Gracious to Allah for the opportunity to perform the hajj, the fifth pillar of Islam
The Five Pillars consist of:
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| The Ka'abah found in the grand mosque. The mosque can hold as many as 1.2 million people to pray at any one time |
- Shahadah: sincerely reciting the Muslim profession of faith testifying that there is no god but Allah (the Glorified and Exalted) and Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) is the Messenger of Allah (the Glorified and Exalted)
- Salat: the performance of the five obligatory daily prayers.
- Zakat: paying the obligatory alms (or charity) tax to benefit the poor and the needy.
- Fasting during the month of Ramadan.
- Hajj: performing pilgrimage to Makkah for those who can afford financially and physically. The week of Hajj occurs during the last month of the Islamic calendar (Zulhijjah).
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| Offer letter from Tabung Haji |
Telah mendapat jemputan ketanah suci Makkah untuk ibadat haji 2014 (1435 muslim calendar).
Mendapat panggilan dari tabung haji 2 minggu sebelum berlepas.
Syukur kepada Allah kerana memberi peluang melakukan ibadat rukun islam yg kelima.
In Malaysia, travelling for pilgrimage is arranged by Malaysian pilgrimage body called Tabung Haji. The cost for each pilgrim are set at RM10,000. There are also other hajj companies complementing Tabung Haji. However their rate are very much higher reaching as much as RM100,000.
The invitation for pilgrimage came late, two weeks before departure. So all the requirements such as medical checkup, immunization and visa clearance had to be settled within the two weeks. Since the children are all grown-up, the two weeks notice are manageable.
On the departure day, all pilgrims were requested to converge at the Pilgrims Complex at Tabung Haji Kelana Jaya. Airport check-in facilities and immigration clearance were managed here. The flight KT57 are chartered flights to fly pilgrims to Makkah or Madinah and back. The numeric after KT resemble number of flights. ie we were on flight 57 of 60 flights in total. Each year Malaysia were allocated 10% of its population to perform the pilgrimage.
Our flight KT57 carried 450 pilgrims of the total 24,000 pilgrims from Malaysia. Annually, as many as two million Muslims converged on the holy city of Makkah for the Hajj rituals. Our flights flew direct to Jeddah and the return trip is via Medina. We were provided with carry bags filled with necessities contributed by Tabung Haji and private institutions in Malaysia. Each of us the pilgrims were also provided with Hajj ID cards and ID bracelet.
Our flight KT57 carried 450 pilgrims of the total 24,000 pilgrims from Malaysia. Annually, as many as two million Muslims converged on the holy city of Makkah for the Hajj rituals. Our flights flew direct to Jeddah and the return trip is via Medina. We were provided with carry bags filled with necessities contributed by Tabung Haji and private institutions in Malaysia. Each of us the pilgrims were also provided with Hajj ID cards and ID bracelet.
All the first batches of the early flights were routed to Medina. However since our flight are nearing the pilgrimage rituals, we were flown direct to Makkah.
All pilgrims either enter Makkah direct followed by visit to Medina, or flown to Medina and later transported to Makkah.
Our flight were from Kuala Lumpur to Makkah. All the men (except for the women) were required to put on the ihram (two piece white cloth attire) as a requirement to enter Makkah as a pilgrim. The flight took 9 hours. Two hours before landing at the Miqat area, we have to observe the umrah intention (pasang niat umrah). Umrah is a small hajj. It can be performed at any time of the year. Since we are doing Haji Tamatuk, we have to perform the umrah first before the hajj.
There are also other members in the performing Haji Ifrad. In this case they have to observe hajj intention instead (pasang niat haji)
There are also other members in the performing Haji Ifrad. In this case they have to observe hajj intention instead (pasang niat haji)
However, for those pilgrims (the earlier flights) flown to Medina, they do not have to put on the two piece cloth attire yet. This can be done during the bus trip from Medina to Makkah at another miqat area called Bir Ali.
We reached Jeddah Airport early morning. We were brought to the transit lounge to perform the subuh or morning prayers. The immigration checkpoint were not busy yet at the early hours. It took one hour for the immigration clearance. It took another two hours for the logistic and boarding the bus to take us to our hotel in Makkah. We were put up at Bisyara Al Mawada Hotel about 800 meter to the Grand Mosque where the Kaabah is.
There are four pilgrims allocated for each room. The men were separated from their wives, however we were only next door away.
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| Security ID cards and bracelets |
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| Logistic details |
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| Roomate |
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| 3 minutes walk to the Grocery |
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| Bisyara Al Mawada Hotel along Uma Al Qura Road |
Upon arriving, we washed and took a nap. We still need to wear the two piece cloth until the umrah ritual is complete. When we were freshen-up, everyone walked to the Grand Mosque to complete the umrah ritual. We first ritual was to perform the Tawaf (circling the kaabah seven times) starting from the hajarul aswad corner of the Kaabah. The circling of the Kaabah has to be done anti-clockwise. Due to the huge crowd, it took us almost half an hour. Upon completing the tawaf, the next ritual was to perform the Sa'ee (travel/walk back and forth seven times between Safa and Marwa ending at the Marwa side. Finally after completing, we have to trim some parts of our hair to complete the ritual. With this, we were only then allowed to remove the the ihram back to wear the normal clothes.
We were 10 days away from the big day called wukuf at Arafah. Wukuf falls on the day of 9th Zulhijjah (muslim calendar month). This year, the Saudi government had announced wukuf for 2014 falls on Friday, the last one (which falls on Friday) was 2008. Thus, majority of the moslems from the nearby country will take the opportunity to travel to Arafah on that day.
During this period while waiting for the day of the Wukuf, we conduct prayers, recite the Quran in the Grand Mosque. It was quite tiring walking from the hotel to the moaque as it was 800 meters away, five times a day. So some of us took the mini van ferrying us to and fro costing 2 Saudi Riyal per trip.
We also took the local tour group visiting the historical and ritual sites around Makkah.
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| The mini van ferrying pilgrims from the hotel to the Grand Mosque |
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| Visiting Jabal Rahmah, the place where Adam met Hawa after been ousted from Paradise |
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| Jabal Rahmah |
On the 9th of Zulhijjah, pilgrims must be there at least a second instance immediately after midday until the next morning to qualify for the wukuf ritual. By noon, the hajj sermon was conducted followed by the Zuhr and Asr prayers combined.
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| Camps allocation |
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| Arafah |
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| Arafah |
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| Arafah |
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| Arafah - reciting the holybook (Quran) |
We spend the rest of the time reciting the Quran and conducting prayers. Due to the hot weather, most of us spend their time outside under the trees.
By late evening same day,we packed up boarding the bus heading towards Muzdalifa for offering Maghrib and Isha prayers and spend the night under the open sky. The bus ride took 15 minutes. In Muzalifah, pilgrims has to at least be here some instance of time right after midnight. Here, we are required to collect pebbles/stones to be used during the next ritual in Mina. At least a total of 70 pieces of stones needs to be collected. There are no tents erected here for the pilgrims since we will only be here for a short instant. Immediately after midnight still on the 9th Zulhijjah, we boarded the bus to take us from Mudzalifah to Mina about 20 minutes away.
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| Mudzalifah - collecting stones |
In Mina, we were put in tents with air-conditioning. We will be here for 3 ninghts. On arrival about 3 am in the morning, we were asked to prepare to perform the jamrah Aqoba. We had to walk via a tunnel to the other side to Jamrah Aqoba for the next ritual of pelting/hurling seven pieces of stones/pebbles. There are 3 jamrah. The first 2 were fenced temporarily to prevent pilgrims from pelting the stone toward the wrong jamrah. Immediate after the pelting, we were required to trim some parts of our hair to complete the ritual. With this, we were allowed to remove the ihram which we had worn for the last 3 days ever since we left the hotel in Makkah for Arafah. Upon completing this ritual, the men were allowed to put on their normal clothing.
For the next 3 days on 11,12 and 13 Zulhijjah (muslim month), it was the repeat of the pelting ritual but this time at 3 different pelting sites or jamrah. Each of the 3 jamrah were just 30 meters away. To ensure a smooth movement of the ritual, pilgrims were only allowed to move one way for the pelting at the 3 jamrah.
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| Tents allocation in Mina |
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| Roomate in Mina |
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| The tent in Mina |
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| Entrance to the tunnel. The other side are the jamrah |
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| The tunnel |
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| The tunnel takes the pilgrim to the Jamrah |
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| Jamrah from distance |
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| Jamrah Aqoba. The other 2 jamrah are further down 50 meter away from each other |
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| Food stalls and groceries at the tunnel entrance |
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| Last day photo in the tent in Mina |
On the last day ie 13 Zulhijjah, we were ready to pack and took the bus back to our hotel in Makkah.The full ritual is not complete yet until we perform the tawaf. Due to the huge crowd in the Grand Mosque, we only perform the tawaf 2 days later. With this, our hajj were complete. alhamdulillah. For rest of the days, we pray and recite the quran at the Grand Mosque. Alternately, we also perform the prayer at Masjid Ben Ladin just across the road where our hotel are.
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| Ben Ladin Mosque in front of our hotel in Makkah |
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| The Grand Mosque courtyard |
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| View of Grand Mosque from Pullman Hotel lobby |
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| In the Grand Mosque |
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| Zamzam water dispenser found in the Grand Mosque |
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| The Grand Mosque rooftop praying area |
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| The Kaabah from distance |
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| Closer view of The Kaabah |
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| Pilgrims performing the tawaf, circling the Kaabah 7 times |
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| Taking lunch along the hotel corridoor |
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| Shopping for souvenoirs |
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| Jeddah tour brochure |
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| Tour to Jeddah |
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| Last three days at Pullman Hotel, 50m away from the Grand Mosque |
During the last few day left in Makkah, before departing to Medinah, we spend 3 nights at Pullman Hotel which are 50 meters away from the Grand Mosque.
After spending 30 days in Makkah, we left for Medina on 25th of Oct 2014. The bus ride took 7 hours. Visiting Medina is not part of the pilgrimage ritual but a must-visit since this is where Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was laid to rest.
Stayed at the Al Haram Hotel. Distance to the holy Nabawi mosque is only 50 meters away. The main activities are the performing of the 5-daily prayers. Most of the other time, we shopped for souvenoirs. Shop were found all around the hotel area. Most of the souvenoir items were shipped to Malaysia since checked-in bags were allowed for 30 kilos only. We stayed in Medina for 10 days before the flight back home.
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| Our hotel in Medina |
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| The Grand Mosque courtyard in Medinah |
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| Me and wife |
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| Street peddlers |
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| Nabawi mosque courtyard |
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| Hotel room in Medina |
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| Lunch with pilgrims friend along the hotel corridoor |
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| Taking the flight back home to Malaysia on Saudi Airlines |
Syukur alhamdulillah we had had smooth uninterrupted event during our 42 days performing the hajj. In actual fact, the period taken for performing the haj is the
Right from the time getting the good news to perform the hajj, medical check-up, visas, airport check-in, immigration clearance, travelling time from Kuala Lumpur and back, boarding and travelling time to Arafah Mudzalifah Mina back to Makkah and lastly to Medina are all hassle-free.
Important activity to observe while doing haji tamattuk.
1. wearing the ihram when leaving home for Tabung Haji Kelana jaya. From there the bus will take all the pilgrims top the airport.
2. declaring intention to perform umrah (niat) at the miqat. The pilot would normally make the announcement when we are about to approach the miqat. When we are flying from Malaysia, the miqat is about 1.5 hours before reaching Jeddah airport. Once we enter the state of ihram after the niat, the pilgrims are not allowed to wear normal clothes, perfume, sexual contact with wife…
3. performing tawaf umrah, circling the kaaba at the grand mosque.
4. performing the sai'e
5. removing small parts of the hair. Some people normally shave their head. With this, we exits the state of ihram and allowed to do those that had been restricted earlier.ie wearing normal clothes etc....
6. putting the ihram ready for hajj ritual on the 8th of Zulhijjah.. Moving to converge at Arafah7. moving to mudzliffah on 9th Zulhijjah
8. moving ti Mina on 9th Zulhijjah.
9. pelting jamrah on 10th Zulhijjah.
10. remove some parts of hair and exiting the ihram
11. pelting the 3 jamrah on the 11th, 12th and 13th Zulhijjah
12. moving to the grand mosque in Makkah to perform umrah and sai'e to complete the hajj ritual.
Important dates/events
09 Sep 2014 telephone call from Tabung Haji
22 Sep 2014 depart to Jeddah Saudi Arabia
23 Sep 2014 checkin at Al Basharah Mawaddah hotel along Umm Al Qura Road Makkah
03 Oct 2014 (08 Zulhijjah) depart to Arafah
04 Oct 2014 (09 Zulhijjah) Friday mabit di Arafah
04 Oct 2014 (10 Zulhijjah) after maghrib, depart to Mudzalifah
05 Oct 2014 (10 Zulhijjah) after midnight, depart to Mina
05 Oct 2014 (10 Zulhijjah) before sunrise, pelt pebbles at Jamrah Aqoba. Eid al Adha
06 Oct 2014 (11 Zulhijjah) before sunrise, pelt pebbles at all 3 jamrah
07 Oct 2014 (12 Zulhijjah) before sunrise, pelt pebbles at all 3 jamrah
08 Oct 2014 (13 Zulhijjah) before sunrise, pelt pebbles at all 3 jamrah
08 Oct 2014 (13 Zulhijjah) depart to Maktab 91(hotel) Makkah
12 Oct 2014 (17 Zulhijjah) tawaf haji
25 Oct 2014 (01 Syawal) depart to Medina
03 Nov 2014 (10 Syawal) depart to Kuala Lumpur
06 Oct 2014 (11 Zulhijjah) before sunrise, pelt pebbles at all 3 jamrah
07 Oct 2014 (12 Zulhijjah) before sunrise, pelt pebbles at all 3 jamrah
08 Oct 2014 (13 Zulhijjah) before sunrise, pelt pebbles at all 3 jamrah
08 Oct 2014 (13 Zulhijjah) depart to Maktab 91(hotel) Makkah
12 Oct 2014 (17 Zulhijjah) tawaf haji
25 Oct 2014 (01 Syawal) depart to Medina
03 Nov 2014 (10 Syawal) depart to Kuala Lumpur