1.
Assalam o Alaikum,
May Allah bless you all Haj e Mabroor.There
are certain practical things that can be considered for Haj Journey.
Be Patient on each and every step. Haj is a journey of Sabr and also a test of
Sabr....................BE READY FOR IT........
GATES OF MASJID E HARAM (Mosque of kaba ARE APPROX
100
3.
There
are nearly hundred gates in Masjid of Kaba Always keep remember the gates of
entry in Makkah and Madeenah,if you make exit from a wrong gate you may have to
travel 1-2 km extra apart from risk of forgetting exact road leading to your
Hotel.
4.
It
is reported that at the time of first sight of Kaba whatever dua is made is
accepted insha Allah.The best gate for this purpose is 84 and 85, You will be
able to see Kaba after coming very close and better prepared for Dua. As for
some of the gates like Malik Fahad (79) Kaba is visible even from outside you
may not be prepared for dua there.
Red and Green lighting on Gates
5.
On
all gates there are Lighting so if it is Green means entry is going on from the
gate.If it is red it means that portion is already filled and You shoul chose
another gate.If you will not keep in mind this simple fact after much effort
you will reach the gate and will find it as no entry permission and while
returning you will face another set of people moving towards gate.Really
difficult situation.
LIFT SERVICES
1.
In
Kaba very big big series of lifts are at 3 Places
A.
At
Safa entry (Biggest and Lest crowded very near to Gate no 5. Most of the people
do not know that entry point.Find always free.)
B.
Near
gate No 1 (straight to road coming from Azizia, very busy you have to wait for
long)
C.
At
Marwa (Very big lifts but at rear side not prominent so many people are not
aware)
Wheelchairs/Services for older
people.
Following
Options are their.
A.
Free
wheelchairs are given from Masjid e Haram (Its office is on Marwa sided near
the birth place building of beloved Prophet Sallallahu Alahi Wasallam) for
Tawaf and Saee on production of ID card.Period closer to Hajj getting may be
difficult
B.
Near
Safa at first floor very comfortable Motorised Wheelchairs are available for
Tawaf for 50 Riyals/tawaf (7 circles).If you have money it is best option. It
is very user friendly anyone can drive.
C.
From
the Youth Society of Makkah some 50 youth remain available for free service
with wheelchairs for Saee only. There office is near Safa at first floor. You
have to get a token for this.
D.
Buy
your own wheelchairs if some relative is topull it.It is Available in nearly
300 Riyals.You can bring it back home flight without any charge or else may
donate to Masjid e Haram.
Last option for
wheelchair with caution please
E.
Not
a good option is to hire someone for pulling Wheelchairs. There normal charges
are 50-100 Riyals for Tawaf and Saee. But most of them exploit Hajis and
sometimes near Hajj they may charge upto 500 Riyals.
Mina (8th Zilhijjah 1st
day of Haj)
1.
Don’t
be haste in catching buses from Makkah to Mina.There are enough buses Just wait
patiently last buses have less passengers and jorney will be very smooth.
2.
Remember
Your Kheema No and always keep entry pass for kheema with you, They will check
entry passes.On back of pass plz note your Road no and nearest Pole number.
3.
Don’t
carry much food items to Mina.Enough food is supplied in Mina kheema by Muallim.
In some kheemah full lunch and dinner. In some heavy snacks/Bread items.Apart
from this food of your choices are available at slightly higher prices than
Makkah.
4.
Keep
Jug/Mug with you for Wuzu. At the time of rush you will realise its importance.
Caution at Mina....................
You may face an unfortunate controversy and discussion their about Rikat of Salat
wheather to do Qasar or not.There are two views.My request is that before going to Mina you should ask Alim and do
accordingly instead of making unwanted controversy their. This place and time
is for dua and making strong connection with Allah and not for these minor
issues.
First Opinion: The rikats will depend on wheather the person is Musafir
or not if he is Not Musafir he will read full Namaz. If he is Musafir will do qasar
(2 rikats for zuhar asar and Isha).
Second Opinion:Irrespective of any thing in Mina you have to do Qasar.Their
argument is as prophet SAW in His Haj did Qasar so we will do.
The one group of scholar say that prophet did it because he was
Musafir and not only Mina in whole journey he performed Qasar. He started
journey on 24th of zeeqadah afer offering 4 rikats Zuhar at Madeena
and reached Zulhalaifa by Asar and performed only 2 rikats Asar even in
Zulhalaifa,so his Qasar was because he was Musafir throughout journey and not
because of Mina.
Arafat(On 9th
Zilhijja 2nd day of Hajj)
1.You will be brought from Mina by Muallim.Again not be in
haste.Make your bag as light as possible because next morning you are returning
Mina kheema and you may have to travel Arafat to Muzdalifah and to Mina on
foot.(I don’t know Metro arrangement it is startig this year)
2.Full lunch with snacks/Juices,drinking water will be
provided by Muallim. No need to carry on.
3.Jabale Rahmat is very crowdy place that day.Those with
family should not try for going there.Return will be difficult.
4. Do dua as much as possible prophet has done dua for nearly
4-5 hours.Utilise maximum this time please remember me also in your dua.
MUZDALIFAH(Night
between 9th and 10th )
4.On 9th Zilhijjah After Maghrib time you have to
go to Muzdalifah without performing Maghrib.Distance is 6-7 Km.(Metro is expected to run from this
year, insha Allah will be an easy affiar. I have no Idea about metro
arrangement.)
5.If Metro is not available buses are not a good option for
those who can walk 6-7 km.Sometimes buses may not reach even upto Fajir as it
becomes complete road block.
6. An special 100-150 meter wide Pedestrian only road is
there connecting Arafat to Muzdalifah. It is having enough drinking water and
toilets facilities all along.Both free and priced food items are available.So
many people will distribute Juice,water,Biryani for free.Stopping in between
you will easily reach in 2-3 hours.
7. This road goes upto Makkah passing through Mina. (Portion
from Mina to Makkah is shaded also).
Muzdalifah to
Mina(After Fajir on 10th Zilhijjah)
1.
No
bus arrangement practically works because of crowd and rush. All the 30-40
lakhs HAJIS are moving towards Mina at the same time. Don’t expect any vehicle.Even if you get it
will not be able to reach your kheema b/z of road block. For older people prior
arrangement of Wheelchairs should be done. If you remember Mina location by
noting
a.
Road
Number and Name (eg.Shauqul Arab 62)
b.
Nearest
Pole no (eg Pole numbering on road no 62 will be 62/1,62/2,62/3…..suppose you
kheema is near pole number 25 it will be written on pole as 62/25)
c.
kheema
no
d.
Muallim
no (Some Muallim has A and B also)
2.
Saudi
police/Volunteer does not know English at all not even right/left so even if
they try they may not help you. Volunteers from your country may be available
at some places. I have personal observation of Indian volunteers their role is
superb. So if you get them contact them.They will lead you correctly.
3.
Your
kheemah in Minah is Some 3-4 km from Muzdalifah. If you are luccky enough to
reach Muzdalifah in time at night may stay at Mina end of Muzdalifah and will
be easy to reach camp in Mina.
4.
Arafat-Muzdalifah-Mina
journey gives some glimpse of sacrifices otherwise Hajj nowadays is very
comfortable. So bear the difficulties with Sabr for the sake of Allah. Your
patience will be tested here.(Metro is also expected on this year.I have no
idea about it.)
FOUR THINGS TO DO ON 10TH
Zilhijjah in this order, Order is very important
1. Stoning of Shaitan
2. Qurbani
3. Shaving of head/cutting nearly 1 inch for ladies
4. Tawaf e Ziyarat at Kaba
JAMARAT (stoning on 10
th zilhijja 3 rd day of Hajj Ist work)
1. Arrangements are very excellent, Insha Allah will be smooth
affiars, Avoid going in large groups and avoid coming closer to big groups.
2. Those who are with women and older people should adjust
stoning time carefully. In stoning if center place looks crowdy go to rear end
of shaitan pillar
3.Please don’t break any arrangement there and co operate
with police obey their routes and commands.
Qurbani (Sacrifical) 2nd
work on 10 zilhijjah
Never give money to untrusted people.There are cheaters/touts
are. You May opt any one of the Following options
1.
Their
are Quran Madarsas in Makkah run by Ulemas. Some of them may have connection
with your country also like for indian subcontinent Madarsa Saulatia,some other
are their, So no language problem. Advantage
A.
You
may tell your stoning time and they may adjust sacrificial time accordingly. So
keeping order of 4 work is easy.
B.
Rate
will be less, In 2011 Haj it was 330 Riyals
where others rate upto 450.
2.
You
can get coupon in Makkah/Madeena and it will be done by government agency.Big
big sacrificial plants are there for this purpose. It is good arrangement but
you have to adjust your stoning time,they will give you time of sacrificial
their will be no change in it.
3.
Saudi
Government has made arrangement that you can buy animal at Mina itself and can
sacrifices it at places specified for them, No idea about rates and all
obviously a time taking process difficult for those who are with elderly
people.
Shaving head(3rd Work)
1.
Best
option is to have own hair cutter, not only for saving money but on health
ground also. It will be utilised for Umrah shaving before and after Hajj.
2.
There
are officially specified Barbers but not very near. Most of the people get
shaved in kheema by untrained people who are actually laborers. Obviously not a
good practice.
3.
At
least insist them to change blade
after each shave.
Mina to Makkah for
Tawaf e Ziyarat.
1. Those who can walk 6-7 km for them
pedestrian tunnel road is best option.
2. Going to Makkah itself may not be a
very smooth affairs,have patience. Timing is very important for those who are
with older people. Best time is night after Isha.
3. Government Buses are their at low
charges only but difficult to get. Private buses will charge 20-30 Riyals.
4. In Tawaf for older people you may
utilize wheel chair services as written above.
Returning to Mina after Tawaf e
Ziyarat.
Insha Allah
you will get government buses from bus stand. You may visit your Hotel for
bathing etc.
11th and 12th
zilhijjah
Only work is
stoning after Zawal on both day. Timing important for older people.
One Rumour/Misconception about 12 th
zilhijja
Among Hajis
all here is a misconception that you have to leave Mina on 12th
zilhijjah before sunset………….
Aother
Rumour that kheemah will be removed, no water supply ……these all are
shaitan/Iblees rumour…………
Everything
will be there even AL BAKE chicken Broast and Nutgets will be available, At
least 1 lakh Haji will be still there in Mina on 12th Night,
Sunnah and Correct position …….
Prophet
Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam stayed there on 12th and after zawal on
13th zilhijjah he stoned shaitan and then returned to Makkah. This
suunah is becoming dead. We should strive to revive this sunnah………………
An exemption has become a
Misconception……..
Actually
there is an exemption that if you want it is permissible to return from Mina after
stoning of 12th zilhizzah…….this is not rule/sunnah but a exemption……
but in that case you have to leave Mina boundary before sunset…….. If you
crossed sunset time and still in Mina boundary now it will become obligatory to
stay night and to stone after zawal on 13th ………………………….This has been
wrongly projected/Rumoured that you have to leave Mina on 12th
before sunset…….. I have personally seen people running in hurry/fear to be out
from Mina boundary like Jungle fire is chasing them on 12th
evening…..
Advantage of staying on 12th
Night and 13th stoning.
1.
You
are not only doing a sunnah but also reviving a sunnah that is becoming dead,
so will get Reward equal to 100 Shaheed .
2.
If
you are returning on 12th ,stoning will be after zawal your turn may
come even at 2-3 P.M, so much rush will be there, very difficult journey from
Mina to makkah. People will tell you their stories of difficulty after reaching
Hotel. Most of them do not get any vehicle.
3.
If
you will go on 13th Muallim buses will be there at your kheema
doorstep. Very smooth Journey.
4.
You
have gone for Hajj why you will leave a Sunnah, you are totally free,no work
even at Hotel,so why you are leaving it.
General Instruction
At Hotel
Alhamdulillah
arrangements by Haj committee is very good. For any difficulty at hotel please
report to nearest Haj office.Indian Haj Mission office are vey responsive. But very few go to report
them. So instead of criticisig Haj committee and making gossip in hotel please
report them. They have good mechanism for redressal of your problems. I have
personal experience.Even vicecounsel Haj gave personal visiting card and
eagerly welcomed any suggestion/complains.So report properly instead of
criticising them.
Money
Be
careful about your money but situation is not as grave as being projected by
some people. Have hidden pockets in cloths.Keep rest money in Hotel room
locked. Some locker facilities are also avalaible enquire about them at Haj
mission office.
Genuine/Fake presenting as
Hajis,asking help
If you find anyone presenting himself as Haji and telling that his money
has been stolen and asking for help,Allah knows he is genuine or fake so, if
you want you can help him even if he is fake,You will get reward for your
Niyah.
Otherwise Refer him to Haj mission.I don’t know about other countries but
Indian Haj mission has special fund for this purpose. After due investigation
if case is genuine they will give some emergency relief and finally may give
compensation also.
Similarly if you luggage got misplaced your airlines is responsible for
compensation.These detail you can see from Haj committee instructions.
Criticism/Backbutting of Haj
committees and authorities.
1.
Inspite
of very good arrangement of Saudi Government and Haj committes of different
countries there are something beyond control. Specially crowds in Tawaf and
Just after prayers apart from Mina Muzdalifah and Arafat.
2.
Bear
difficulty with patience,Don’t do backbitting,abusig authorities/Haj committees. You are the guest
of Allah, ask Allah for any difficulty.
3.
Kindly
requesting for dua in your prayers specially in your Haj journey.
JAZAKALLAH
