Ask any Muslim who has travelled to Makkah and Madeenah how magnetic the two Holy Sanctuaries are to a pious mind!
Despite the geographical location of the two cities, the hearts of the believers will always long to return after an Umrah or Hajj. I mean, of course, a pious heart.
Take Masjid al-Haraam in Makkah, for instance. It is practically located among several huge hills, many of which are now dwarfed by structures such as the Clock Tower, Marriott Hotel, Anjum and many others.
One would wonder how the early Muslims used to navigate their journeys across these hills.
Did you see Jabal Thawr, where the Messenger of Allaah ﷺ and Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه hid during their Hijrah to Madeenah? Today, it would take expert mountaineers—veteran Everest or Kilimanjaro climbers, for example—to locate and reach a cave there, let alone hide effectively from the eyes of their enemies.
The same goes for Madeenah, which has the magnificent Mount Uhud, at the foot of which that ferocious battle between the Makkan attackers and the Madeenan defenders took place.
The surprise attack by Khaalid ibn al-Waleed, who was then a kaafir, and his soldiers from the rear of Jabal ar-Rumaat became possible when the Muslim warriors stationed there left their position. Mount Uhud is so huge that one can only imagine how difficult it must have been to monitor what was happening around it.
Yet it is recorded that the Messenger of Allaah ﷺ, Abu Bakr, Umar and Uthmaan رضي الله عنهم were once on top of this mighty mountain when it shook, and the Messenger of Allaah ﷺ quietened it.
We saw Uhud and wondered how the Messenger of Allaah ﷺ and his companions climbed this mighty creation of Allaah.
Indeed, one has to see these things for oneself to appreciate the efforts of the Muslims of the past. They really tried.
There was no way one could remain unmoved upon seeing the places associated with the deaths of Hamzah ibn Abd al-Muttalib, Mus'ab ibn Umayr and others at Uhud. Those pious fathers of this Ummah really sacrificed for us. May Allaah be pleased with them all.
Makkah and Madeenah are now modern cities. Makkah is truly Umm al-Quraa, as the Qur’aan calls it.
We saw an old picture of Makkah, apparently from about 200 years ago, when we visited a Markaz ad-Da'wah in the south of Makkah. The picture showed Makkah as a modern city in its own time, yet none of the huge hotels surrounding the Sacred House had been erected.
But today, Makkah is more than modern.
Thanks to the Saudi Government for its tremendous efforts. The Custodians of the Two Holy Mosques have made many things very easy for the worshippers who come to visit the Two Holy Sanctuaries.
A network of roads, crowd control and proper organisation—you have to give it to the House of Saud. We can only pray for them, and that is all we can do.
The Two Sanctuaries continue to expand. For instance, where I am typing this piece is part of the new extension of Masjid al-Haraam on the Anjum side. We went up about four floors using escalators, yet we still had not reached the highest floor before we were ushered into massive prayer areas where several worshippers were already seated.
That’s the Haramain for you. You will always be motivated when you see the faces of the slaves of Allaah thronging the masjid before prayer times without anybody whipping them to do so.
As a matter of fact, if you want to be lazy in the Haramain, you are free to do so. But deep down, something will tell you that you are being ungrateful to your soul.
And if you think you are a devout servant of Allaah, expect to meet Muslims from the Caucasian and Indo-Pakistani regions who will always beat you to many acts of piety. The traditional Arabs are no match for these noble creatures of Allaah!
In the Haram of Madeenah, you may begin to think the city belongs exclusively to the Indonesians, Malaysians and Bengalis.
Then, when you come for Tawaaf in Makkah, their men are already there, shielding their women around the Ka'bah. I don't think anyone can break those rings!
And at al-Hajar al-Aswad, that Precious Stone that came from the Paradise, you dare not challenge the Indo-Pakistani people there. The Hajar seems to be 'exclusively' theirs now. Only Africans have always tried to 'wrestle' them here.
(Please when you are making tawaf around the Ka'abah, it suffices to just point at the direction of the Black Stone, don't wrestle with anybody to touch or kiss it, but if you are privileged to get an access, please go near and kiss it. The act cleanses the sins, and the Stone will testify for you on the Last Day, so said the Truthful One - sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam)
By Allaah, if you think you don't want to worship Allaah in your bigoted locality, Allaah has more than enough worshippers across the globe. Come to Makkah and Madeenah and see how bigoted you have been.
The Africans are trying too, especially those of us from Nigeria, such that when someone from another race meets you, they may conclude that you are from Nigeria. Thanks to the Hausa brothers who have made Makkah their home. There is a district in Makkah, they speak only Hausa language. We also met a Pakistani driver who could speak some few Yoruba words.
We met many Hausa brothers and sisters at Cairo International Airport while coming for Umrah this August (2026). I said to myself, “These people have gone far ahead!”
The Yorubas, too, are not found wanting. In fact, there are a lot of qawaafil that have set out for Umrah this August. Poisiana Hotel, opposite Bin Ladin Masjid, hosted a lot of them.
Our qaafilah, Aboo Ubaidah Travels and Tours Ltd, is one of those. We really enjoyed their service. They placed us in a nice hotel with buffet breakfast and African dishes for dinner. They took us around, guided us through our Umrah and satisfied our religious curiosity.
This is the second time I have come with them. I hope to still come with them in the future, inshaa Allaah.
Sincerely, I was happy seeing many of our brothers and sisters from across Nigeria and Africa coming for Umrah. I can remember those French-speaking Africans—I think they were from Senegal—with whom we had a buffet together at Nasamat Hotel this morning. It seemed they were returning from the Haram after completing their Umrah. Seeing them made me happy.
As for the spiritual benefits of coming for Umrah or Hajj, please, don't let us go there. They are simply too enormous to mention.
By Allaah, Allaah grants du'aa at Umrah and Hajj. If no be say we no dey do testimony for masjid, many of us go talk so tey! But alhamdulillaahi Rabbil-'aalameen.
One experience I have always had during Umrah is that many of my supplications at the Ka'bah are granted even before I leave Makkah.
By Allaah, as I am typing this, waiting for the Khutbah of Jumu'ah to start at the Haram, a brother with whom we came together has just whispered something into my ear which, if it finally becomes a reality, would mean the granting of one of my du'aas at the Haram.
Let me make a du'aa for the eyes reading this:
“May Allaah grant you the opportunity to visit His House.”
When Allaah grants you that opportunity, come and supplicate to Allaah, and see the wonders.
And please, when Allaah grants you that opportunity to visit His House, help ask Him to help me visit His House again, so that I can ask Him for more and more. That's a deal! Agreed?
Oh! It is 12:20 p.m. Makkan time. The Khutbah is about to commence.
I hope to write more about Makkah and Madeenah, inshaa Allaah.
Aboo Aamir,
At al-Masjid al-Haram,
Makkah Mukarramah,
15th Rabiul Awwal, 1448AH (28th August, 2026)
