There is a love that resides in the heart of every believer: to bow in prayer on the
sacred lands, to make dua in the presence of the Prophet (PBUH)… This love is so
deep that describing it is difficult—each word tries to capture a spiritual journey that
will be carried within for a lifetime. It was in 2005 that I first had the blessing to set

foot on these holy lands. At that moment, I felt a tranquility like never before and felt
the depth of my devotion to Allah. But that first step was only the beginning. Over
the years, I was fortunate enough to return six more times, each time coming back
with deeper, more sincere prayers and a stronger faith.
Mecca and Medina hold a special place in the heart of every Muslim. Two holy
cities—one where the Prophet (PBUH) received his first revelation in the Cave of
Hira, and the other, where His (PBUH) resting place in Rauza-i Mutahhara offers
peace to the hearts of believers. These cities are not merely geographical locations,
but lands woven with spirituality.
Mecca: A Love that Revolves Around the Kaaba
The first time I stepped into Mecca, my eyes filled with tears, my heart raced. This
was the place where a love, surrender, and peace revolved around the Kaaba. The
Prophet (PBUH) once said: “If you had seen me just once, you would have felt every
bone in my body leave its place. Truly, the Kaaba is my beloved.”
When I first saw the Kaaba, I realized how many wishes, how many desires I was
carrying in my heart to pray for. The crowd around the Kaaba, each prayer of every
believer blending with another, felt as though all people were praying with one heart,
one tongue. And I was a part of that crowd. As I walked around the Kaaba, I felt that
every prayer in my heart would be accepted, every wish would be fulfilled.
The air of Mecca allowed me to open my heart to Allah without wiping away my
tears, guiding my prayers. At that moment, I remembered the hadith of the Prophet
(PBUH): “Whoever visits the Kaaba and prays there, their prayer will never be
rejected.”
And in that moment, I felt that the prayers I made the first time I saw the Kaaba had
been accepted, and Allah’s infinite mercy and forgiveness flowed through me. My
tears were not just for what I had lost in this world but were filled with the peace of
the sincerest moments a believer can experience when turning towards their Lord.
Medina: In the Presence of the Prophet (PBUH)
When I first stepped into Medina and into the Rauza, where the Prophet (PBUH)
rests, words fall short. It was as if the world had stopped, and time paused for a brief
moment. Being in the presence of the Prophet (PBUH), approaching Him (PBUH)
and greeting Him with “As-Salamu ‘Alaika Ya Rasulullah” created a revolution deep
within my soul.
With every visit, my love for the Prophet (PBUH) grew, and my prayers became even
deeper. The Prophet (PBUH) had said: “Whoever visits Medina and then gives their
soul there, my intercession will be granted to them.”
And with each visit, I awoke to the spiritual power of Medina once more.
In Mecca, my heart filled with peace as I prostrated, and in Medina, when I prayed,
my heart was filled with a different kind of tranquility. The place where the Prophet’s
(PBUH) blessed body lies is a source of mercy in every direction. Every time I
prayed, I felt that His (PBUH) spirit reigned on Earth, and by the grace of Allah, I
could feel His (PBUH) intercession within my heart.
The Value and Emotional Depth of Umrah
Umrah is not merely a journey; it is a kind of spiritual purification. Every person who
sets out for Umrah wishes to return with a heart cleansed of all negativity, with a pure

heart and clear soul. Umrah is not just about worship—it is a time for self-reflection,
for making peace with the past, and for reconciling with the future.
This act of worship, where millions of people who do not know one another come
together, is in fact a message of love and brotherhood. Umrah teaches not only how to
draw closer to Allah but also how to live together peacefully, and the beauty of
transcending differences.
When you begin to walk around the Kaaba for the first time, it feels as though you
have left all the burdens of the world behind. There is a calmness, a peace inside. As
you present your prayers to Allah, you know that He is listening to you at every
moment.
And with every journey, my heart found more peace on these lands, and each prayer
and prostration became even more accepted.
Important Places to Visit:
 The Kaaba and the Masjid al-Haram (Mecca): The Kaaba is the sacred
structure that holds a place in the heart of every Muslim. The Masjid al-Haram,
with its surrounding holy sites and the worship performed at each step, is the place
that brings believers closer to Allah.
 The Cave of Hira (Mecca): The place where the Prophet (PBUH) received his
first revelation from Allah. Climbing up to this cave and witnessing the spot where
the first message from Allah was given leaves a profound mark on the soul.
 Rauza-i Mutahhara (Medina): The place where the spirit of the Prophet (PBUH)
is felt in every moment, where believers raise their hands in prayer. Medina is the
city where the Prophet’s (PBUH) spirit is among us.
 Mount Uhud (Medina): A place where the great battles of the early Muslims were
fought, especially where the martyrdom of Hamza, the Prophet’s (PBUH) uncle,
took place. The memory of the great struggle of the companions lives here.
 The Prophet’s Mosque (Medina): The mosque of the Prophet (PBUH), where
every prayer is an intense experience of mercy and love.
Final Words:
Umrah is always a new beginning. Each journey brings deeper devotion, greater inner
purification, and always a prayer of acceptance. The lands of Mecca and Medina are
not just a physical journey but a place of spiritual transformation.
And each time, I felt deeper peace within myself, greater submission to Allah, and a
more profound spiritual depth in the presence of the Prophet (PBUH). These lands
not only taught me to be a servant whose prayers are accepted but also taught me how
pure and clean my heart should be.