Chapter 10-A Day In Madinah

Days to Treasure

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A Blessed Morning and Afternoon in Madinah

After a brief rest, they woke up again. It was Tahajjud time. They freshened up and walked towards the masjid. A very quick walk, and they were there within a few moments. They chose to stay outside, where the morning air was refreshing as usual. Between prayers, they rested and made duas, reminding each other of what they could ask for from Allah.

The Fajr adhaan echoed through the air, and the prayer followed shortly after. Once the prayers concluded, they returned to the hotel. The breakfast at this hotel was not quite as impressive as what they had experienced at Anjum, but Alhamdulillah, they had a satisfying meal and enjoyed a good heart-to-heart conversation before heading back to their room for a quick nap.

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Dhuhr Prayer and an Unplanned Change

Soon it was time for Dhuhr, and they walked to the masjid once again. The prayer was as soothing as always. The voice of the imam felt like a balm to the soul, bringing relief to the body. The length of the surah recitation—whether long or short—no longer bothered anyone. Shehnaz, who often felt uneasy and impatient when the recitation grew longer back home, found herself completely at ease here. She even enjoyed it.

After Dhuhr, they decided to do some quick shopping. Saji had been in touch with Kutty, who had kindly offered to take them on a ziyarah of all the common historical and religious sites in Madinah. He had suggested they go after Dhuhr, but by the time they had finished salah it was already too late. They decided instead to return to the hotel for a break, come back to the masjid for Asr, and then venture out for food and ziyarah afterward.

That's exactly what they did. They walked back to the hotel, took a short rest, and then returned to the masjid for Asr. After the Asr prayers, Kutty picked them up from the same spot they had agreed upon earlier.

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The Search for a Satisfying Meal

It was already well past lunchtime, and they had yet to eat their lunch. They were craving the authentic Kerala meals they loved and were hoping to find them at Biriyani Spot. Unfortunately, the timing didn't work out as planned, and they had to explore other options.

Kutty first took them to another restaurant named Taj. However, much to their disappointment, Taj didn't offer meals. The waiter there suggested they try dosa instead, but none of them were particularly keen on that option. So they decided to check out another restaurant called Zam Zam.

At Zam Zam, they finally found what they were looking for. The restaurant served traditional meals that included thick rice, fish curry, a flavorful vegetable curry, crispy pappadam, and fish fry—both Maanthal and Matthi varieties. They were also served refreshing sambhaaram and sweet payasam to complete the meal. They ordered chai to accompany everything, and the meal felt complete and deeply satisfying.

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Kutty's Inspiring Story

Somewhere between all this, Saji quietly informed the others that Kutty had a very sad and difficult personal story. She gently warned them not to ask too many questions about his personal life, out of respect for his privacy.

Since Saji did not have to perform salah that day, she had volunteered to accompany Kutty for some shopping earlier in the afternoon. During their time together, she had purchased boxes of dates—both Aaliya and Madinah varieties—to take back home as gifts for friends and family.

It was during this shopping trip that Saji learned more about Kutty, whose full name was Hussain. She discovered that he had enjoyed a very comfortable childhood, having grown up in Saudi Arabia, which explained why he was so fluent in Arabic. He had lived with his parents and now dedicated much of his time to teaching orphans the Quran. He also worked as a guide for pilgrims whenever he had the opportunity.

As their conversation deepened, Hussain shared something deeply personal with Saji. He told her that during the time when he was looking to get married, he was suddenly struck by a mysterious and devastating disease—one whose exact name he didn't know or perhaps didn't wish to mention. The disease slowly ravaged his body, eating away at his flesh. He lost several fingers on both hands, and his legs were severely affected as well.

The most touching and heartbreaking part of his story came when he described his current condition. Despite everything he had endured, he said with profound gratitude, "Alhamdulillah, now I do not feel anything below my knees." It was a statement of both loss and acceptance. He had lost sensation in his lower legs, yet he was doing much better now and was able to function reasonably well in his day-to-day life.

This story moved them all deeply and left them feeling both sorrowful and inspired. It was profoundly sad to hear of the immense suffering Hussain had endured. Yet it was equally inspiring to witness someone who had gone through such tremendous hardship still standing tall, facing life with courage, dignity, and unwavering faith in Allah.

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A Quiet Return

Lunch concluded in a more reflective mood. Kutty dropped them back at the hotel so they could rest for a while. They still had two more prayers to attend—Maghrib and Isha—before they would bid their final goodbye to this blessed city.

As the realization sank in that their time in Madinah was coming to an end, every step, every sight, every breath felt heavier with the weight of departure. Yet, in the midst of that quiet ache, they whispered Alhamdulillah—a soft, steady reminder of the blessing of being here. They had performed Umrah, walked the streets once trodden by the beloved Prophet ﷺ, and felt the sacred pulse of a city steeped in centuries of devotion. Every corner, every call to prayer, every moment of reflection had etched itself into their hearts. What more could one ask for? Alhamdulillah . Humbled by the mercy of Allah, grateful beyond words for the opportunity, for the companionship that had carried them through, and for the peace that had filled their souls. And in that bittersweet moment, even as the thought of leaving stung, they carried with them a quiet joy—a certainty that these memories, these blessings, would remain with them forever.

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