بِسۡـــــــــمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡـمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِـــــــيم
اللهم صل على سيدنا محمد وعلى آله وصحبه وسلم
In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
O Allah, send your peace and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon his family and companions
Prophet Muhammad ﷺ made numerous sacrifices throughout his life to spread the message of Islam and the declaration of faith “La ilaha illallah”. These sacrifices were made to ensure that the message of “La ilaha illallah” could reach people and allow them to embrace Islam till this day. The Prophet’s ﷺ unwavering commitment to his mission, despite the hardships, serves as an inspiration for Muslims to this day.
I turn to Allah with a heart overflowing with emotion. “Ya Allah,” I whisper, “forgive me and have mercy on me.” For what have I done to deserve this honour? My only claim to this blessing is the sincere declaration of “La ilaha illallah” – There is nothing worthy of worship except Allah. Even this utterance of faith is not of my own power, but entirely by His will and grace.
As the sun sets on the last day of Umrah, I am overwhelmed by humility. How many souls, blessed with abundance, yearn to step foot in the sacred precincts of Masjid al-Haram and Masjid an-Nabawi, yet find the doors closed to them? This sobering reality confirms that my presence here is solely by the mercy of the Most High.
How many souls, blessed with abundance, yearn to step foot in the sacred precincts of Masjid al-Haram and Masjid an-Nabawi, yet find the doors closed to them?
Alhamdulillah – all praise belongs to Allah. Every breath in this holy land is a gift, every step towards the Kaaba a miracle. The very fact that I stand here, preparing to circumambulate the Kaaba, testifies to Allah’s boundless mercy.
Will my Umrah be accepted? For truly, acceptance lies not in the mere performance of rituals, but in the sincerity of the heart that beats beneath the Ihram.
This journey transcends physical acts of worship. It is a journey of the soul, an opportunity for deep introspection. True purity lies not in the white garments we don, but in the sincerity of our intentions and the cleanliness of our hearts.
Though I may not be worthy of this invitation, I am here by Allah’s will. I pledge to make every moment count, to pour my heart into every prayer, to seek forgiveness with every step. For ultimately, it is not the grandeur of our deeds that matter, but the sincerity of our intentions and the depth of our submission.
I turn to Allah with a heart overflowing with emotion. “Ya Allah,” I whisper, “forgive me and have mercy on me.” For what have I done to deserve this honour? My only claim to this blessing is the sincere declaration of “La ilaha illallah” – There is nothing worthy of worship except Allah. Even this utterance of faith is not of my own power, but entirely by His will and grace.
Jayson Ishaq Ang, Umrah – December 2024
As I depart for Singapore, I carry with me the hopes and prayers of countless others who long to be where I was. May Allah accept this Umrah not just from me, but from all those who yearn to visit His house. And may He grant us all the ultimate acceptance – His pleasure and Paradise in the hereafter and closeness to Him. Ameen.
