Hajj – Why now? – Small Print of Being a Mum

* This is NOT a sponsored post, all opinions are my own.

The Journey of a Lifetime
I left my boys for 14 days, left behind every comfort that I know, left behind my old self and started a journey of
a lifetime. So how was it…? One word: Amazing.

Most reading this will know, exactly how profound Hajj is, but if you’re not sure about the details of it, then please check out this simple article over on the BBC. What is Hajj?

Makkah – 2018

Back to me, this has been a long time coming, but I’ve finally put down my Hajj experience into words.
I’m documenting my journey in steps, starting with what/who finally gave me the impetus to make this journey.
Why now….? How I prepared… and then the Journey itself and now 12 months later, the lessons I’ve learned.
Hopefully this is an inspiration to you all. It really is for me…whenever I think about Hajj…warm and fuzzy
feelings overcome me, Alhamdulillah.

Hajj…Why now?
Before Hajj, like pre-kids, people always asked me when I was going for Hajj, and now after Hajj I keep getting asked how was it?
For years, I told myself I wasn’t ready, or that my children needed me, and other stories I told myself convincing myself I was exempt. Early last year, my husband asked me his annual question about Hajj….and again I thought are we doing this? Eesa is only 4 and so clingy, Yousuf is fragile and I need to pray more and read more and be more…..but then my thoughts were of my plan to soon expand our family one day in the near future.

That would be even more years of delays. Given the Middle East geopolitics, I then asked myself will we have the finances, the health, the carers for our children? After reassurance from my parents and some courageous words from the husband, it felt like it was the right time….so we made the intention and took the plunge.

After searching high and low about the different tour groups that leave from the UK, there was one name that kept up on popping up on our screens. Dome Tours. Our criteria for the group we were looking for were:

1. A 14-day package that allowed us to have as stay in both Makkah and Madinah but didn’t seem too long of a journey.

2. The ability to stay in one place whilst in Makkah (non-shifting), which just means your things stay in one place.

3. Close by to the Haram for prayers and a lifesaver should you need it during your Mina days but
most of all the quality we were looking was 4. That ‘feeling’. The feeling of being safe and inspired, of being humbled but looked after and the feeling of trust and hope in these facilitators of our journey of a lifetime.
As well as ticking all the boxes, the reviews of Dome Tours were very positive and first hand experiences seemed to be even more so (PS. This is not a paid ad, I just love my #DT family)