Umrah In Ramadan

I excitedly exited as the hot dry wind of Saudi Arabia slapped my face. "It is hot here," all of us exclaimed in one voice. Upon reaching the terminal we were greeted by a horde of relatives. A dozen hugs and some kisses were exchanged before we headed for the accommodation in which we were temporarily going to reside. Our family was split into three different vehicles. I was with my dad's older brother.

We stopped at a gas station and my uncle remarked, "Gas prices in the last three months have dropped here. It used to be 90 halalas per litre, now it is 60." In Canadian language gas prices had plummeted from 30 cents a liter to a mere 20 cents a liter. "Also every gas station in the Kingdom should consist of a convenience store, fast food style restaurant and a Masjid," he explained.

On the following day, my family along with my maternal uncle's family headed out for the lesser pilgrimage, known as Umrah. I along with other male folk wore nothing except the two piece unstitched towel-like cloth. Females are supposed to cover themselves up.

Upon reaching Makkah, I saw the beautiful large marble structure with eight splendid minarets that can be seen from far away and stood barefoot on tiles that were also made with marble with a cooling system underneath it. I was struck with awe. I entered from one of the many castle-like doors and thought about how it was the most magnificent thing that I had ever seen in my entire life.

I headed for the Kaba. On the first sight of Kaba, an individual's supplication is accepted and I supplicated that, "O Allah let all my future supplication be accepted" and stood staring at the Kaba in denial.