Umrah with my brother's

Starring Subhan, Musab, Musa

While preparing for their pilgrimage, Musab and Musa help Subhan put on ihram and practice saying "Labbayk Allahumma Labbayk." At the Kaaba, Subhan's blue sandal breaks, and he becomes frustrated when he cannot keep track of the rounds. Musa and Musab turn each round into a hand squeeze, helping Subhan finish with seven squeezes and proudly call out the prayer. An elderly pilgrim named Haaji Rafiq returns the mended sandal, and Subhan gratefully whispers, "Labbayk."

Musab zipped the suitcase shut with a sharp pull. Subhan poked at the soft white cloth folded on top. "Why can't I wear my firetruck shirt?" Subhan asked. "This is ihram," Musab said. "Everyone wears the same white cloth, so nobody's bigger than anybody else."

Musab wrapped the soft white cloth around Subhan three times, tucking the hem snug. Subhan wiggled. "It's scratchy!" Musa adjusted his own cloth and grinned. "Mine too. We look like clouds." Subhan tapped his heels, wiggling his toes in his blue sandals.

Musab leaned across the row on the airplane. "Say it with me, Subhan. Labbayk Allahumma Labbayk." Subhan frowned and bit his lip. "La-bake... Alla-uma..." Musa leaned over with a quick nod and repeated the words slowly, until Subhan copied every sound.

They stepped onto the courtyard tiles, and the giant black Kaaba stood tall before them, surrounded by flowing streams of white. Subhan stopped short and grabbed Musa's cotton hem. His blue sandal strap snapped with a pop. He stumbled, and the sandal slid away across the slick stone.

Barefoot on the smooth marble, Subhan tried to track the rounds. "One... two... um..." By circle three, his numbers scrambled. He dropped straight onto the cool floor and crossed his arms tight over his chest. "I'm done walking," Subhan said.

Musa knelt down on the marble. "Big numbers are tricky. But squeezes are easy." He took Subhan's left hand, and Musab took the right. "One squeeze for every round," Musa said. Together they walked onward, chanting their prayer in a steady rhythm.

At Safa, Musab and Musa walked with Subhan across the smooth marble path. They held Subhan's hands as they climbed, one step, then another. Together, the brothers called, "Labbayk Allahumma Labbayk." Their prayer carried from Safa toward Marwa.

At the end of umrah, Subhan sat beside Musab and Musa while a barber gently trimmed their hair. Small curls fell onto the clean cloth around their shoulders. The brothers smiled and thanked Allah. Their journey was complete.