The journey is not yet finished (140)

Tents in Arafat Desert

The journey is not yet finished (140)

(Part one hundred and forty, Depok, West Java, Indonesia, October 4, 2014, 17:51 pm)

Saturday October 4, 2014 Most Muslims in the world, including in Saudi Arabia have been praying Eid al-Adha, partly in Indonesia starting Sunday, October 5, 2014:

Pilgrims in submission at high point of Haj



More than two million pilgrims performed the most important rite of Haj on Friday as they stood in prayer from dawn to dusk on the plains of Arafat, 15 km east of Makkah.

A white sea of the faithful surged to Mount Arafat as dawn broke on the second leg of the five-day pilgrimage. Waves of men in seamless white robes and veiled women in long dresses raised their voices to a crescendo, chanting Labbaik Allahumma Labbaik (Here I am O God, answering your call).

On behalf of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah, Crown Prince Salman, deputy premier and minister of defense, arrived in Mina to supervise services for the pilgrims at the holy sites on Friday.

King Abdullah received a telephone call from Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani congratulating him on Eid Al-Adha. King Abdullah also received similar calls from King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa of Bahrain and Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber.

Makkah Gov. Prince Mishaal bin Abdullah, chairman of the Supreme Haj Committee, was in the front row of Masjid Al-Namira when Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Aziz Al-Asheikh delivered the Haj sermon. The massive mosque was overflowing with pilgrims.

The grand mufti said Islam was the religion of humanity, with a perfect constitution aimed at bringing people together.

Al-Asheikh lashed out at people using Islam to further their violent and extremist agendas. He said these people cannot be considered Muslims.

“We have been tried with people who shed the blood of innocent people and tarnish the image of Islam. They are in fact the Khawarij whom the Prophet (peace be upon him) referred to,” the sheikh said.

The sheikh said that Muslims must stand together and work to help each other, particularly in protecting moral values. He said Islam's enemies are preparing to attack Muslims on all fronts, including their security, faith, strength and intellect.

Thawaf in Kaba

He urged the GCC to bury their differences. “The Gulf Cooperation Council has gone forward in a remarkable way but need to cooperate to ensure the dignity and stability of the ummah.” He said that Muslims have the responsibility to do everything they can to avoid division and ensure the security of the community at large. “The media has a crucial role to play in disseminating Islamic teachings that could provide solutions facing Muslims today.”

Meanwhile, Haj Minister Bandar Hajjar said that the Haj has gone smoothly so far. “To manage such a large number of people coming from more than 140 countries and speaking 100 different languages is quite an achievement,” he said.

Thousands of police were stationed along the routes to Arafat with helicopters hovering overhead. Many faithful carried umbrellas to protect themselves from the sun. The government has installed thousands of water sprinklers to cool pilgrims, although the weather was moderate.

Many pilgrims interviewed praised the government for their organization. Others said they were simply happy to be in the Kingdom to perform the pilgrimage.

Saleh Al-Owaili, a young Saudi from Najran, said he was performing the pilgrimage for the second time. “I feel blessed to be part of this grand gathering of Muslims,” he said. “I am taking comfort in the fact that Allah answers our prayers on these days from this place.”

He said one should never forget the main principles of Islam. “Islam is based on tolerance and forgiveness,” he told Arab News. He was part of a large contingent of Saudi pilgrims from all over the Kingdom.

Adam Ali from Chad said he was performing Haj for the second time and his wife, Naeemat, the first time. “We are extremely happy to have fulfilled the most important pillar of Islam,” said Ali.

Ahmad Abdul Hadi, from Khartoum, Sudan, said he was surprised by the huge numbers of people and the hot weather. “I am happy, yes. There are too many people here,” he said.

walk to Safa and Marwa

Pakistani pilgrim Mohammad Abbasi said performing Haj was a great experience. “It is an opportunity that people dream of all the time,” he said.

Abbasi, a father of seven, said he prayed for his parents, his country, his relatives and the Muslim Ummah. “May Allah awaken the Muslim masses and shower his choicest blessings on our community,” he said.

Standing at Mount Arafat in prayer before sunset on Dhul Hijjah 9 is the high point of the Haj. The pilgrims who fail to make it on time must repeat the journey.

The pilgrims left Arafat after sunset, moving to Muzdalifah where they will spend the night following in the footsteps of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). They will collect pebbles to stone the Jamarat in Mina at dawn on Saturday, the symbolic stoning of the devil.

Eid holidaymakers head to Madinah and Jeddah



Many citizens and residents are using the Eid holidays to spend time in Madinah and Jeddah.

Saudis have also gone to Dubai for the vacation, while expatriates have headed heading home to their loved ones.

In the downtown area of Balad in Jeddah, many bachelor expatriates were seen on Thursday taking taxis and Saudi Transport Company buses to their destinations.

However, sources said that many tour operators had canceled trips to Madinah because there was little accommodation available and a shortage of buses because of the Haj. Dhul Hijjah 1 to 10 are considered one of the peak holiday periods in the Kingdom.

Most expatriates prefer to stay close to the Prophet's Mosque on Qurban Road where furnished apartments and other informal operators charge between SR600 and SR700 for a room accommodating a family of four. This has been a 100 percent hike from SR300 before the holidays.

“A few weeks ago I rented two rooms for SR350 for a relative from Riyadh, but now I'm paying SR750,” said Rashid Puli, a social worker and long-term resident of Madinah.

Opposite the Prophet's Mosque in Abizar Street, owners of furnished apartments have also hiked their prices by 100 percent and are charging SR750 for a single room.

Many Asian expatriates who have been running accommodation businesses in the Sultana area will see their buildings demolished to make way for the expansion of the Prophet's Mosque.

 Meanwhile, those heading to Jeddah can expect to find some entertainment and relaxation at the corniche.

The municipality has also made elaborate arrangements for Eid prayers at 247 musallahs and mosques in various locations in the city including the waterfront area. It has also cleaned up parks and other public areas for Eid.

“Eid is the only occasion that I can step out with my siblings and enjoy the atmosphere at a musallah,” said Reem Al-Ghamdi, a Saudi student.

“I really enjoy attending Eid prayers at these areas with my family,” said Nashra Rania, who is from India.

Walk to Safa and Marwa

Noormian, a Bangladeshi expatriate, told Arab News that he would be celebrating by sacrificing, skinning and cleaning a sheep.

Mohammed Al-Boqmi, spokesperson of Jeddah Municipality, said that 6,000 workers would be deployed to clean public areas.

There would be Eid prayers at three mosques at the corniche. Fatima Zahra Mosque in North Obhur and Al-Anani mosque at the corniche are popular for Eid prayers.

The Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Endowments, Call and Guidance in Jeddah has said that Eid sermons would be delivered at all the selected mosques and musallahs in the city. Talal Al-Aqeel, director of the ministry in Jeddah, said there would be Eid prayers at 42 musallahs.

Over 2 million prepare for Haj climax



In scenes of devotion seen nowhere else on the planet, over two million pilgrims, wrapped in seamless white cloth, made their way into an extremely hot Mina on Thursday. They came in buses, large utility vehicles, two-wheelers, wheelchairs, and on foot for the journey of a lifetime.

As they walked into the valley, they were greeted by a sea of white tents as far as the eye could see. At one end was the massive multistoried concrete structure of the Jamarat, with Masjid Al-Khaif one side and Masjid Al-Kuwaiti at the far end.

Pilgrims traversed through a maze of roads to reach their tents. Vehicles were not allowed inside the tent city. The pilgrims were dropped off at various bridges and walked to their camps.

Once inside, the pilgrims prayed Dhuhr, Asr, Maghreb and Isha. The able-bodied walked to Masjid Al-Khaif to say their prayers. Inside the massive mosque, they recited verses from the Qur'an. It was scenes full of piety and devotion to Allah.

Interior Minister Prince Mohammed bin Naif said a total of 1,389,053 foreign pilgrims have arrived for Haj this year from 163 countries. Among them 757,981 are men and 631,072 women. “There was an increase of 8,545 pilgrims or 0.6 percent compared to 2013,” he said. Of this year’s foreign pilgrims, 1,315,850 came by air, 59,204 by land and 13,999 by sea.

As the day wore on, the intense heat subsided and a light wind sprang up, cooling the city considerably, making it more pleasant for the pilgrims.

 “I no longer feel alone,” said Nasser Aref from Syria. “We had to endure a lot of hardship to come here. The fact that we are alive is a miracle,” he said and narrated the difficulties that his family had faced in escaping from Aleppo on their way to the Haj.

Omar Obaidat, a journalist from Amman, Jordan, said: “It is a great spiritual experience for me. This is my first time. It is a dream come true for me because in Jordan only the elderly are allowed to go on Haj. I came here as part of the media delegation and that is how, even though I am only in my 30s, I am getting this wonderful chance. I am happy and excited. Saudi Arabia is a great place and all the negative stuff that I read and heard are untrue. The Saudi authorities are handling the Haj arrangements with utmost care. They deserve praise.”

Habib Qaiser from Karachi, Pakistan, refused to discuss anything other than the spiritual aspect of the Haj with Arab News. “I am here to seek atonement for all the sins that I have committed in my 59 years,” he said. “I am surrounded by thousands of people here but I am alone because I am looking within.”

Qaiser said he wanted to live a pious life. “Allah has given me the chance to correct myself, my ways. If I am good, then I can become a role model for other members in my large family. I am so thankful to Allah for choosing me to be among the people performing Haj this year.”

There are many young pilgrims this year from the United Kingdom, who feel excited and privileged to be performing Haj this year.

Yusuf Matadar from the Council of British Hajis (CBH), the body providing on-the-ground support to British pilgrims, was one of the first to arrive in the tent city of Mina on Thursday. “The transportation from Makkah to Mina has been an easy ride compared to previous years,” he told Arab News. “We arrived in record time at Fajr by coach and those undertaking the walking Haj arrived a few hours later.”

Trowing a seven small stone a symbilic to throw the devil

Altaf Arif from Arif Haj & Umrah Services based in Nelson, United Kingdom, said: “The transportation to Mina has been extremely efficient this year. Our group has arrived. Many are first timers and are resting ahead of Arafat on Friday.”

One pilgrim, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “It is very hot compared to previous years, and I am disappointed to see that some air conditioning units have not been serviced. I hope this is resolved very soon.”

For the majority of the 100,000 Indian pilgrims the movement from Makkah to Mina was hassle-free. “Our pilgrims started their journey in groups from Makkah at 10 p.m. on Wednesday and by 10 a.m. on Thursday, all of them were in their tents,” said Indian Consul General B.S. Mubarak.

One reason for the smooth flow of Indian pilgrims is that most of them are housed in Makkah’s Aziziah district. “The distance from Aziziah to Mina is pretty short and the roads are also very wide. All this facilitated the easy movement of our pilgrims,” said Mubarak.

However, some 300 pilgrims had anxious moments when the buses hired by their operator failed to arrive. The Indian Haj Mission then used their staff vehicles to ferry the pilgrims to their tents in Mina.

“Our pilgrims are resting and catching up on some sleep after being awake the whole night,” said Mubarak.

Mubarak said some pilgrims had suffered under the 45-degree heat at noon on Thursday. “Even the younger pilgrims are feeling thirsty,” said Mubarak. “Once you are inside the tents, it is even hotter. The air-conditioners are on but they will take some time to cool the tents,” he said.

Among the heads of state present were Sudan President Omar Bashir and Bangladesh President Mohammed Abdul Hameed.

The Haj will climax on Friday when all the pilgrims assemble on the plains of Arafat, for what many describe as a reflection of the Day of Judgment when every person will be held accountable for their actions.

Despite checkpoints, many pilgrims without permits still managed to enter Mina. They were seen sleeping under the bridges and on the hilltops that surround the city.

A top official told Arab News that the government is not against anyone performing the Haj. “Pilgrims without documents have no place to sleep or pray. So they make themselves comfortable in pedestrian pathways, blocking the movement of pilgrims. If they come through a proper operator, then they have proper accommodation and do not become a problem for other pilgrims,” he explained.

Saudis are here in large numbers to help pilgrims, and getting a lot of praise for their dedicated service.

“It is a source of pride to us that the majority of healthcare providers at the Haj are Saudi,” acting Health Minister Adel Fakeih said in a press statement on Wednesday night following a tour to inspect the readiness of the field and emergency facilities.

Nearly 22,000 medics, paramedics, and administrators are here to provide healthcare services at 182 healthcare facilities. Around 60 percent of those are Saudis from different parts of the Kingdom.

Praying in Grand Mosques Mecca

The facilities include 25 hospitals with 5,250 beds, and 157 primary healthcare centers at the holy sites in Makkah, Madinah, Mina, Muzdalifah and Arafat.

Tariq Al-Arnoos, the commander of the field and emergency medicine fleet at the Haj, said that the Health Ministry has mobilized around 157 ambulances at the holy sites for emergencies, including overcrowding, fires, and unexpected rains.

Mina›s tent city, which is in a valley, comes to life only during the five days of Haj. The fire-resistant tents remain in place throughout the year. (arabnews)

The virtue of Hajj And Umrah

by

Shaikh Abdullah bin Abdul al-Azhim Khalafi

From Abu Hurayrah radi anhu, that the Prophet sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam said:

العمرة إلى العمرة كفارة لما بينهما, والحج المبرور ليس له جزاء إلا الجنة.

"Umrah to Umrah is a sin between them, and the pilgrimage Mabrur no reward for it than Paradise." [1]

From Ibn Mas'ud radi 'anhu, that the Prophet sallallaahu' alaihi wa sallam said:

تابعوا بين الحج والعمرة فإنهما ينفيان الفقر والذنوب, كما ينفي الكير خبث الحديد والذهب والفضة, وليس للحجة المبرورة ثواب إلا الجنة.

"Iringilah between Hajj and Umrah for both abolish sin and indigence, as fire blower removes dirt (rust) iron, gold and silver, and there is no reward for Hajj Mabrur but Heaven." [2]

From Abu Hurayrah, he said, "I heard the Prophet sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam said:

من حج لله عزوجل فلم يرفث ولم يفسق رجع كيوم ولدته أمه.

'Whoever performs Hajj sincere for Allah Almighty without cruel and kefasiqan, then he returned without sin as the time he was born by his mother.' "[3]

From Ibn 'Umar' anhuma, from the Prophet sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam, he said:

الغازي في سبيل الله والحاج والمعتمر, وفد الله, دعاهم فأجابوه. وسألوه فأعطاهم.

"People who fight for Allah and those who go for Hajj and Umrah, is the delegation of God. (when) God's call to them, then they fulfill His calling. And (when) they asked Him, then God granted (their request). "[4]

Hajj Umrah Along Liability To Do It Once In a Lifetime, For Every Muslim, Baligh, intelligent, Freedom And Able

Word of Allah Ta'ala:

إن أول بيت وضع للناس للذي ببكة مباركا وهدى للعالمين فيه آيات بينات مقام إبراهيم ومن دخله كان آمنا ولله على الناس حج البيت من استطاع إليه سبيلا ومن كفر فإن الله غني عن العالمين

"Verily, the first house built for the (place of worship) is the man who was in Bakkah Baitullah (Mecca) blessed and a guidance for all mankind. Him there are signs of real, (among) the station of Abraham; whoever entered it (Baitullah's) men-so he was safe; pilgrimage is the duty of man to God, that is (for) people are able to travel to the House. Whoever denies (hajj obligations), Allah Rich, (does not require anything) of the Worlds. "[Ali 'Imran: 96-97]

From Abu Hurayrah, he said, the Prophet sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam berkhutbah in our midst, he said:

أيها الناس قد فرض الله عليكم الحج فحجوا, فقال رجل: أكل عام, يا رسول الله? فسكت, حتى قالها ثلاثا, ثم قال صلى الله عليه وسلم: لو قلت نعم, لوجبت, ولما استطعتم. ثم قال: ذروني ما تركتكم, فإنما هلك من كان قبلكم بكثرة سؤالهم واختلافهم على أنبيائهم, فإذا أمرتكم بشيء فأتوا منه ما استطعتم, وإذا نهيتكم عن شيء فدعوه.

"It is obligatory upon you the pilgrimage, then pay the poor (the pilgrimage)." Then there is a saying, "Do every year, O Messenger of Allah?" Then he was silent until the person to say it three times, then the Prophet sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, "If I say yes, will undoubtedly become a liability and surely you will not be able to (carry)." Then he said, "let me as I let you. Surely that destroyed the people before you is a lot to ask and a lot of them at odds with the Prophet. If I ordered something to you, then perform your as best you guys. And when I forbid something, then leave. "[5]

From Ibn 'Umar anhuma, he said, "the Prophet sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam said:

بني الإسلام على خمس, شهادة أن لا إله إلا الله, وأن محمدا رسول الله, وإقام الصلاة, وإيتاء الزكاة, وحج البيت, وصوم رمضان.

"Islam is built on five pillars: (1) testament that there is no god who is entitled diibadahi correctly but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, (2) establish the prayer, (3) practice regular charity, (4) the pilgrimage to the House, and (5) Ramadan fasting. '"[6]

From Ibn 'Abbaas anhuma, he said, "the Prophet sallallaahu' alaihi wa sallam said:

هذه عمرة استمتعنا بها, فمن لم يكن عنده الهدي فليحل الحل كله, فإن العمرة قد دخلت في الحج إلى يوم القيامة.

"It is worship Umrah we have fun with it. Anyone who does not have hadyu (animal sacrifice), then he should bertahallul overall, because worship has entered the Umrah pilgrimage until the Day of Resurrection. "[7]

From Shabi ibn Ma'bad, he said, "I went to 'Umar, and I said to him:

يا أمير المؤمنين, إني أسلمت, وإني وجدت الحج والعمرة مكتوبين علي, فأهللت بهما, فقال: هديت لسنة نبيك.

"O Commander of the Faithful, indeed I had converted to Islam, and I'm sure that myself have compulsory Hajj and Umrah, and then I started working on the second worship. 'Then he said,' You've got-the instructions to implement the Sunnah of your Prophet. '"[8]

[Copied from the book Al-Sunna wal Wajiiz FII Fiqhis Kitaabil Aziiz, Author Shaikh Abdul Azhim Badawai bin al-Khalafi, Indonesia Guide Fiqh Complete Edition, Translators Team Tashfiyah LIPIA - Jakarta, Ibn Kathir Library Publishers, Printed in Ramadan 1428 - September 2007M] (continoe)

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