By Ejaz Khan: 

Alhamdulilah, we were fortunate enough to perform Umrah recently, together with our kids.

In the buildup to the trip, many of the older generation extended family members showed a bit of concern when they heard that Zayaan (4) Tasfiyya (8) and Zahra (11) were coming with us.

For those contemplating it, I’d have to encourage you to take a leap of faith (excuse the pun)…
For one thing, in the Holy Lands,people make it easier for you, when you have kids with you. Where normally  if it was just you standing in line to greet the best of Mankind (Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam), you’d get steamrolled by that over eager Pakistani uncle heading to the Raudha Mubarak (Blessed Grave of Prophet Muhammed, Peace Be upon him). On the contrary, When you have your kid with, people’s hearts melt and you’ll be pleasantly surprised to see the same Mendhi bearded uncle actually make way for you and your youngster.  Generally though, Madinah Haram Shareef (Holy Sanctuary), is far more child friendly than Makkah. It is not called the “City of Peace” for nothing.

The Main thing is that ALLAH Almighty makes everything easier for you.  I recall sitting in the taxi heading from Medinah to Makkah, the wife and I were more than a bit anxious as to what awaited us in Makkah. The huge crowds, the Huge cranes, the huge traffic…would our kids be able to deal with this polar opposite of a city from which we had just left?

People had given us lots of advice, Allah bless all of them, but what transpired was far easier than we could’ve ever imagined.

We were able to perform our Umrah on the ground level of the Mataf area despite the large crowds. This was only possible through the mercy of Allah, Most High.

My eldest daughter Zahra had for many years been asking us when will we be going to the holy lands, and the look on hers and her other siblings’ faces when standing at the Kabah or when seeing the Green dome of Madinah for the 1^st time* will stay with you as a parent forever.  They’ve seen pictures, seen it on Satellite TV as well, but nothing is like the real thing, i.e seeing the beauty of these places with your own eyes.

Of course there are some drawbacks of having them with you on Umrah, and we shall mention some of them because hey, they are a reality.

Toilet breaks: Make sure the kids have eaten and have visited the bathroom before you leave for the Haram. The last  thing you want as you are about to start tawaaf or about to read Salaah in the Raudhatul Jannah is a little shriek of “ Daddy, I need to go…now!!”

Ibaadah Shifts: You might have to take shifts in terms of when you go to the Haram or  for extra Ibadah. IN Madinah this is far easier to do, Makkah, not so much. If you have another family member with you, this could make it a lot easier.

Restlessness of Youth: Yes, you might feel the urge to reach for the Stilpane or Panado Syrup on the long flight ( maybe even in the taxis a few times) But that too shall pass. Keep reminding them where you are, and they will fall into line on their own.

Zero understanding of the Weak Rand: “Daddy I want this , Mommy I want that” – Be patient with them… there are loads of exciting things they will see and want.

But the pro’s far outweigh the cons. If Allah invites you and you have the means at your disposal, take them with you. It will stay with them forever, and probably set up the foundation for a deeni filled mindset that will benefit them for life.

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Interact with Ejaz khan on twitter : @ejaz_k