Updated 29 January 2014
3 weeks away from home was quite a challenging thought at first as I'd never stayed away from my family for so long; but it was exciting!
We were picked up from Imam Khomeini Airport at dawn by our mentors and driven to Qum. Our stay at Jamia-tuz-Zahra was marvellous. It was a home away from home. The mentors were amazing; they listened and advised as older sisters do.
The classes were very motivating; a kind of encouragement to look at the brighter side of life and knowledge that will last a lifetime.
Of course, the best part of Qum was the Haram of Bibi Masooma-e Qum. The feeling I got there is like none other. Bibi Masooma was our mother, our host. We never felt like we lacked something - it was an incredible experience.
The outside ziyarat were very well organised. Our bus would always pick us up on time and we would have enough time to visit each holy sites such as Masjid-e Jamkaran, Mount Khizr and Ayatullah Marashi's library.
However, the feeling one gets in the holy city of Mashhad cannot be described in words ... It's a place where no Shia would feel left out. It's amazing when almost every shop is named after Imam Ridha (as) and all women wearing the Iranian chador. It's a beautiful sight.
During the last visit to Imam Ridha's haram, we were honoured to be a guest at the holy shrine of Imam Ridha where the food was made with so much love and respect for the Imam.
I then recited my ziyarat-e-wida at the wall closest to the original shrine.
Thereafter, I observed, the sea of people, from different parts of the world, different societies, different languages; but the same belief. It's breath taking.
I drank the cold water from the water fountains to cool me down from the hot summer sun as I made my way to the exit, looking at the beautiful golden dome and bowing down with my last salaams.
The experience I had in Iran is like no other. It has given me more knowledge on my religion and moreover inspired me to be a better person; and the memories with my fellow campers and mentors which I will cherish forever.
By Sumaiya Ladak of Mombasa