I decided to take a little break and slow down. Life has been a bit too hectic lately, so a break felt just right. Here’s a look at what I’ve been up to over the past few weeks.

I went for my first Umrah, Alhamdulillah! Yes, you heard that right! Honestly, I never thought I’d make the active decision to go for Umrah. For me, deciding to go for Umrah or Hajj always felt challenging, because I believed it meant I’d have to fully transform myself to adapt to all aspects of Islam.

Don’t get me wrong, I am religious in some ways: I wear the hijab, strive to dress modestly, always prioritize eating halal without exception, and actively work on praying five times a day (though I sometimes miss, I’m constantly trying to improve). Yet, the idea of performing Umrah or Hajj has always felt like it required me to leave behind all worldly pleasures and fully embrace every Islamic practice overnight.

I think this perspective comes from the South Asian culture I’ve observed, where some women start wearing the burkha or men become strict enforcers of prayer times in the household after Hajj. There seems to be a shift in how they portray Islam, and it made me feel like I’d have to make similar drastic changes.

This post isn’t meant to criticize how South Asian culture portrays Islam. I want to share my own experience of winding down. My Umrah journey truly felt like lifting a heavy cloud of emotions from my mind. It’s not that I’m going through any difficult emotional times right now, Alhamdulillah, but that’s how it felt.

During my tawafs and while making duas for myself, one thought kept running through my mind: “Why am I making these specific duas? Ultimately, all I want is to enter Jannah and be protected from the punishment of the grave and Jahannam.” That was my deepest wish just like any other Muslims. Of course, I also prayed for ease in certain situations in my life, but that ultimate desire for eternal peace stayed at the center of my duas.

Staying in Makkah and Medina left me feeling incredibly refreshed. Honestly, it was even better than a beach resort, and without a doubt, I’d love to go back again and again! I’m sure many of you have seen people returning from Umrah and posting things like, “I left a piece of my heart in Medina” or “I left my heart in Makkah.” I used to think those words were just something people felt compelled to say.

But now, I truly understand. For me, going for Umrah brought an overwhelming sense of peace because, for the first time, I allowed myself not to dwell on all the problems waiting for me back home. In the past, even on other holidays, I’d always have lingering thoughts about unfinished tasks. But in Makkah and Medina, I found a kind of calm that let me put everything aside and simply be present. That is because I knew that I came for what Allah instructed me to do.

Aside from performing Umrah and making as many prayers as I could, Makkah and Medina offered fascinating Islamic historical sites to explore. And, of course, for any Muslim, it’s a food haven—everything is halal! It felt so right to be there, surrounded by people who were all engaged in the same acts of worship. I didn’t have to think about makeup or appearances; we were all equal in purpose and intention.

But yes, the weather was scorching!