Umrah was a once in a lifetime journey. I’m so glad I was able to do it and visit Meccah and see the holy Kabba with my mom and dad. Honestly, nothing prepares you for the sight of the Black Rock and the holiest site in all of Islam. You and I and millions have seen it on tv screens and books and documentaries but being within touching distance of it is a truly profound and surreal experience that I am truly blessed and priviledged to have been.

Mecca and the Haraam is bigger than you think. The scale of the mosque, the surrounding areas and the minarets dwarfs most human structures, especially when you remember the volume of people it holds. Everyday, approximately 3.5 million people pray in and around the haram. The minarets which spear the sky act as beacons for miles around, drawing your gaze to the ‘center of the universe’. Once inside the actual haram, the black rock sitting in the middle of the tawaf area is a beautiful sight. I will give credit to the custodians of the haram and the people who have been modernizing and updating the location: they have made a wonderous location which does justice to the holiest site in all of Islam.

The white marble floors make praying easy, as does the smooth floor to do tawaf on. Barefoot or with shoes, both are enjoyable and the easy markers and to align yourself with the Kabba and keep track of the number of circulations complete means the initial part of the umrah are easy.