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A Journey That Stays With You: Saif’s Umrah Experience

1 min read

Feb 12, 2026 1:07:26 PM

There are some journeys you plan.

And there are others that feel written for you long before they happen.

For Saif, Umrah was one of those journeys.

As the winner of the Salaam Umrah Campaign, he was given the opportunity to travel for pilgrimage alongside respected community leader Ismail Davids. What made it even more meaningful was sharing the experience with his wife, turning the journey into something deeply personal for both of them. Not just an act of worship, but a moment in their life they will always hold together.

Travelling in the period leading up to Ramadan gave the experience an added spiritual weight. It felt like preparation. Like arriving to the holy month already softened, already reflective, already grounded.

From the first sight of the Kaaba, Saif described a feeling that is hard to articulate. Silence, despite the crowds. Calm, despite the movement. Standing in a place you have seen your whole life, yet nothing prepares you for what it feels like in person.

Performing Tawaf was one of the moments that stayed with him the most. Moving in unison with thousands of believers, each carrying their own prayers, hopes, and burdens. It strips everything back. Titles disappear. Status disappears. What remains is humility and presence.

Sharing the journey with his wife added another emotional layer. Making du’a side by side. Reflecting together. Experiencing moments that only the two of them will ever fully understand.

There was also something powerful about travelling within a group. Conversations that began as introductions quickly turned into bonds. Late night reflections. Shared meals. Stories exchanged between people who may never have met otherwise, yet felt connected through faith.

The journey itself was seamless, allowing pilgrims to focus on what truly mattered.

Worship. Reflection. Presence.

But beyond the logistics, what this experience represents is much bigger.

At Salaam, serving the community goes beyond financial services. It is about supporting the full journey of our members. Their ambitions. Their families. Their faith.

Creating opportunities like this is one way we give back. Quietly. Meaningfully.

For Saif and his wife, Umrah was not just a trip. It was a reset. A moment of closeness to faith that they now carry with them as they step closer to Ramadan.

We are honoured to have played a small role in making that possible.