Laila | Resident in Madina

I came to Madina over 36 years ago after becoming Muslim at the age of 18. I am originally from Austria and became Muslim shortly after my mother embraced Islam.

Coming to Saudi Arabia

When the opportunity to come to Umrah was presented to us, my sister and I came.

I had a massive culture shock when I arrived. Covering up so much was new and upon arrival at Jeddah airport, we saw people in chains as they were being deported. This was a harrowing scene and has stayed with me since. Also, seeing men holding hands and kissing each other on the cheek was new to me having come from Europe.

We went on to Makka and I recall arriving at the Haram and being in awe of it. It was like a huge palace. We performed umrah before continuing on to Madina. In Madina, we stayed with a group of extended family and friends who had made hijra here some years before. In Madina, I decided I didn’t want to go back to Austria. I wanted to be in an Islamic environment since there wasn’t much Islam in Austria at that point.

Resolve to Make Hijra

I was told when you make hijra, there is no looking back. You give your life up and settle somewhere better for your Din. This was relatively easy for me. We had moved around a lot as children and hadn’t laid roots anywhere so nowhere was very difficult to say goodbye to. In fact, my first dua as a Muslim was that I wanted to travel to an Islamic country, marry a Muslim and bring up children as Muslims.

I ended up staying for two years in Madina with the same group of people. During this time, I remained mainly indoors as I didn’t have the correct paperwork. I knew I couldn’t continue like this and needed to get my paperwork in order. I was told that marriage was a solution for my issue. So, one day, at the Haram, I prayed fervently to Allah and through tears asked Him to send me a husband. Then, almost as if I heard a voice, I heard the words, 'You will take whomever I give you'. My heart dropped; I knew I would have to give up my whims and desires and accept what came my way.

Marriage

When I returned home, I was told that the American brother whose house we were staying at had agreed to marry me. He was married with six kids and 17 years my senior. I wanted to stay in Madina and this was the solution and I accepted, gladly.

We married in a very small ceremony in Jeddah. The first thing my husband said to me was, ‘We start as friends’. And so we started as friends in the early months and gradually fell in love. He supported me completely throughout our marriage and my kids have kept me company during many challenging times. Family really is the best thing you can have.

I stayed in Jeddah for the first four years as my husband’s work was there. When he changed jobs and started to travel, I asked if I could return to Madina with the kids.

A Vibrant Home in Madina

In Madina, our home became a place for visitors to stay. Many hajjis from America and Europe would come and stay with us and it was our job to look after everyone that came our way. I would cook for them all.

Once, one of the men came up and saw the kitchen and asked incredulously, ‘Is ALL the food we are eating coming from this kitchen?’ I did everything myself and didn’t have any help but my children.

Our house was always full. Not only with hujjaj but children too. In addition to my own five children, I had other children who stayed with us over the years. And in some cases, we had families who stayed with us as guests long term.

We met many interesting people who lived in Madina in those days. One particular character was an American sailor who had travelled the world extensively and seen so much. He didn’t have any family and was here on his own. He wanted to make hijra and die in Madina and did. He was in a wheelchair at the end of his life and lived on the side of the Haram towards Uhud. We would often visit him. He passed away many years ago (Allah have mercy on him).

Perspective

My story is a long one and still on-going; it is just one part. You realise that the longer you stay here. But when I look back at my story, I realise Allah has brought me here and kept me here, for reasons beyond my understanding. I have no part in this. I have seen so many people come and go.

The most important thing is the desire to be here. Even those that are not physically here will find a way to get here spiritually. Being here physically isn’t the only thing.

The ‘people of Madina’ are still the people of Madina but have stepped into the shadows. You have to really search for them and have the intention.

Things have changed a lot since I first came here but everything that is said of Madina is still true. Read the descriptions in the hadith.