Ramadan in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia [Part III] - Start Enjoying Madinah with its Food, People and Heat.

To be honest, Madinah was so so hot, even at dawn. And what I really feel was the heat from air conditioner, not 100% from the sun. Walking through 3 blocks with all building seems like hotel, of course there are so many air con. Because basically, Madinah in summer is very very hot. It was 43^o celcius. Some staff said it was and might be strike to 50^o. Damn.

That's why fasting in summer in such desert was so challenging. Imagine, walking 500 meters to and from the mosque under 43^o celcius while fasting (no drink no eat). Somehow I believe there'll be more reward too hehe.

sunrise from our hotel room

Masjid An-Nabawi

Masjid An-Nabawi

Masjid An-Nabawi

My aunt, my cousin, my mom

me :)

Masjid An-Nabawi

Masjid An-Nabawi

view from our hotel

While walking to mosque, we could see several shops or just people selling their good with one small gerobak. Not surprising that almost all seller there speaks Melayu or Bahasa too. It's basically because million pilgrims are from South East Asia, mostly Malaysia and Indonesia as largest Muslim popularity.

Here I'd like to share time schedule of pray in Madinah.

Fajr: 4.06 AM
Sunrise: 5.35 AM

Dhuhr: 12.25 PM

Asr: 3.46 PM

Maghrib: 7.14 PM

Isha: 8.44 PM

Madinah is the place where fasting was first instructed to muslim. Therefore, local people here are so humble to welcome pilgrims around the world by providing iftar (meal to break fasting). Some of them may ask a place in the yard of Masjid An-Nabawi to welcome their guests. The more guest and iftar they provide, the more space they will get. And of course the more reward from Allah too.

But giving iftar to people doesn't have to be full kind of a proper meal. They sometimes also bring bread, or only yogurt, dates (sweet brown fruit of Arab) or the traditional water (i don't know what it's called. It's brown with smell of traditional spice).

This iftar are prepared and given after Asahr pray, or around 5pm. Before they give it, some staff of mosque will roll out white clean plastic as alas of the food and drinks so it wont dirt the carpet. This is a kind of iftar i got from Masjid An-Nabawi.

plastic to cover the carpet and base for food

dates

iftar from several people

In my opinion, I prefer to stay inside the mosque from Ashar to Maghrib because i couldn't stand with the heat outside. And yes, Masjid An-Nabawi is cool and very comforting for having a nap. It's ok if you want to sleep inside, but somehow it could ruin your wudhu and you absolutely need to take another one before praying, and to get to the bathroom is quite far from the mosque.

Read my next story on [Part IV] or my previous story [Part II]