forever.

The mosques' interiors are stunning, with air conditioning, readily available ZamZam water, and shelves stocked with Quranic books. The security of the holy sites is well-organized, with personnel on high alert and quick to respond. The police monitor all activities to handle any situation before it escalates, and they also assist people with directions.

People pray in groups, walk together in crowds, teach each other the history of the holy places, and remind each other of the golden history of the Muslim ummah and past events. When the imam starts the prayer, millions of people follow him, showcasing the greatness and unity of the Muslim community.

The Unity and Collaboration Among Pilgrims

I cannot forget the Pakistani/Indian lady who helped me cut my hair after Umrah, the Turkish lady who gave me a tawaf counter during my first tawaf, and the Saudi, Iraqi, and Moroccan ladies who let me join them in touching the black stone. We then prayed together at Maqaam Ibraahim and said our goodbyes. The Egyptian lady who gave me a black raisin and taught me its benefits, and the Turkish lady and the Pakistani babygirl with whom I shared a laughter-filled conversation despite the language barrier, all added to the richness of my experience.

Each day, we had Iftar with hundreds of women. We shared food, exchanged snacks, prayed together, and then parted ways, often saying, “Until we meet in Jannah, insha Allah.” Women were diverse in ethnicity, language, and Hijab styles. This diversity meant a lot to me, reinforcing that the aim is modesty and covering, without a single prescribed way to do so.

Somali Women and the Pilgrimage

Although visiting the House of Allah brings a profound spiritual journey, many lack the chance to experience it. Despite the matter of Qadr, it was evident that our women were underrepresented. The few Somali women present were relatively old, while many young women from other countries were there. I wondered, why are young Somali women, especially mothers with low and mid parity (mothers of 1-4 children), absent from this holy place?

Somali women may get this opportunity only when their children are old enough to support their pilgrimage travel. They often travel only for health purposes due to family responsibilities and financial constraints; families may not afford to travel together, causing men to travel alone or sponsor their parents.

Most of Somali mothers struggle to pray the five daily prayers on time due to overwhelming household chores, let alone travel for worship. But is it truly because caring for children and other activities cannot coexist? During a Fajr prayer, I saw a mother and father with their toddler. I wondered how this mother woke up, prepared herself and her child, and made it to the Haram mosque in Medina. This may seem routine in other cultures, but it is exceptional in Somalia, where mothers are praised for doing it all, often without much support from their husbands.

In Islam, both fathers and mothers share responsibilities for raising children according to our faith. Bringing children to holy sites can make beautiful childhood memories and significantly impact their spiritual growth. Parents praying, reading the Quran, and fulfilling religious duties together in front of their children create a strong spiritual foundation.

In addition to that, many in our community lack awareness of the Umrah and Hajj packages available, the travel process, and the obligation to perform pilgrimage upon reaching a certain financial ability.

Women Empowerment and Equality

In some cases, women are more privileged than men in the holy sites. They have full access to the Kaaba and can visit at any time except during their menstrual flow, unlike men who must wear Ihram clothes.

On the other hand, compared with many local mosques, which lack decent women's prayer rooms, the facilities provided in Haram mosques for women's prayers are very special. This equality in care gave a feeling of freedom and attachment to Allah—all a part of women's divine rights. We really felt equal to men here, perhaps more so than ever before.

This might be achieved when women support each other spiritually for their growth and well-being. Studying religion and disseminating it to others might bring about the empowerment of women. In arranging our Umrah, we consulted a female Sheikhah who guided us on the rituals and the procedures. I call on women with knowledge to teach those who have less knowledge.

 

This article was coathored by Asiya Mohamed, Farhia Mohamud, Hinda Abdi, Qamar Osman, and Suweys Ali. It is based on individual and collective reflection on the holy sites’ visit in 2024.