Hajjis in white robes reach Mina

arabnews.com

Hajjis in white robes reach Mina

MAKKAH: Hundreds of thousands of Muslims began the annual Hajj pilgrimage on Wednesday, donning traditional white garments and heading to the tent city of Mina outside Makkah in an itinerary retracing the route Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) took 14 centuries ago.

Over 2 million worshippers, from nearly every country, have arrived in the Kingdom for the five-day ritual, which is a once-in-a-lifetime religious duty for every able-bodied Muslim who can afford it.

Some prayed at the Grand Mosque before heading to the Mina area or toward Mount Arafat, east of Makkah, where Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) had delivered his final sermon to followers.

They walked or took buses, with traffic police using loudspeakers to try to direct crowds speaking a medley of languages. They were dressed in simple white robes, marking a state of ihram, or ritual purity.

Moroccan pilgrim Rida Al-Belaqili, waiting to board a bus to Arafat, struggled to find words to describe his feelings, Reuters reported.

“We are meeting people from every country and every nationality. There is a sort of unity,” he said. “I hope this will recharge Muslims’ faith and spirituality. I ask God to grant me and all Muslims forgiveness.”

Eid Al-Adha, or feast of sacrifice, begins on Friday, when pilgrims begin three days of casting stones at walls in a symbolic renunciation of the devil.

source: arabnews.com

Hajj 2017: Tent City of Mina

Tent City of Mina

In this album are images of the Tent City of Mina, which is all set to receive more than two million Muslims performing Hajj 2017 starting Wednesday, August 30, 2017.

Made of fire-resistant materials, the air-conditioned tents are spread over an area of 2.5 million square meters, divided into several camps and bordered by walls linked to each other by coordinated corridors, which include public services. In the center of the camp are a series of toilets and ablutions. (SPA photos)

source: arabnews.com

How to spend the days of Haj for non-pilgrims

 source: saudigazette.com.sa

How to spend the days of Haj for non-pilgrims

Read about the life of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and his noble character. Give yourself an assignment to even memorize a certain number of the Prophet’s sayings.

Give. Give in charity to the poor, weak, sick, orphans, widows, refugees, someone drowning in debt, and anyone in need. Seek these people out and give generously. On the tenth day of Dhul Hijjah, sacrifice an animal and distribute the meat to families in need and to your neighbors.

Avoid doing that which would displease Allah, from looking to what is forbidden, listening to what is forbidden, saying what is unlawful, or going to places that Allah dislikes His faithful servants to be in.

source: saudigazette.com.sa

800,000 more pilgrims due this year after Makkah grand mosque expansion

800,000 more pilgrims due this year after Makkah grand mosque expansion

MAKKAH: Some 800,000 more pilgrims are expected this season following completion of expansion works at the Grand Mosque.

A report by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah said this year’s Umrah season witnessed the arrival of some 7 million people.

The ministry is working with pilgrimage institutions to raise capacity for future Umrah and Hajj seasons, and to establish a modern hospitality industry in line with Vision 2030 and the National Transformation Program (NTP) 2020.

The report cited infrastructure achievements in Makkah, Madinah and the holy sites to provide better services for pilgrims and visitors.

It also cited strategic initiatives launched by the ministry, such as the electronic observation and control center to connect pilgrim service centers with decision-makers and improve coordination between all parties involved in Hajj.

The report highlighted the ministry’s “Be Helpful” voluntary program, which is being implemented for the first time this Hajj season.

The program aims to serve pilgrims, develop services offered to pilgrims, and gauge the performance and effectiveness of voluntary work.

The report said the ministry is aware of the importance of enhancing the role of women in serving pilgrims via official and seasonal jobs.

Meanwhile, Salwa crossing on the Saudi-Qatari border continues to receive pilgrims, with Saudi authorities welcoming them and facilitating their entry.

The number of Qatari pilgrims reached 213 as of Saturday.

All pilgrims arriving from Qatar have their names registered at the crossing, and enter without the need for electronic permits.

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) previously announced the dedication of seven flights to take Qatari pilgrims from Doha to Jeddah.

The CAA said the flights are scheduled for Aug. 22-25, with return flights on Sept. 5.

The director of passports at Salwa, Col. Hassan Al-Dussari, stressed the preparedness at the crossing to receive Qatari pilgrims, and said 11 counters have been dedicated to their service.

Committee formed to ensure pilgrim accommodation safety

Prince Abdullah bin Bandar bin Abdul Aziz, deputy governor of the Makkah region, ordered the formation of a multilateral committee to ensure the safety of buildings dedicated to accommodating pilgrims.

The committee comprises representatives from the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, the Civil Defense and Tawafa establishments, in cooperation with specialized technicians and engineers.

Prince Abdullah presided over a meeting of Tawafa and Zamazemah establishments, which was attended by Minister of Hajj and Umrah Mohammed Salih Bentin and heads of the institutions.

The deputy governor reviewed plans for this year’s Hajj season, which aim to serve more than 2.2 million pilgrims.

The role of these establishments in providing all services to pilgrims from arrival to departure was also discussed.

More than 2,600 employees work in Tawafa establishments in 497 offices, serving pilgrims from 162 countries.

16 aircraft to be deployed

during Hajj

Sixteen aircraft with state-of-the-art equipment will be deployed during Hajj, said Maj. Gen. Mohammed bin Eid Al-Harbi, commander of the General Air Force.

He made the announcement as he toured Madinah accompanied by representatives of security services.

He said the aircraft can monitor pilgrims’ movements, will know if they need assistance, and can identify infiltrators or those without Hajj permits.

Each aircraft is equipped with night-vision systems, thermal cameras, modern communications, and medical and ambulance equipment, Al-Harbi added. They will be staffed by crews with experience in past Hajj seasons. He said security aviation has different roles such as monitoring security and traffic situations from the air; sending immediate reports to the flight security operations center; passing information to the command and control center and the joint operations room; and intervening in case of accidents.

“The General Command of Air Aviation is ready to provide any support required by all parties participating in the service of pilgrims,” he added. 

source: arabnews.com

The History of Haj

The History of Haj

and those who bow and prostrate.} (Chapter 22, Verse 26)

After building the Kaaba, Prophet Ibrahim would come to Makkah to perform Haj every year, and after his death, his son continued this practice. However, gradually with the passage of time, both the form and the goal of the Hajj rituals were changed.

In pre-Islamic time, the Kaaba was surrounded by idols and people from Makkah and outside Makkah used to visit Kaaba during the annual pilgrimage season. Shibli Nomani mentions that the Arabs at that time did not walk between the hills of Al-Safa and Al-Marwah nor gather at Arafat. But they used to spend a day in the plain area outside Makkah and return to Makkah circumambulating Kaaba.

During the pre-Islamic period, Haj became an occasion for several festivals and activities like poetry competitions, and the most famous poems used were hung up on the Kaaba walls. Other unacceptable activities and performances also took place during Haj time.

This sad state of affairs continued for nearly two and a half thousand years. But then after this long period, the whole scene changed

The present steps and rituals of Haj were established by Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)

In 630 AD, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and the Muslims came back from Madinah to Makkah and claimed Makkah. The Prophet (peace be upon him) and the Muslims cleansed the Kaaba and destroyed all idols.

The following year, Abu Bakr, the Prophet’s companion, led 300 Muslims to perform Haj in Makkah. Ali ibn Abi Talib addressed the people, specifying the new rituals of Haj. He declared that no disbeliever or naked man would be allowed to circumambulate the Kaaba from the following year.

In the tenth year after Hijrah (632 AD), Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) performed his only and last Haj with a large number of Muslims, and he taught them the rituals of Haj and the manners of performing these rituals.

In the plain of Arafat, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) delivered his famous speech (The Farewell Sermon) to those who were present there.

{This day I have perfected for you your religion and completed My favor upon you and have approved for you Islam as religion. But whoever is forced by severe hunger with no inclination to sin - then indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.} (Chapter 5, Verse 3)

During the Islamic time and the Middle Ages, pilgrims used to gather in caravans in main cities of Syria, Egypt, and Iraq to go to Makkah. Caravans had tens of thousands of pilgrims. Military groups and physicians accompanied Haj caravans for the reason of protection, security, and care of pilgrims. All these precautions were taken to protect the caravan from any natural risks, dangers or robbers and to ensure that the pilgrims were supplied with the necessary facilities.

Muslim travelers like Ibn Jubayr and Ibn Battuta have recorded that the Hajj caravans followed well-established routes called in Arabic, Darb al-Hajj, (pilgrimage road).

Today the Haj scene has been transformed. We see a multitude of facilities provided to pilgrims for healthcare and support. Permanent and mobile hospitals are set up in Mena and Arafat. The train cuts the time short for pilgrims to move from Makkah to Mena and is being expanded to Al-Madinah Al-Munawarah. Hotels and restaurants work 24/7 to serve pilgrims. Can you imagine how it was like in the olden times?

source: saudigazette.com.sa

Hajj and the Muslims’ Unity | Qibla travel

 

Hajj and the Muslims’ Unity | Qibla travel

Unity and agreement lead to strength and victory, while disunity and disagreement lead to weakness and defeat. Powerful nations only succeeded because of unity among its members and integration of its efforts. History is the best witness to this rule. Hence, we find several texts in the Quran and the Sunnah stressing this great principle and warning against disagreement and dispute. Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {And obey Allah and His Messenger, and do not dispute and [thus] lose courage and [then] your strength would depart; and be patient. Indeed, Allah Is with the patient.} [Quran 8:46]

Abu Mas‘ood, May Allah Be Pleased with him, said: “The Messenger of Allah used to place his hand upon our shoulders at prayer time (when we would form rows for the prayer) and say, ‘Stand in straight rows and do not differ among yourselves, or else your hearts will differ (due to disaccord).’”[Muslim]

Hajj is a great occasion where the Muslims’ unity appears in its most beautiful forms. All differences disappear, all barriers melt and Muslims gather in this imposing scene, which delights the souls and hearts.

Muslims from all over the world gather around this Ancient House, towards which they turn to perform the prayers five times a day, the House towards which they turn their souls and hearts during prayers in their faraway lands. Now, they gather around it to see, consult, love, and shake hands with each ‎other. They took off those different and distinguishing clothes to wear a white uniform indicating the whiteness of their hearts, as well as the purity of their appearance and souls.

Indeed, these are magnificent moments when all pilgrims move from Mina to stand this great standing in ‘Arafah confirming the unity of place, time, clothes and destination.

There are unanimous manifestations of unity in Hajj, including:

Unity of place and time: Hajj is performed in a specific time and place and it is impermissible to be performed at any other time or in any other place. Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {Hajj is [during] well-known months, so whoever has made Hajj obligatory upon himself therein [by entering the state of Ihraam], there is [to be for him] no sexual relations and no disobedience and no disputing duringHajj.} [Quran 2:197]

The Prophet said: “Hajj is the standing at ‘Arafah.”[At-Tirmithi]

Unity of rituals: All pilgrims are required to perform the rituals of Hajj including Ihraam, Tawaaf, Sa‘y between the Safa and Marwah, standing at ‘Arafah, spending the night at Mina, stoning the Jamraat and so on.

All pilgrims perform the same rituals, the thing that embodies and deepens brotherhood and love among them.

Unity of aim and feeling: All pilgrims come from every distant pass hoping for the Mercy of Allah The Almighty, fearing His punishment and raising their hands to implore Him and ask for His forgiveness, bounty and satisfaction.

They have one Qiblah, one Lord, similar feelings and similar clothes. These manifestations of unity that take place in this blessed occasion maintain the feeling of unity and reinforce the feeling of brotherhood among Muslims. They also strengthen mutual sympathy and sharing in joy in addition to religious and worldly cooperation among Muslims. 

This was a brief overview of this important issue that occupy the minds of all Muslims, who aspire to a time when the Muslim nation will reunite to achieve superiority over the other nations and restore its leadership that the Muslims lost because of disunity and disagreement. Allah The Almighty Says (what means): 

{Allah Has Promised those who have believed among you and done righteous deeds that He Will surely Grant them succession [to authority] upon the earth just as He Granted it to those before them and that He Will surely Establish for them [therein] their religion which He Has Preferred for them and that He Will surely Substitute for them, after their fear, security, [for] they worship Me, not associating anything with Me. But whoever disbelieves after that - then those are the defiantly disobedient.} [Quran 24:55]

source: islamweb.net

How to make the most of your Haj | Qibla travels

saudigazette.com.sa

How to make the most of your Haj

Performing Haj gives us a clean slate and a second chance to start over, so try to make the most of your Haj.
 
Performing Haj is the most important event in a Muslim’s life. That is why whoever is planning to perform Haj this year should start preparing mentally and spiritually from now. Having the right mindset going into Haj can help you truly make the most of this amazing journey, meaning that you can maximize your rewards, gain the acceptance of Allah, and come back from Haj with no sins on your record of deeds.

Are you aware of how special the season of Haj is?

The first ten days of Dhul Hijjah are the best days of the entire year.

In an authentic saying of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), reported by Ibn Abbas, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “There are no days in which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allah than these ten days.” – referring to the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah.

And as for the place, there is no better place on Earth than Makkah. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said that the prayer in the Grand Mosque in Makkah is equivalent to 100,000 prayers elsewhere in the world.

For those of you going for Haj this year, you will be in the best place on Earth during the best time of the year. That is a blessing in itself to appreciate and to be thankful for.

I will share with you 7 tips mentioned by a young Muslim teacher, Dunia Shuaib, to help you make the most of your Haj, and to get you thinking of your spiritual journey from now.

1. Intention. Keep reminding yourself of the reason you are embarking on the pilgrimage; and that is to fulfill the fifth pillar of Islam, to seek the pleasure of Allah, and to cleanse yourself of previous sins committed. Do not allow the wrong intentions to creep up on your thinking, such as looking for people’s praise or thinking that you are better than others. Be careful of taking selfies and sharing them on social media because it could spoil your intention. Every day when you are in Haj, remind yourself that you are performing the pilgrimage purely for the sake of Allah.

2. Forgive and seek forgiveness from Allah. There are times in our lives when we have been hurt by others. It is painful and difficult, but before going for Haj we must forgive those who have wronged us, in order for Allah to forgive us of our sins. Free yourself of past grudges, grievances, and anger, and forgive others.

A verse in the Qur’an implores the believers to forgive one another; Allah says, {And let them pardon and overlook. Would you not like that Allah should forgive you? And Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.} (Chapter 24, verse 22)

It is not easy to forgive and pardon those who have harmed you. Do you know for whom this verse was revealed? When the hypocrites slandered Aisha, the wife of the Prophet (peace be upon him), one of her relatives also spread these lies about her. Aisha’s father, Abu Bakr, had been used to financially supporting this man. Can you imagine how hurtful this must have been for Abu Bakr? The person who he had been assisting financially was harming his beloved daughter. Abu Bakr discontinued the financial assistance to this man. And then the above verse was revealed, reminding Abu Bakr to pardon and overlook. Abu Bakr complied with the teachings of this verse, and he returned the monthly stipends that he had previously given this relative, despite his involvement in spreading rumors against Aisha.

While on Haj, forgive others; would you not like that Allah should forgive you? Also, constantly make istighfar; ask Allah to forgive you. We all have committed sins and we all have shortcomings, we turn to Allah to forgive us. Haj is the best time to seek forgiveness.

3. Patience. Keep your temper in check; it is easy to lose your patience when in Haj. Mentally prepare yourself that Haj will not go as smoothly as you expect. During tawaf, people will push you, hold your tongue. There will be extremely long waiting periods on buses, remain patient and refrain from complaining. Haj is a struggle and to gain the ultimate rewards, you must not complain, curse, or argue. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, “Whoever performs Haj for the sake of Allah and does not utter any obscene speech or do any evil deed, will go back (free of sin) as his mother bore him.” (Sahih Bukhari)

4. Be happy. Smile. You have been chosen by Allah to be among the pilgrims this year. Allah has invited you to the Haj, and you are the guest of Allah. Be grateful to Allah that you have been given this wonderful opportunity.

5. Make a duaa list. Prepare a list of supplications that you will make during Haj, and especially on the day of Arafat. We all have our needs, challenges, and past sins. This is a special time to call on Allah.

Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him said, “The best supplication is the one made on the Day of Arafah. The best thing ever said by me and the previous prophets is: There is no deity worthy of worship other than Allah, who is alone, having no partner. His is the dominion and to Him belongs all praise. He is of everything All-Capable.” (At-Tirmidhi)

Be balanced in your duaa; ask for your needs in this world but also do not neglect asking for the rewards in the Hereafter. Remember to make duaa for others; your children, family, relatives, friends, teachers, co-workers, and those who work for you.

6. Set goals. It’s a good idea to think about what you would like to accomplish during the Haj journey, for example, to read a certain portion of the Holy Qur’an daily, pray voluntary prayers, or say istighfar a certain number of times each day. Having goals will help you avoid wasting time while on Haj. It is easy to get distracted, to talk to the people around you, and to waste too much time shopping.

7. Do not throw it all away. Be committed to make permanent changes in your lifestyle to be a better person after your Haj. After all the struggle and exhaustion you will experience during the Haj, do not come back from Haj only to make all the old mistakes that eat away at your good deeds, such as backbiting, slandering, and hurting others.

Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said to his companions, “Do you know who is bankrupt?” They said, “The one without money or goods is bankrupt.” The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “Verily, the bankrupt of my nation are those who come on the Day of Resurrection with prayers, fasting, and charity, but also with insults, slander, consuming wealth, shedding blood, and beating others. The oppressed will each be given from his good deeds. If his good deeds run out before justice is fulfilled, then their sins will be cast upon him and he will be thrown into the Hellfire.” (Sahih Muslim)

Type of Packages

Deluxe Hajj Package 2017  |  Economy Hajj Package 2017   |  All Umrah packages

Economy Umrah Package  |  Deluxe Umrah Package  |  Super Deluxe Umrah Package

source: saudigazette.com.sa

December Umrah package 2017 in the UK | Qibla travels

December Umrah package 2017 in the UK | Qibla travels

For performing December Umrah package 2017, there is no specific month of the year prescribed in Islam. However, it is advisable for people living in countries outside Saudi Arabia not to perform the lesser pilgrimage in the month that follows the Hajj season.

The reason for this is that the authorities in charge of the holy site carry out cleaning and maintenance work during this period. As people living in the UK enjoy a holiday season towards the end of December, Muslims residing in the country can make the most of this opportunity by performing their Umrah in December.

Upon booking well in advance with us, you can get fabulous deals on Economy Umrah Package and significantly reduce the overall costs involved in your journey to Makkah.

Cheapest December Umrah Packages 

With over 15 years of customer trust, Qibla travels ensures a safe and hassle-free journey to Makkah with its Umrah packages for December. Now, our Muslim brothers and sisters do not have to worry about their budgets to fulfil their intention of Umrah, as we bring them the cheapest December Umrah packages to make this entire journey affordable. 

We have also categorised our Umrah packages according to different levels of cost. This makes it easier for individuals to select a suitable package for them based on their needs and the budget that they have set aside for the pilgrimage.
Best Deals on December Umrah Packages 2017

You can have a considerable amount of savings with the best deals that we have made available on our December Umrah packages 2017. 

During your time spent in the holy city of Makkah, you can explore the holy sites situated in the places close to Masjid al-Haram with the amount saved. Among these sites of religious importance is the Jabal-al-Noor or 'The Mountain of Light'. 

This is where The Almighty Allah made the first revelation to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) through the archangel, Gabriel inside the 'Hira' cave. You can also visit the Jannat al-Mu'alla, which is located near the holy mosque in Makkah. 

Many of the relatives of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) were buried in this cemetery before he migrated to Madinah with his followers. 

Expert Assistance with Our Umrah Packages 

 

You can be assured of having complete assistance on all aspects of Umrah, whether it is the booking of your  Umrah Packages or the Dos and Don’ts that have to be kept in mind while performing Umrah. There are many who need guidance when they are about to perform Umrah for the first time. 

Our experts provide them with the right advice and suggestions necessary for fulfilling their sacred intention of Umrah. 

There are certain precautions that need to be taken during the pilgrimage, such as refraining from the use of scented soap while in the state of 'Ihram'. Men cannot cover their heads with the Ihram clothing while performing Umrah. 

All such things have to be kept in mind before embarking on your journey to perform Umrah.

Type of Packages

 

Deluxe Hajj Package 2017  |  Economy Hajj Package 2017   |  All Umrah packages

Economy Umrah Package  |  Deluxe Umrah Package  |  Super Deluxe Umrah Package

source: simplyhajjandumrah.co.uk