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There are approximately 35 verses in the holy Quran which dwell
directly on the Haj as one of the pillars of Islam and its rites
and rituals.In 1426H (2006AD) as we prepare to perform the
1418th Islamic Haj, we ought to remember that during the course
of 23 years of the revelation of the holy Quran, including these
verses on the Haj, the Prophet (pbuh) of Islam had at no time
availed himself of the major pilgrimage of Haj. He is
recorded to have performed Umrah though. In the 9th Hijri he
deputed his foremost companion Abu Bakr to lead the Haj and
ordered Ali Ibn Abi Talib to join the former to announce
that the House of Allah would no longer be allowed to be
defiled with the abominations of the idolaters and their kind of
worship. Ali carried out the order; he was heard at Arafat both
by Muslims and Idolaters. Then it happened as prophesied: there
were no Unbelievers around when the Prophet of Islam led the Haj
himself the following year.
The Haj would since be unlike any
that had taken place for hundreds of years: the pilgrims would
all be worshippers of the one God, and no idolater would
desecrate the Holy House with the performance of any heathen
rites. Obviously, the Prophet (pbuh) had envisioned it so and it
was destined to be so. Another prophetic part of this decision
was the revelation that year at Arafah ( Yawm-al-Wuquf) of
the last passage which completed the Quran: This day the
disbelievers despair of prevailing against your religion, so
fear them not, but fear Me! This day have I perfected for you
your religion and fulfilled my Favour unto you, and it had been
My good pleasure to choose Islam for you as your religion.
The
Farewell Haj was the holy Prophet's final public act and,
therefore, it appeared to have been ordained he was to
personally teach the newly organised ummat about the finer
points of the Islamic rites and rituals associated with
the Haj. The Prophet (pbuh) was clear about the conclusion of
Allah’s message through him and he himself chose to institute
and establish its practice down to the minutest detail.
The
following verses say it all:
Remember We made the House a place of assembly for people and a
place of safety; and take ye the Station of Abraham as a place
of prayer; and We covenanted with Abraham and Ismail, that they
should sanctify My House for those who Compass it round, or use
it as a retreat, or bow, or prostrate themselves (therein in
prayer). And remember Abraham said: “My Lord, make this a
City of Peace, and feed its People with fruits, – such of them
as believe in Allah and the Last Day.” He said: “(Yea), and such
as reject Faith,-for a while will I grant them their pleasure,
but will soon drive them to the torment of Fire,- an evil
destination (indeed)!” And remember Abraham and Ismail raised
the foundations of the House (with this prayer: “Our Lord!
Accept (this service) from us: for Thou art the All- Hearing,
the All-Knowing. “Our Lord! Make of us Muslims, bowing to Thy
(Will), and of our progeny apeople Muslim, bowing to Thy (Will);
And show us our places for the celebration of (due) rites: for
Thou art the Oft-Relenting Most Merciful. (125-128, Surah
Baqarah)
“And proclaim the Pilgrimage among men: they will come to thee
on foot and (mounted) on every camel, lean (on account of
journeys) through deep and distant mountain highways; “That they
may witness the benefits (provided for them, and celebrate the
name of Allah, through the Days appointed, over the cattle which
He has provided for them (for sacrifice): then eat ye thereof
and feed the distressed ones in want. “Then let them complete
the rites prescribed for them, fulfill their vows, and (again)
circumambulate the Ancient House.
Such (is the Pilgrimage):
whoever honours the sacred rites of Allah, for him it is good in
the sight of his Lord. Lawful to you (for food in Pilgrimage)
are cattle, except those mentioned to you (as exceptions): so
shun the abomination of idols, and shun the word that is false.
Being true in faith to Allah, and never assigning partners to
Him: if anyone assigns partners to Allah, he is as if he had
fallen from heaven and been snatched up by birds, or the wind
had swooped (like a bird on its prey) and thrown him into a
far-distant place. Such (is his state): and whoever holds in
honour the rites of Allah, (in the sacrifice of animals), such (honour)
should come truly from piety of heart. In them ye have benefits
for a term appointed: in the end their
place of sacrifice is near the Ancient House.
To every people
did we appoint rites (of sacrifice), that they might celebrate
the name of Allah over the sustenance He gave them from animals
(fit for food). But your God is One God: submit then your wills
to Him (in Islam): and give thou the good news to those who
humble themselves-, To those whose hearts, when Allah is
mentioned, are filled with fear, who show patient
perseverance over their afflictions, keep up regular prayer, and
spend (in charity) out of what we have bestowed upon them. The
sacrificial camels we have made for you as among the signs from
Allah: in them is (much) good for you: then pronounce the name
of Allah over them as they line up (for sacrifice). When they
are down on their sides (after slaughter), eat ye thereof, and
feed such as (beg not but) live in contentment, and such as
beg with due humility: thus have we made animals subject to you,
that ye may be grateful. It is not their meat nor their blood
that reaches Allah: it is your piety that reaches Him: He has
thus made them subject to you, that ye may glorify Allah for His
guidance to you: and proclaim the Good News to all who do good.
(27-37, Surah Al-Hajj) The first House (of worship) appointed
for men was that at Bakka: full of blessing and of guidance for
all the worlds.
In it are Signs manifest; the Station of Abraham;
whoever enters it attains security; Pilgrimage thereto is a duty
men owe to Allah,- those who can afford the journey; but if any
deny faith, Allah stands not in need of any of His creatures.
(96-97, Surah Aal-Imran) They ask thee concerning the New
Moons. Say: They are but signs to mark fixed periods of time in
(the affairs of) people. And for Pilgrimage. It is no virtue if
ye enter your houses from the back: it is virtue if ye fear
Allah, Enter houses through the proper doors: and fear Allah:
that ye may prosper. (189, Surah Baqarah) For Hajj are the
months well known. If any one undertakes that duty therein, let
there be no obscenity, nor wickedness, nor wrangling in the
Hajj. And whatever good ye do, (be sure) Allah knoweth it. And
take a provision (with you) for the journey, but the best of
provisions is right conduct. So fear Me, O ye that are wise. It
is no crime in you if ye seek of the bounty of your Lord (during
pilgrimage). Then when ye pour down from (Mount) ‘Arafat,
celebrate the praises of Allah at the Sacred Monument, and
celebrate His praises as He has directed you, even though,
before this, ye went astray.Then return from the place whence it
is usual for the multitude so to do, and ask for Allah’s
forgiveness, Most Merciful. So when ye have accomplished your
rites, celebrate the praises of Allah, as ye used to celebrate
the praises of your fathers, Yea, with far more heart and
soul.
There are men who say: “Our Lord! Give us (Thy bounties)
in this world!” But they will have no portion in the Hereafter.
And there are men who say: “Our Lord! Give us Good in this world
and Good in the Hereafter. And save us from the torment of the
fire!” To these will be allotted what they have earned; and
Allah is quick in account. Remember Allah during the appointed
Days, but if any one hastens to leave in two days, there is no
blame on him, and if any one stays on, there is no blame on him,
if his aim is to do right. Then fear Allah, and know that ye
will surely be gathered unto Him. (197-203, Surah Baqarah) And
complete the Hajj or ‘Umra in the service of Allah, but if ye
are prevented (from completing it), send an offering for
sacrifice, such as ye may find, and do not shave your heads
until the offering reaches the place of sacrifice. And if
any of you is ill, or has an ailment in his scalp,
(necessitating shaving), (he should) in compensation either
fast, or feed the poor, or offer sacrifice; and when ye are in
peaceful conditions (again), if any one wishes to continue the
‘Umra on to the Hajj, he must make an offering such as he can
afford, but if he cannot afford it, he should fast three days
during the Hajj. And seven days on his return, making ten days
in all. This is for those whose household is not in (the
precincts of) the Sacred Mosque. And fear Allah. And know that
Allah is strict in punishment. (196, Surah Baqarah) Behold! Safa
and Marwa are among the Symbols of Allah.
So if those who visit
the House in the Season or at other times, should compass them
round, it is no sin in them. And if any one obeyeth his own
impulse to Good,- be sure that Allah is He Who recogniseth and
knoweth. (158, Surah Baqarah) O ye who believe! Kill not game
while in the Sacred precincts or in the state of pilgrimage. If
any of you doth so intentionally, the compensation is an
offering, brought to the Ka’ba, of a domestic animal equivalent
to the one he killed. As adjudged by two just men among you; or
by way of atonement, the feeding of the indigent; or its
equivalent in fasts: that he may taste of the penalty of his
deed. Allah forgives what is past: for repetition Allah will
punish him for Allah is Exalted, and Lord of Retribution. Lawful
to you is the pursuit of water-game and its use for food,-for
the benefit of yourselves and those who travel; but forbidden is
the pursuit of landgame:- as long as ye are in the Sacred
Precincts or in the state of pilgrimage and fear Allah, to Whom
ye shall be gathered back.Allah made the Ka’ba the Sacred
House, a means of support for people, as also the Sacred Months,
the animals for offerings, and the garlands that mark them: that
ye may know that Allah hath knowledge of what is in the heavens
and
on earth and that Allah is well acquainted with all things.
(95-97, Surah Al- Mayedah) And an announcement from Allah and
His Messenger, to the people (Assembled) on the day of the Great
Pilgrimage - that Allah and His Messenger dissolve (treaty)
obligations with the Pagans. If then, ye repent, it were best
for you; but if ye turn away, know ye that ye cannot frustrate
Allah, and proclaim a grievous chastisement to those who reject
Faith. (3, Surah Al-Taubah) Do ye consider the giving of drink
to pilgrims, or the maintenance of the Sacred Mosque, equal to
(the pious service of) those who believe in Allah and the Last
Day, and strive with might and main in the cause of Allah? They
are not equal in the sight of Allah: and Allah guides not those
who do wrong. (19, Surah
Al-Taubah). O ye who believe! Truly the Pagans are unclean; so
let them not, after this year of theirs, approach the Sacred
Mosque. And if ye fear poverty, soon will Allah enrich you, if
He wills, out of His bounty, for Allah is All-Knowing,
All-Wise.(28, Surah Al-Taubah) O ye who believe! Fulfill
(all) obligations. Lawful unto you (for food) are all beasts of
cattle with the exceptions named: but animals of the chase are
forbidden while ye are in the Sacred Precincts or in the state
of pilgrimage. For Allah doth command according to His will and
Plan.
O ye who believe! Violate not the sanctity of the rites of
Allah, nor of the Sacred Month, nor of the animals brought for
sacrifice, nor the garlands that mark out such animals, nor the
people resorting to the Sacred House, seeking of the
bounty and good pleasure of their Lord. But when ye are clear of
the Sacred Precincts and let not the hatred of some people in
(once) shutting you out of the Sacred Mosque lead you to
transgression (and hostility on your part). Help ye one another
in righteousness and piety, but help ye not one another in sin
and rancour: fear Allah: for Allah is strict in punishment.
(1-2, Surah Al-Mayedah) Pilgrimage for Purification and
Integration And the Hadith records: ) ( Allah has enjoined the
Haj on you, so perform Haj. (from Muslim). THE Haj has since
become incumbent upon all Muslims provided they are healthy,
sane, mature, and un-indebted, endangered neither by war nor
epidemic, and have the means both to make the journey and to
support any dependents left behind. As a concentrated expression
of Islam, the Haj as defined by the Prophet of Islam has
preserved in ritual form not only the profound evocation of the
ancient impulse that has given birth to religion but also
broadened the context of the Haj ceremonies, linking them and
their Makkan sites to the legends of the Prophets – Adam, Hawwa,
Ibrahim, Hajirah and Ismael. The Yawm-al-Wuquf (the Day of
Standing Together before God) which is like a yearly rehearsal
for the Day of Judgment assumes both spiritual and physical
connotations which defy the fertile human imagination.
Being one
of mankind's most enduring pilgrimages, the Haj is a journey is
at the centre of its practice and its roots reach back to the
distant city of Makkah. The territory of Makkah is barren and
rocky. As you enter a prayer for the prosperity of Makkah
therefore includes a prayer for the good things of material
life.On the appointed dates of Haj every year over two million
Muslims from all parts of the globe come together to constitute
the largest single gathering in one place at one time for one
purpose on Earth. The point of this journey has always been the
same - to detach a representative number of people from their
homes and, by bringing them to Islam's birthplace, to emphasize
the unity of all human beings before their Creator. The Haj's
first requirement is to arrive on time, to keep an appointment
with the Creator and the community of believers. Once in Makkah,
it is a collective celebration and an intensely personal
experience, the religious apex of a Muslim's life. The
foundation of Ka’ba, the House of Allah, goes back to Abraham.
Its character was fourfold: (1) it was the center to which all
the Arab tribes resorted for trade; for poetic contests, and for
worship (2) it was sacred territory, and was respected by friend
and foe alike.
At all seasons, all fighting was and is
forbidden within its limits, and even arms are not allowed to be
carried, and no game or other thing is allowed to be killed. Makkah was recognized by Arab custom as inviolable for the
pursuit of revenge; (3) it was the place of prayer; (4) it must
be held pure and sacred for all purposes. The root ‘ salama’ in
the word Islam implies, among other ideas, the idea of Peace and
therefore when Makkah is the city of Islam, it is also City of
Peace. The same root occurs in the latter part of the name
Jerusalem, the Jewish City of Peace. When the day of Jerusalem
passed, Makkah became the “New Jerusalem”-or rather the old and
original “City of Peace” restored and made universal. The House
is referred to as “My House,” to emphasize the personal relation
of Allah, the One True God, to it, and repudiate the Polytheism
which defiled the Ka’ba with idols, until it was sanctified
again by the purity of Muhammad’s life and teaching. In his
supplication upon seeing the Ka’ba, the Prophet prayed: O God,
increase this House in the honour and magnification and bounty
and reverence and piety that it receiveth from mankind!” The
holy Quran enumerates four rites, which have now acquired a
technical meaning: (1) Tawaf (2) Itikaf or retiring to the place
as a spiritual retreat for contemplation and prayer (3)
Ruku and (4) Sujud.
The protection of the holy territory is the
concern of all, but special cleanliness and purity is required
for the sake of the devotees who undertake these rites.
The integrative power of this journey attracts Muslims to the
heartland of Islam and Makkah is a principal part of
speech in a sacred language. As a reminder of how life ought to
be lived, the journey has inspired peasants, princes, mystics
and revolutionaries. For these reasons, it represents a literal
trip of a lifetime. Nevertheless, it is important to understand
that the pilgrimage is not just a matter of traveling to Makkah.
"Arrival is", as Michael Wolfe puts it, "only a beginning. The
Haj itself is a protean event composed of many stages, each one
marked by a collective rite. Changing its shape and purpose day
by day, the ceremony does not take place so much as it unfolds,
first in a city, then on a desert, becoming by turns a circle
dance, a spiritual racecourse, a procession, a camping trip in
the dunes, an athletic event, a trade fair and a walking
meditation. It is a kind of Muslim United Nations, too, in which
people from around the world collaborate and even live
together".
This General Assembly of Islam takes place at the
holy baitu Allah where the code of Ihraam relieves the pilgrim
of his worldly burden and restores his human innocence even if
that may last the seven rounds around the holy Kaaba, where for
a brief spell he dances along with the galaxies – always
anticlockwise. The Haj is the complete pilgrimage, of
which the chief rites are performed during the first
twelve or thirteen days of the month of Zul Hijja. The intending
pilgrim commences by putting on a simple garment of unsewn cloth
in two pieces when he is some distance yet from Makkah (Meeqat).
The putting on of the ihram is symbolical of his renouncing the
vanities of the world. After this and until the end of the
pilgrimage he must not wear other clothes or ornaments, anoint
his hair, use perfumes, hunt or do other prohibited acts. The
completion of the pilgrimage is symbolised by the shaving of the
head for men and the cutting off of a few locks of the hair of
the head for women, the putting off of the ihram and the
resumption of the ordinary dress. Having once undertaken the
pilgrimage, it must be completed; not for worldly ends, but as a
symbol of service and worship to Allah. If we are prevented, for
any reason, from completing the rites, a sacrifice should be
offered where the prevention took place.
It any one is taken ill
after putting on the ihram, so that he has to put on other
clothes, or if he has trouble or skin disease and he has to
shave his head before completion, he should fast three days or
feed the poor or offer sacrifice. Hunting and the use of game
are forbidden “while ye are hurumun,” i.e., while ye are (1) in
the Sacred Precincts, or (2) in the special state of Ihram. The
Sacred Precincts are sanctuary both for men and the beast. Apart
from the protection or immunity enjoyed by the pilgrims, the
immunity from attack or interference extended to the animals
brought as offerings for sacrifice makes them as sacred symbols.
The animals are useful in many ways to man. But if they are used
for sacrifice, they become symbols by which men show that they
are willing to give up some of their own benefits for the sake
of satisfying the needs of their poorer brethren. This is the
true end of sacrifice, not propitiation of higher powers, for
Allah is One, and He does not delight in flesh or blood, but a
symbol of thanksgiving to Allah by sharing meat with fellow-men.
The solemn pronouncement of Allah’s name over the sacrifice is
an essential part of the rite. Allah will accept in us the
sacrifice of self for the benefit of our fellow-men. No one
should suppose that meat or blood is acceptable to the One True
God. It was a Pagan fancy that Allah could be appeased by blood
sacrifice. But Allah does accept the offering of our hearts, and
as a symbol of such offer, some visible institution is
necessary.
He has given us power over the brute creation, and
permitted us to eat meat, but only if we pronounce His name at
the solemn act of taking life, for without this solemn
invocation, we are apt to forget the sacredness of life. By the
invocation we are reminded that wanton cruelty is not in our
thoughts, but only the need of food. Now if we further deny
ourselves the greater part of the food for the sake of our
poorer brethren in solemn assembly in the precincts of the Haram,
our symbolic act finds practical expression in benevolence, and
that is the virtue sought to be taught. Rites and ceremonies may
appear to be an unimportant matter compared with the higher
needs of man’s spiritual nature. But they are necessary for
social and religious organization, and their effect on the
individual himself is not to be despised. In any case, as they
are visible external symbols, they give rise to the most heated
controversies. Such controversies are to be deprecated. That
does not mean that our rites and ceremonies are to be made light
of. Those in Islam rest on the highest social and religious
needs of man. Self in the Sea of Seekers Towards the end of the
Pilgrimage the crowd is very great, and if any people loitered
after ‘Arafat, it would cause great confusion and inconvenience.
The pace has therefore to be quick for every one, a very
salutary regulation. Every member of the crowd must think of the
comfort and convenience of the whole mass. All virtue proceeds
from the love and fear of Allah.
We are warned that we must not
allow our selfish passions to carry us away, because it is in
such times of stress that our spirit is tested. We are also
warned against the pitfalls that we must avoid in a large
concourse of people. When at Sundown after a day of supplication
and meditation at Arafah, the holy Prophet rode his camel with
Usamah mounted behind him to leave for Muzdalifah, his fellow
pilgrims rushed to follow him. But at the very first signs of
excess he cried out: “Gently, gently! In quietness of soul! And
let the strong amongst you have a care for the weak!” In case
the pilgrim has spent his money, he is shown what he can do,
rich or poor, and yet holds his head high among his fellows, as
having performed all rites as prescribed. Legitimate trade is
allowed, in the interests both of the honest trader, who can
thus meet his own expenses, and of the generality of pilgrims,
who would otherwise be greatly inconvenienced for the
necessities of life. The concourse in Makkah added to the
profits of trade and commerce. But the profit must be sought as
from the “bounty of Allah.” There should be no profiteering or
trade tricks. Good honest trade is a form of service to the
community, and therefore to Allah. It is recommended that
pilgrims should come with provisions, so that they should not be
compelled to resort to begging. But, as usual, our thought is
directed at once from the physical to the spiritual. If
provisions are required for a journey on earth, how much more
important is to provide for the final journey into the future
world? The best of such provisions is right conduct, which is
the same as the fear of Allah. Passing from the immediate event
to the general principle, we must not retaliate or return evil
for evil. The hatred of the wicked does not justify
hostility on our part. In his historic sermon, the holy Prophet
prohibited the killing of innocent people, the destruction of
their property and the violation of their honour. We may have to
fight and put down evil, but never in a spirit of malice or
hatred, but always in a spirit of justice and righteousness.
Giving drinks of cold water to thirsty pilgrims, and doing
material services to a mosque are meritorious acts, but they are
only external. If they do not touch the soul, their value is
slight. Far greater, in the sight of Allah, are faith, endeavour,
and self surrender to Allah. Men who practice these will obtain
honour in the sight of Allah. Allah’s light and guidance comes
to them, and not to those self-sufficient beings who think that
a little show of what the world considers piety is enough.
Muslims are enjoined to be strict in cleanliness, as well as in
purity of mind and heart, so that their word can be relied upon.
It we hasten to get all the good things of the world, and only
think of them and pray for them, we would lose the higher things
of the future.
The proper Muslim attitude is neither to renounce
this world nor to be so engrossed in it as to forget the future
life. Allah’s commands are not arbitrary. His Will is the
perfect Archetype or Plan of the world. Everything He wills has
regard to His Plan, in which are reflected His perfect wisdom
and goodness. All sorts of people from all parts of the earth
gather during the Pilgrimage. They must not think that they are
strangers, that nobody knows them, and that they may behave as
they like. It is the House of Allah, and He has supreme
knowledge of all things, of all thoughts, and motives. While He
is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful, He is also strict in enforcing
respect for His ordinances. When the Pilgrimage was proclaimed,
people came to it from every quarter, near and far, on foot and
mounted. The “lean camel” coming after a fatiguing journey
through distant mountain roads typifies the difficulties of
travel, which Pilgrims disregard on account of the temporal and
spiritual benefits. There are benefits both for our material
life as well as for our spiritual life. Of the former kind are
those associated with social intercourse which furthers trade
and increases knowledge. Of the latter kind are the
opportunities of realising some of our spiritual yearnings in
sacred associations that go back to the most ancient times. Of
both kinds may be considered the opportunities which the Haj
provides for strengthening our universal brotherhood.
The
general food prohibitions are meant for health and cleanliness,
but the worst abominations to shun are those of false worship
and false speech. The qualities of Allah’s devotees are: (1)
humility before Allah makes them receptive, and prepares them to
listen to Allah’s Message; (2) fear of Allah, which is akin to
love, touches their heart, and penetrates through their inmost
being; (3) they are not afraid of anything in mortal life; they
take their trials patiently, and go on in a course of
righteousness with constancy; (4) their prayer now is not a
matter of form, but a real communion with Allah, with a sense of
confidence and (5) gratitude to Allah, as shown by practical
acts of charity to all fellow-creatures. The pilgrims who
perform Haj are taking part in a phenomenon that tests the human
family's faith in God. In this sense, the Haj is a journey
through time and space for the purpose of bonding people to the
ethical monotheism of Ibrahim.This dimension of the Haj
penetrates its entire ritual process, connecting the present
moment to the past which is brought to life in full intensity
with a unique dress code and a universal linguistic code. Both
the codes assume a new and uniform dimension as we hear the
soulful incantation of (I respond to Your call, O Allah, I
respond to Your call, and I obey Your orders. You have no
partner, I respond to Your call. All the praises and blessings
are for You). The two codes of the Ihraam and Talbiyya remain
the same for the 'Hindi', the Herzegovinian, the Gambian and the
Guyanese. Talbiyya means to wait in a ready state for an order
or direction.
This ritual choreography and these primitive
looking robes are a living reality. When the Pilgrimage was
proclaimed, people came to it from every quarter, near and far,
on foot and mounted. The “lean camel” coming after a fatiguing
journey through distant mountain roads typifies the difficulties
of travel, which Pilgrims disregard on account of the temporal
and spiritual benefits. On the road to this spiritual
emancipation, Haj is a stage about which the holy Prophet (pbuh)
said: “Whoever performs Haj to this house …and does not commit
sins, he will come out as pure as a newborn child”. This
transcendent state of mind can be achieved only through a
systematic and disciplined purification. Even in the Information
Technology age, Haj remains hard to perform. Emotionally and
physically it is a taxing and rigorous experience. It is this
aspect on which this manual aims to concentrate. Given the
intensity of prayers and the rigour of the time-bound manasiks,
it is imperative to make thorough preparations before embarking
on this tough journey. The preparation for the Haj should
commence immediately on making niyat for performing the
pilgrimage.
This manual has been prepared to assist Trainers who
in turn will advise intending pilgrims in this task. The Meaning
of Ihram The pilgrims must seek guidance and learn about all the
rituals that are essential for the performance of Haj according
to the Maslak they follow. However, it must be known to all,
irrespective of their background, that the Ka'ba is a sacred
house, so are the people who surround it. Whatever the Haji does
here, he must not hurt anyone, not even accidentally. That is
what we mean when we refer to Haram (the sanctuary) and the
hudood-e-Haram (precincts of Haram). Harming anyone in Haram
means the Haj is simply not complete. So do not rush, do not
push. Take it easy and should someone act wildly, simply get out
of the way. Remember that amidst all this apparently
ostentatious public participation in numerous rituals, Haj is
immensely and intensely personal. The Haji is always focused on
personally performing the ritual perfectly. Within the territory
of Haram, it is the Haram law and Ihraam dress that apply. The
conditions of Ihraam and how to wear it ought to be understood.
Even the pilgrim who gets out of the state of Ihraam should
remember that a number of conditions still apply to the Haj
pilgrim and these conditions entail truthfulness, compassion to
fellow beings, good conduct, good thoughts, exemplary behaviour,
desisting from anger and angry outburst, desisting from physical
violence and so on.Ka'ba is not sacred due to some of the
sanctified spots but, rather, because of its symbolic value as a
marker of the Qibla, the direction of prayer.
Ka'ba contains no
relics and is not itself an object of prayer. It rather provides
spiritual focus and symbolizes God's Being at the centre of
creation. Calendar of Haj events The months for the pilgrimage
are well known. The four sacred months, viz. Rajab(7th), Zul
Qadah (11th), Zul Hijjah (12th, the month of Pilgrimage), and
Muharram (1st). Excepting Rajab the other three months are
consecutive. In all these months war was prohibited. That is to
say, the first rites may begin as early as the beginning of
Shawwal, with a definite approach to Makkah but the chief rites
are concentrated on the first ten days of Zul Hijja, and
especially on the 8th, 9th and 10th of that month, when the
concourse of pilgrims reaches its height. The chief rites may be
briefly enumerated: (1) the wearing of the ihram from Meeqat
fixed definitely on all the routes to Makkah.
After this the
pilgrimage prohibitions come into operation and the pilgrim is
dedicated to worship and prayer and the denial of vanities; (2)
the going round the Ka’ba seven times (tawaf), typifying
activity, with the kissing of the little Black Stone built into
the wall, the symbol of concentration in the love of Allah; (3)
after a short prayer at the Station of Abraham, the pilgrim
visits what may be called as station of Ismail (the fountain of
zam zam) followed by running between the hills of Safa and
Marwah, the symbol of patience and perseverance; the running
between the two hills has both spiritual and moral dimensions .
(4) the great Sermon (Khutba) on the 7th of Zul Hijja; on 8th
Zul Hijjah, the whole body of pilgrims moves to the Valley of
Mina (about six miles north of Makkah, where the pilgrims halt
and stay the night; on 9th they proceed to the plain and hill of
‘Arafat, which is also called the Mount of Mercy ( Jabl-e-Rahama)
about five miles further north,; (5) the tenth day, Yaum Nahr,
the day of Sacrifice, when
the sacrifice is offered in the Valley of Mina, the head
is shaved or the hair trimmed, the symbolic ceremony of casting
seven pebbles at the Jamarat is performed on the first occasion
and the Tawaf al-lfada or circumambulation of the Ka’ba is
undertaken: the Rami is continued on subsequent days, both rites
are connected with the story of Abraham. This is the ‘ Id-ul-Adha’
, the ceremony is connected with the rejection of evil in
thought, word, and deed. A stay of two or three days after this
is prescribed: these three days are called Tashriq days. The
Appointed Days: the three days after the tenth, when the
pilgrims stay on in the Valley of Mina for prayer and praise. It
is optional for pilgrims to leave on the second or third day.
PART II
Framework for Haj Management |
The framework within which
the Haj is conducted is governed by the rules and regulations of
the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Indian pilgrims, though significant
in number, are only a small fraction of the total gathering of
the Islamic ummat which performs the pilgrimage. Hence
pilgrims need to adjust and co-operate with the fellow pilgrims.
The Haj entails
a physically taxing daily regimen. During stay in Makkah and
Madinah it would be normal for pilgrims to walk a considerable
distance on foot. Further, the rituals during the core Haj
period involve multiple mass movements in the Mashaer region
within specified timings and therefore demand a willingness to
cope with the physical stress and strain of a magnitude which
pilgrims may not be accustomed to previously. The pilgrim in
advanced age must have a companion accompanying him. Keeping
photocopies of all medical records handy would be useful.
However what is most important is keeping spirits high, having
patience and losing sight of the main goal of the visit i.e. Haj
and immersing oneself in the worship of Allah.
The Role of
Maktabs/Moallims
The regulations
governing the performance of the Haj stipulate that all pilgrims
on arrival in the Kingdom are allocated to “Maktabs” which
provide a number of essential services to them. The “Maktabs”
managed by mutawifeen/moallims appear to have changed with the
passage of time and they do not have any specific religious
roles relating to guiding pilgrims in performance of Haj.
They confine themselves to providing reception services at the
airport, movement of pilgrims to Makkah, their transport in
various parts of the Kingdom including the Mashaer region,
accommodation in Mina and ensuring that pilgrims do not stay
back after the Haj. Pilgrims should be thoroughly briefed about
the role of Moallims.
On arrival the
travel documents of pilgrims are taken over by the Maktab to be
handed over only at the departure terminal. A photo
identification is provided to all pilgrims by the Maktab. This
should be kept carefully and carried at all times during the Haj.
Pilgrims are required to wear a metal bracelet which indicates
their passport number and nationality before getting into the
plane in India. It is an essential means of identification and
should never be taken off, even during bath or wudu.
Pilgrims are not
permitted to travel outside Makkah, Madinah or the Mashaer
region without the permission of their Maktab since their visas
do not permit visits to Jeddah or elsewhere in Saudi Arabia.
Pilgrims who venture to do so face arrest and deportation.
All the Moallims looking
after pilgrims from India belong to South Asian Moassasa which
is the largest Moassassa9 Establishment) and is also called as
Moassasa Janoob Aasia in Arabic.
Air travel between India and the Kingdom
Air India has been
traditionally entrusted with the responsibility of transporting
pilgrims from India to Saudi Arabia with Chartered Flights.
However with the Passage of time the role of the Saudi Arabian
Airlines in transporting pilgrims from India to the Kingdom has
been increasing. All the pilgrims are allotted their flights in
India even for the return phase and should be advised to stick
to the flights allotted..
Pilgrims must come and
return by the allotted flight only. Coming to Saudi Arabia on an
‘out-of-turn’ or on a different flight upsets the management and
administration at the Saudi Arabian end and causes inconvenience
to all. Any request for change in the outbound flight also may
result in disturbing the delicate balance of the Haj management.
However on the basis of genuineness Indian Mission does try to
re-adjust flight schedule for the pilgrims. But one thing should
be clearly informed to the pilgrims that it may not be possible
always to change the flight schedule. The difficulty is more for
the Pilgrims traveling on the Saudi Arabian Airlines. Also it is
not possible to witch over between Saudi Arabian Airlines and
Air India or to change the sector.
Arrival in Madinah/Jeddah
During the flight pilgrims
must fill in the Immigration Forms, which are given by the air
crew. These are required by the Saudi authorities once the
pilgrims reach the kingdom. The help of fellow passengers or the
flight crew can be taken if forms cannot be filled by the
pilgrims themselves. Keep this filled up form inside the pilgrim
pass so that immigration is cleared quickly after landing at
Madinah or Jeddah as the case may be. The pilgrim pass,
immigration card and meningitis certificate should be kept with
the pilgrim. Ladies and gentlemen will be separated at
immigration and, therefore, each person should have the
documents and papers in his/her own custody.
While
disembarking at the Madinah airport or Jeddah Haj Terminal, the
crew will give an extra food packet. This is for consumption
while waiting at the Haj Terminal holding area for the buses
that are to transport pilgrims to Makkah or Madinah as the case
may be. It may take 2 hours at the Madinah airport and 4-5
hours at Jeddah Haj Terminal to complete formalities before
boarding the bus for onward journey to buildings in Madinah and
Makkah respectively. It may take 2 more hours to reach Makkah
from Jeddah Haj terminal.
After deplaning
at Madinah or Jeddah, pilgrims are brought to the waiting hall
and from here they are taken in small batches, separately for
men and women, to the immigration hall. In the waiting hall,
there are toilets which can be used. In the immigration hall if
the immigration card is filled properly there will be no problem
in swift clearance.
At the airport itself the
Mission staff pastes on pilgrim passes details about the
pilgrims, his accommodation cover number etc.
Baggage Handling
The free
check-in baggage allowed to each Indian pilgrim is 45 kgs and 10
kgs of hand baggage. The Indian pilgrim is also entitled to 10
ltrs of zam zam which will be provided by the airlines after
reaching India at the disembarkation point. Therefore, the
pilgrims should not carry zam zam theselves.
It is imperative
that the State Haj Committees ensure the luggage should have
proper identification marks – name, address and the pilgrim pass
number of the pilgrim. This would facilitate easy tracing and
delivery by the Lost Baggage Section in case it gets misplaced
in transit.
Pilgrims should
be discouraged from packing cooking oil, kerosene, flour,
perishable items or potatoes or onions or other stuff that the
customs officials would object to. All food stuffs are readily
available at affordable prices and need not be carried from
India.
If medicines for
personal use are being brought, the doctor's prescription in
original should be brought along with them, otherwise the
medicines will be confiscated. The baggage should not contain
anything prohibited or objectionable under Saudi law (any
alcoholic preparation and intoxicants including Khash Khash).
For anything objectionable in the package the pilgrim will
personally be held responsible. It may be remembered that even
magazines, photographs, books and religious literature as also
audio and video cassettes can be confiscated at the customs.
Ensure that
photocopies of pilgrim pass, Meningitis inoculation certificate,
ticket and other necessary documents like doctor's prescription
are kept in a separate folder in luggage. The original pilgrim
pass, Meningitis vaccination certificate, and other essential
papers should be carried in the hand baggage and this hand
baggage should also be properly marked for identification. The
hand baggage should never be left out of sight.
Only necessary items like pyjamas, kurtas, shirts, lungis,
underwears, slippers, shoes, caps, sweaters, blankets, toilet
mug {lota}, water bottle, soap, toothpaste toothbrush,
comb, socks, handkerchief and such items should be carried.
Remember that Haj-1426 will fall in January. This is a cold
month and hence pilgrims would need to have a sweater and
blanket. Rooms in Makkah and Madinah and the tents in Mina are
all air-conditioned and hence pilgrims may feel cold, especially
during the night. There are no heating arrangements.
Stay in Makkah al Mokarramah
General Information/precautions
All the accommodation is hired as per the norms laid down by the
Haj Committee of India in consultation with the Government of
India and as per regulations of the Government of the Saudi
Arabia. The hiring is done through an elaborate procedure
involving member of the State Haj Committees, Central Haj
Committee and the Consulate General of India in Jeddah. The
pilgrims should therefore feel reassured that the accommodation
is in strict accordance with the norms and procedures. As such
every pilgrim get 3.5 sq meter which is actually quite less but
this can not be changed as more that 2 million pilgrims come and
stay in limited space of Makkah and thus the Saudi Government
has made these norm. Till last year the space norm was 3.0 sq
meters per pilgrim which has increased to 3.5 sq meter this year
so the pilgrims visiting this year would surely have more
comfortable stay.
All the pilgrims would have
to share the bathroom and kitchen facilities that they should do
in the spirit of brotherhood and adjustment. A little patience
on part of pilgrims can solve a lot of hassles and problems.
It is therefore very important to emphasize this.
All the pilgrims are
provided with metal frame beds in the rooms along with
mattresses, pillows and bed sheets. Beds are enough to keep some
luggage under it however hoarding of lot of stuff should be
discouraged as the space in the rooms is limited. Each bathroom
would have a bucket, a mug and provision for the hot water.
Pilgrims should try to go
out of the building much before the prayer time as exactly at
prayer time they will find a lot of rush for the lift in which
case they may even miss prayers. Overcrowding of lifts results
in break-downs and can cause accidents. In case a lift breaks
down every effort will be made to repair it forthwith. However
it may kindly be understood that during peak periods the demand
for lift technicians and the traffic conditions in Makkah may
lead to some inadvertent delay.
Pilgrims should avoid wasting water or using too much water.
During the peak Haj period if water finishes in a building due
to excessive use, water tankers cannot bring water due to
restrictions on movement. For washing of clothes, utensils,
bathing and cooking purposes, economising on the use of water is
essential. If there are leaking taps or toilets, pilgrims must
immediately bring this to the notice of the caretaker of the
building (Haaris) and the building supervisor deputed by the
Consulate. Most buildings in Makkah have western style commodes.
It is essential that pilgrims are in advance acquainted with
their use.
Pilgrims must
not allow visitors inside buildings or rooms. They should be met
outside the building. Friends, relatives and extra persons are
not to be kept in rooms. The rooms should not be cluttered with
excess baggage since space is at a premium.
Every day each building will
be visited by a building supervisor who will check with the
Haaris about any problems that need rectification. Pilgrims can
either inform the Haaris about problems they confront or record
a complaint in the Complaint Register kept in their own
building for this purpose. Complaints can also be lodged with
the branch office of the Indian Haj Mission which is overseeing
their building. Map of the branch office and the telephone
number are available on the ground floor of every building.
As regards
food in Makkah, there are many restaurants and eating places
which sell cheap food including roti, rice, dal, vegetables and
chicken at nominal prices. Roti or bread are very cheap and
fruits are also available in plenty. Given the foreign exchange
component given to our pilgrims, it is very much affordable and
perhaps cheaper if pilgrims make arrangements and eat in groups.
The suggestion is that for breakfast they can have fresh fruits,
bread, eggs and milk or fruit juices and for lunch and dinner
they can have normal meals with rice, roti, vegetables and
non-vegetarian dishes.
It
is good to drink plenty of water during the course of the day.
The zam-zam water is available free of cost all around the Haram
Sharief. At other places water can be bought. Besides, Maktabul
Zamazima delivers zam zam to pilgrims @1litre per pilgrim in
their buildings after 10th Zul Qada.
The kitchen
space in the buildings is limited and adjustments for cooking
timings will need to be made. It is not possible for all
pilgrims to cook their food as they do back home in India.
Electric cookers cannot be used in the rooms for fear of fire.
Kerosene stoves as well as gas stoves can be used in kitchens.
However, pilgrims have to pay for the refill of gas cylinders.
All the pilgrims should also
read the various instructions and advices pasted by the Indian
Haj Mission or the Moallims. These are usually pasted at the
prominent places in the buildings.
At the
Haram Sharif in Makkah
First of all
while visiting the Holy Haram Sharif all the pilgrims should
keep their emotions under control. Sudden outburst of emotions
has led to difficulties for the pilgrims in past as it can be
mistaken as mental disturbances etc. Saudi officials/ police
authorities are spread out in the Harm Sharif area, even in the
civil dress, and any unusual act is always noticed. Also when
caught by the police or the Saudi Authorities the pilgrims
should be advised not to speak anything as it may be interpreted
against him . The pilgrims should rather insist for the presence
of an official from the Indian Haj Mission before speaking
anything to these authorities.
The Haram Sharif at Makkah
consists of basement, main floor, first floor and terrace. When
the crowd gets bigger even the outside spaces are filled up to a
long distance. Pilgrims need to be educated about the use of
conveyor belts which are used to carry people to the upper
floors and the terrace. Not used to the conveyor belts and by
holding on to the railings pilgrims tend to create a stampede
like situation and in the process hurt themselves.
In the Haram Sharif,
pilgrims should always carry a plastic bag to keep their
sandals/shoes. Also they can carry a prayer mat in case there
is too much rush and have to offer their prayers in the open or
by roadside.
Outside the
Haram Sharif there are very good toilets and wudukhanas
and it is not necessary to go every time to the room to wash and
come back for prayers. However, care needs to be taken that
during the wudu valuables are not snatched or stolen. The
Arabic word for "thief" is "Haraami".
Losing the way
in the vast Haram Sharief is common with pilgrims. Therefore,
while entering the Haram Sharief pilgrims should look around
from inside the courtyard. There are five coloured gates leading
outside. They must remember the colour or name of the gate which
leads to their house in Makkah. This is the easiest way to
remember. All the gates of the Haram Sharief are numbered for
convenience. In any case, pilgrims in difficulty should look for
our Task Force officers who, clad in blue INDIA
marked jackets, are throughout ready around the Haram for
guiding the pilgrims.
Indian Haj Mission Services
There are 9 branch dispensaries and 9 branch offices for the
convenience of pilgrims opened by the Consulate in various areas
which house Indian pilgrims at Makkah. All Indians are welcome
to use these facilities. Additionally there is a main Indian Haj
Office and main Hospital at the Jabl-e-Ka’ba area of Makkah.
Knowing the telephone numbers of branch office, branch
dispensary, main Indian Haj office and main Indian dispensary
along with the telephone number of Maktab and the contact
telephone numbers of friends or relatives in Makkah, Madinah and
Jeddah will definitely prove useful at times of need. Some
loose change (coins) which can be used in case of need to
telephone any of these places will come handy. Telephone
facilities are available in great abundance in Makkah and
Madinah. There are a number of manned telephone booths which
accept Riyal notes.
Indian Haj office runs computerized data base of all pilgrims
and their places of accommodation. A pilgrim can be located with
the punching of a key. All it takes is a visit or a call to the
Indian branch office. Some but not all branch offices also
have free internet facilities for the pilgrims.
There are also the Task Force officials who would be wearing
'India" marked jackets, T-shirts and caps. There only
duty is to move around the Haram Sharif area and be available to
the pilgrims to help and guide them. So the pilgrims should be
advised to locate them and seek their help and guidance freely
without hesitation.
Complaints
about buildings and medical service and other problems that
pilgrims may have such as misplaced or lost-baggage should be
immediately reported to the concerned section listed in the
organizational chart the Indian Haj Mission above. Theft or loss
of cash should be reported to the General Welfare Section which
will immediately provide financial relief to the pilgrim.
Some further useful tips
Assistance/help for the pilgrim is available at every step;
he/she should seek it, if needed freely without hesitation. The redressal of the pilgrim’s grievances will be ensured preferably
there and then provided he/she registers a complaint, if
genuine. The pilgrim can easily identify the IHM officers
wearing blue jackets with the distinctive tri-colour of
the Indian flag printed on the jacket along with BHARAT
and AL HIND (in Hindi and Arabic) at the back and
INDIA (in English) on the front. The pilgrim will
be received at the airport (Jeddah/Madinah) by the officers of Indian Haj Mission (IHM). The pilgrim need not panic for
anything; these officers will take care of the pilgrim’s
reception/collection of baggage after he/she is cleared by Saudi
authorities. The pilgrim should cooperate with the IHM staff who
will take care of his/her baggage and load it on the bus in
which the pilgrim will travel from Madinah airport to his
building or from Jeddah to Makkah.
If by any
chance the pilgrim’s baggage gets lost or misplaced, he/she
should inform the Lost Baggage Section for its
retrieval. In case of theft or loss of pilgrim’s foreign
allowance/currency, he/she should report to the General
Welfare Section for immediate monetary relief.
Should the
pilgrim require medical treatment on arrival due to any reason
there is a dispensary open round the clock at the
airport. If the pilgrim is not able to walk to the dispensary,
he/she can summon the doctor to his/her room. There is a
Dispensary open around the clock in the pilgrim’s own
accommodation district along with the branch offcies. He/she
must feel free to use it.
On arrival at
the building, the Moallim will provide loaders to carry the
pilgrim’s baggage to his/her room. The Moallim is also expected
to offer to the pilgrim a hot meal on arrival. For any
accommodation related problem, the pilgrim should register a
complaint in the Building Complaint Register which is
available at the reception desk of the pilgrim’s building.
In deference
to the sanctity of the Haram precincts, the pilgrim should not
shout to voice his grievances, on the other hand he/she should
use the register in the building or branch office to record his
complaint.
Performing Haj
Moaallims would
arrange transport of pilgrims from Makkah to Mina however the
pilgrim ought to have patience
and wait for his/her bus for Mina on 7th/8th
Zul Hijjah; there is sufficient time available to get to Mina.
Pilgrims should carry bare requirement of their clothes to
Mina as the stay involves change of clothes on 10th
Zul Hijjah only. Food will be catered to them at
their camps. In Mina apart from the main dispensary, medical
assistance to Indian pilgrims is available in their camps at
Mina.
Sacred
Sites of Mashaer
In Mina the
Pilgrims are lodged in tents according to their Maktabs. They
are transported from Makkah to Mina by buses arranged by the
Maktabs. The space per pilgrim in the tents in Mina is only 1.15
sq m. This is so because the valley of Mina is small and is
girdled by hills on all sides. The journey from Makkah to Mina,
from Mina to Arafat, from Arafat to Muzdalifa, from Muzdalifa to
Mina and from Mina to Makkah tends to be very disorganized as
the buses have to do two trips and many pilgrims do not have the
patience to wait for the buses that the Moallim arranges for
them. Some pilgrims prefer to walk from Makkah to Mina, which
is 6 kms, through the covered walk-way. From Mina to Arafat
there is no covered walk-way. Mina ends where Muzdalifa begins.
A little after Muzdalifa ends, Arafat begins. The three Haj
regions are contiguous and in a straight direction. It has been
noticed that from Makkah to Mina, the pilgrims are by and large
moved smoothly by the Moallims. Similarly, movement from Mina
to Arafat, even though chaotic, still delivers. The problem may
be in the return journey. Pilgrims must not panic for in their
movement from Arafat to Muzdalifa. Remember that pilgrims are
to leave Arafat only after the Magrib Azaan but have to say
Magrib prayers combined with Isha only on reaching Muzdalifa,
however long it takes. It might take 6-8 hours to cover the
very short distance of 5-6 kms from Arafat to Muzdalifa by the
buses. At Muzdalifa, queues at the toilets can extend upto two
hours. Muzdalifa and Mina are contiguous and hence it may be
advisable that pilgrims who are in a good state of health, walk
over to their camp in Mina after the Fajr prayer on 10th
Zul Hijjah and then do the rituals without waiting for the buses
which could be spared to transport the elderly and women
pilgrims. The buses used by Indian pilgrims are air-conditioned.
The Mina the Indian
consulate sets up an office at Mina also along with full fledged
dispensary. Indian Haj Mission officials are spread around the
whole of mina area and easily be identified by the blue jacket
and INDIA/AL HIND markings. Also some of the officials may be
themselves performing Haj but they would be wearing scarves
bearing INDIA and AL HIND markings. Some would be carrying
Indian flags also with them.
The six Moassasas in Makkah have separate colours. That of the South
Asian Mossassa is yellow. In Mina and Arafat the sign boards of
Maktabs in Mina will be yellow. Location of camps in Arafat
will be marked by tall yellow pillars. The South Asian
Establishment called the Janoob Asia Moassasa is the largest
among the Moassasas and looks after the South Asian pilgrims
including Indian. Its flag post yellow pillars are visible from
a distance. The pilgrims must always carry identification cards
and, if lost, ask the way for "Moassassa Junoob Asia" or Indian
Haj Office or "Baith Al Haj Al Hindiya". They must always
remember the number of Moallim's Maktab, for example, if
allotted to Maktab 12, then both in Mina and Arafat, they must
always ask for the way to Maktab 12. In Arafat, pilgrims should
pray at their own camp. If they intend to go to Jibl-e-Rahma or
Masjid-e-Nimra, they should study their camp location and
direction carefully before leaving. Otherwise, there is a
distinct possibility that they will get lost. In case they are
actually lost in Arafat or Muzdalifa or Mina, they should ask
people the way rather than panic. They must carry sufficient
money to take private buses in case they miss their own bus. It
is better to have 10 Riyal notes for this purpose. If actually
lost in Arafat and unable to find way in 4-5 hours, it is
advisable to take a private vehicle to reach Muzdalifa. They may
charge 10-20 Riyals depending on the demand. In Muzdalifa,
pilgrims can pray and then take any private vehicle to Mina or
walk to Mina the next day after Fajr. In Mina, it is easier to
find the camp as the Indian camp is situated on two main roads
called the Souq-al-Arab and the Share-Johara.
Though all
pilgrims are accommodated in fire-proof tents at Mina, yet the
possibility of small fires due to negligence cannot be ruled
out. There is need to be very careful during stay in Mina. Exit
points in the camp should be identified, for use in case of
emergency. Instructions on the fire extinguishers should be
carefully read just in case these are to be utilized in an
emergency.
There used to be
stampede like condition at the site of stoning of the Jamarat in
earlier years. However since last year the new arrangements made
by the Saudi side have eased the pressure on the site and no
untoward incidence was witnessed. This year further easing is
being done and Insahallh every thing would go smoothly again.
There are two levels from which pilgrims can perform Rami
(stoning) Jamarat. Pilgrims should only go to the Jamarat at
times allocated for them by the Saudi authorities. Indian Haj
officials will come and escort them to the Jamarat at these
timings along with officials of the Maktab. In this manner
stoning can be done with ease. Pilgrims should never get stuck
in a crowd that is not moving or that is observably stationary.
They should choose the ground or the top level for stoning as
per the assessment of the crowd. Old, infirm, children and
women, who are not able to withstand the strain, can depute
someone else to stone on their behalf. If it is found that
Jamarat site is overcrowded or the movement there is very slow,
it is better to turn back immediately and return to the camp.
Pilgrims can go back for the ritual at a better time. One must
also be very alert to the fact that some pilgrims of certain
nationalities come in bunches and batches and push their way
through. Pilgrims should not get into their way or try to stop
them as one could get harmed in the process. It will be more
sensible to avoid their path and wait till they get out. Do not
try to go against the direction of the crowd. Move with the
crowd. Do not lose temper and do not fight with others. It is
advisable to move in groups from the camps with the assistance
of the Khadim ul Hujaj. The Ministry of Haj provides schedules
for pilgrims according to which they will permit movement for
the Jamarat. This will assist pilgrims in finding out the best
time for stoning at Jamarat. The Indian Haj Office in Mina
organizes Jamarat movement as per the time table assigned by the
Saudi Haj authorities; Indian pilgrims should follow this plan
as the pilgrim groups are accompanied by a full team of doctors,
paramedics, administrative staff etc to ensure safety. Moreover
the belief that Rami is to be done at a particular time
of the day has also undergo significant change by the Fatwas of
the top religious leaders from the Saudi Arabia.
Islam does not
enjoin to suffer bodily harm or risking life. There are always
options available and hence there is no need to hurry and in the
process get harmed.
Food
Arrangements
Last year
experiment was done to provide food at mina through Moallims.
The experiment was met with a number of problems so it has been
decided not to continue with it and to go back to the old system
whereby pilgrims fend for themselves. A number of restaurants
are coming up in Mina for the fast food. A number of stores are
available where dry ration like biscuits, cakes, chips, juices,
and some fruits can be bought.
Ziarat of Madinah Al Munawarrah
It is a widely common belief among Indian pilgrims that
offering forty prayers in succession in the Masjid-e-Nabvi at
Madinah has great rewards. Pilgrims spend eight days in Madinah
before or after the Haj depending on when they arrive in the
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
For Haj 2005, more than 22000 Indian pilgrims arrived for Haj
via Madinah for the first time in the history of Haj. This year
the number is bound to increase. These pilgrims reaching Madinah
directly would come to Makkah after ziarat and exit after the
Haj from Jeddah. All other Indian pilgrims coming to Saudi
Arabia before 18th of Zul Qada will move to Madinah after 48
hours of their arrival in Makkah. Otherwise, they will go to
Madinah after the Haj. For pilgrims arriving close to the Haj,
their Madinah movement is not done immediately after their
arrival at Makkah. Rather they are sent to Madinah only after
the Haj is over and, from Madinah, after spending 8 days, they
are sent straight to the Jeddah Haj Terminal for departure to
India and as many as 21000 pilgrims will fly back to India
directly from Madinah. In case of pilgrims who have done the
Madinah Ziarat before Haj, they will be in Makkah and after Haj
they will be sent to Jeddah Haj Terminal from Makkah for the
return journey to India.
The Maktab will announce the
time of arrival of buses at the building, but pilgrims need to
be prepared for delays in the arrival of buses. Buses are some
times delayed by several hours due to traffic movement
restrictions. Staff who looks after Madinah Movement of pilgrims
will try their best to ensure with the cooperation of pilgrims a
smooth Madinah movement.
When the buses
arrive pilgrims must supervise to ensure that their luggage is
loaded on the same bus that they are travelling in and if they
have to go to the toilet they must do so before boarding the
bus. In many cases, the buses stop midway between Makkah and
Madinah after a 2-3 hour run.
When the bus approaches Madinah it halts at the Pilgrim
Reception Centre (PRC) outside Madinah where pilgrims are
checked by the PRC staff. The Consulate staff is also present to
help pilgrims. The bus then goes to the house in Madinah where
they will be accommodated. Normally, more than half a dozen
contractors in Madinah are given contract for housing Indian
pilgrims by the Haj Committee of India, and pilgrims will go to
one of these contractors' buildings.
In Madinah,
there is only one category of accommodation, and all pilgrims
have to be accommodated within 850 meters of the Haram Sharief.
It is the pilgrim’s own luck if he is housed in buildings closer
to Haram and/or in better buildings. It is entirely possible
that those in Category III in Makkah are located nearer the
Haram in Madinah than those in Category I & II. During January,
weather in Madinah is likely to be quite cold and it is
advisable for pilgrims to have some warm clothing.
In Madinah,
pilgrims must be careful to note down and know the exact name,
address and telephone number of their buildings. They should not
leave their luggage or some female members behind to take care
of the luggage while they rush off to the Masjid-e-Nabvi for
prayers. They must first ensure that they are accommodated in a
room and that their luggage is in the room. Only then after
getting the name and address of the building and room number
should they go for prayers to the Haram Sharief.
It is advisable
to visually mark out the landmarks and routes of the
Masjid-e-Nabvi and focus a little on the topography of Madinah.
The Masjid-e-Nabvi has gates with names and numbers. Remembering
the gate name or number for entry and exit might help against
losing one’s way.
Since the
accommodation in Madinah is hired on a cycle basis, the
departure movement from the city at the designated time is
necessary in order to make way for the next lot of incoming
pilgrims. Delays will mean the next groups of pilgrims are being
stranded for want of accommodation. Also, in cases of pilgrims
departing from Madinah to the airport, delays will lead to the
possibility of missing flights either at Jeddah or Madinah
airport.
The Indian
consultale office in Madinah sets up are four branch
dispensaries along with branch offices and four branch offices
in addition to the main hospital and the main office geared for
24hr service to Indian pilgrims. All the services provided by
the Makkah offices are also provided here.
Departure Phase
The departure from the Kingdom is either form Jeddah or Madinah.
Some pilgrims who came via Jeddah may go back from Madinah. So
all the pilgrims should make sure of their departure schedule
well in advance so as to avoid any last minute surprises.
All the pilgrims should follow the advice of the Moallims and
the Indian Mission officials for the departure phase. It is the
requirement of the Saudi Government that all the pilgrims should
reach the Airport before 8 hours of departure of the Flight.
Add to it the travel time from Makkah to Jeddah Airport; so all
the buses leaves 12 hours before the flight time from their
respective buildings. Working backswords all the buses are
stationed 15-14 hours before the flight time at the respective
buildings. It is essential for all the pilgrims that they are
prepared at least by the time the buses arrives at the building
for departure. All their baggage should have been packed and
brought to the lobby of the building. Any last minute shopping
and visit to other places should be avoided.
Pilgrims should remember to
have enough money to buy food and water at the Haj Terminal for
the waiting time. Airlines only supply food packets if delays
are more than 6 hours beyond scheduled time of departure. Saudi
authorities also prohibit the Consulate and other welfare
agencies to provide any eatables to the Pilgrims at the
terminal. All pilgrims have to buy their own stuff at the
terminal.
The Pilgrims should stick to the baggage allowance. Any excess
baggage should be preferably cargoed beforehand. There have been
delays in past because of the excess baggage from the pilgrims.
Also if the baggage is more that the allowance it may so happen
that baggage of all the pilgrims traveling in a bus may not come
in that bus. In such cases the Indian Haj Mission has no role
to play and Moallims may decide to transport that baggage in
separate vans and it may be difficult for the pilgrims to
identify their baggage after reaching the airport. So it is
absolutely essential that the pilgrims stick to the baggage
allowance and give the excess baggage to the Cargo service in
advance. It should also be remembered that giving the excess
baggage to the Cargo means less charge that paying for the
excess baggage at the check in as accompanying baggage. For
example in
Madinah if they
exceed the prescribed weight, they will have to pay excess
baggage charges at the airport @SR13 per kilo.
Some DOs and DONTs
Pilgrims should take care of their health and keep themselves
protected from the hot sun and the cold nights as well as the
cool temperatures inside the rooms. They should drink plenty of
water and try to eat citrus fruits to build up resistance. The
doctors and dispensaries are there to help in case medication is
needed. The common complaints are of dehydration, sunstroke,
cold and cough, flu, stomach upset, scraped thighs and blisters
on the feet. In case of hospitalization, the Consulate doctors
would ensure that pilgrims are looked after well in the Saudi
hospitals and Indian doctors would be regularly monitoring their
progress in the hospitals.
There are a number of natural deaths and some accidental
deaths each year during Haj. The death cases are reported by
the Maktabs officially. However, all natural deaths and
accidental deaths should also be reported instantly to the
Indian Consulate officials and doctors who would help in
expediting the formalities concerning burial of the deceased
pilgrims. The formal death certificate takes time.
A number of
pilgrims have been cheated by confidence tricksters who gain
their confidence and then take money from them on the pretext of
buying things at cheaper rates. People have been tricked into
even parting with money for the sacrifice that is supposed to be
done after Haj at Mina on the 10th of Zul Hijjah. Theft from
pilgrims is on the increase hence all precautions should be
taken.
Pilgrims need to
be very careful while crossing roads, especially main roads and
highways in Makkah and Madinah. Traffic is very fast on these
roads and a number of pilgrims get injured or die because of
their own negligence. The vehicle drivers will not stop or
decrease their speed if pilgrims are crossing the road. Pilgrims
are supposed to be on alert for vehicles coming on the road.
In Makkah as the
Haj approaches the city seems to be bursting at seams with
people everywhere. The overcrowding can easily take a toll on
some of the civic amenities. Care must be taken to ensure that
water is conserved in buildings and is not wasted, because in
these days water becomes scarce and even water tankers find it
difficult to enter into many areas due to overcrowding on the
roads.
Maktabs can also
take care of cash and valuables but pilgrims must insist on a
proper receipt if they are leaving money with the Maktab. They
should not give any cash or valuables to anyone else than to a
proper person in the Maktab who should give a proper receipt (Fatura)
for the same.
Pilgrims
must know that according to the decision taken by the Saudi
authorities, the unused bus coupons for the Mashaer
region will not be refunded. Tickets not used during other parts
will need to be produced at the Maktabul Wukla office at the
airport and refund claimed then and there.
In case pilgrims
want to advance or delay their return journeys they need to
contact the CRT at the Indian Haj Office. Air India has
computerized reservation terminals and pilgrims can change their
departure schedules subject to availability of vacancies. In
case of Saudi Arabian Airlines, the tickets will be collected
and changed by the staff of the Indian Haj Office.
The Indian Haj Mission
provides full range of Consular services i.e. issue pf Emergency
certificate if the passport is lost, issue of duplicate Air
ticket if the ticket is lost. However it is important that some
kind identification is always retained with the pilgrim like the
steel bracelet provided in India before boarding.
For relatives
and friends who would like to contact pilgrims and do not know
where they are staying in Makkah, there is a computerised
database available on the internet at the Consulate’s website
at www. cgijeddah.com. The building and room numbers of
pilgrims as well as telephone number/s of building can be
obtained from the site so that they can contact them directly.
Computerised pilgrim reception centres are also set up by the
Consulate at Makkah and they can easily get pilgrim details
from there. In Madinah, they will have to contact the
Consulate office or branch offices since it is not known in
advance which building and to which contractor particular
pilgrims are to go. In Mina and Arafat pilgrims can give them
the Maktab number where they can be reached/contacted.
In order to make
Haj easier, pilgrims always need to pray to Allah. They must
show exemplary behaviour and patience that behoves the guests of
Allah and should never lose the slight of the main purpose for
which they are visiting Saudi Arabia. . The officials can only
aid and assist them in their endeavour. No bandobast is
foolproof and, therefore, individual efforts and the spirit of
accommodation are essential for the success of this supreme
experience.
Allah grants success.
***********
(This Training Manual for Haj Trainers is prepared by the
Consulate General of India, Jeddah)
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