75000 Local Pilgrims Registered For Hajj 2016

More than 75,000 domestic pilgrims have so far registered with local Haj companies through the electronic gate of the Ministry of Haj and Umrah to perform Haj this year, a ministry’s source said.

He said domestic pilgrims have registered with about 200 licensed local Haj companies.

Registration through the portal, which was scheduled to start on Thursday, was interrupted for two days because of the large number of people browsing the site at the same time.

Since the restoration of service, more than 700,000 people have visited the site to get acquainted with the services to be provided by local companies.

According to the source, the rates range from SR3,015 to SR11,905 depending on the services.

Ministry’s undersecretary Hussain Al-Sharif warned citizens and expatriates wishing to perform Haj against paying any additional charges other than what has been specified on the website.

“All the procedures, including the printing of Haj permits, are automatically done through the website,” he said.

Meanwhile, a total of 154 companies have started their arrangements to provide food for pilgrims.

Mohammed Al-Qurashi, member of the Haj Committee at the Makkah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said the companies make an annual profit of more than SR300 million by providing food to the guests of Allah. 

He said that the companies have signed catering contracts with Haj missions of various countries and domestic Haj operators.

The Private Establishment for Guides in Madinah has prepared 56 facilities to serve pilgrims. The facilities include 17 field service offices, 16 supporting offices, 12 departments, eight committees and three reception centers.

Registration through the portal, which was scheduled to start on Thursday, was interrupted for two days because of the large number of people browsing the site at the same time. Since the restoration of service, more than 700,000 people have visited the site to get acquainted with the services to be provided by local companies.

75000 Local Pilgrims Registered For Hajj 2016

Old Video of Masjid al Haram Makkah al-Mukarramah

Makkah, in a desert valley in western Saudi Arabia, is Islam’s holiest city, as it’s the birthplace of the Prophet Muhammad and the faith itself. Only Muslims are allowed in the city, with millions arriving for the annual Hajj (pilgrimage). Dating from the 7th century, the central Masjid al-Haram (Grand Mosque) surrounds the Kaaba, the cloth-covered (Qiswa) cubic structure that’s Islam’s most sacred shrine.

The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques' Hosting Program was launched in 1417H during the reign of King Fahd bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, May Allah forgive him. Being supervised by the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Endowments, Dawah and Guidance, the program has been providing services for a wide range of Muslims from different parts of the world since its launch and till now. Up to the 1431H’s Hajj season, the program has served some 16,866 Muslims of different nationalities and continents. 

It is expected that the Hosting Program -Allah willing- would be operative for many coming years so that it could benefit the largest number of people in the Muslim-minority countries. This gracious gesture reflects the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques’ continued interest in the Muslim minorities and his outstanding keenness to give them a chance to perform the Hajj rituals easily and conveniently, especially for those who did not perform this pillar of Islam before. 

It is noteworthy that the program provides an opportunity for the Muslim minorities from all over the world to meet and exchange views over all matters related to Islam and Muslims, thus they could benefit from each other and reinforce the spirit of mutual cooperation so as to achieve what our Almighty Allah called for in the Holy Quran when He said, “O mankind! We have created you from a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know one another.”

It is worth mentioning that the Hosting Program offers a number of activities and hosts senior scholars and preachers to deliver lectures and symposiums. These activities focus on calling unto the way of our Lord with wisdom, fair exhortation and discussion as part of the Holy verses saying: “Invite (all) to the Way of thy Lord with wisdom and beautiful preaching; and argue with them in ways that are best and most gracious,” “Speak fair to the people,” and “And dispute ye not with the People of the Book, except with means better (than mere disputation).”Old Video of Masjid al Haram Makkah al-Mukarramah

The Government of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques carried out a major expansion of the two holy cities of Makkah and Madinah throughout Islam's long history and increased the capacity. As a result, Muslims from across the globe have been given the opportunity to perform their rituals with much ease and convenience .Old Video of Masjid al Haram Makkah al-Mukarramah

The KSA developed mega- infrastructure projects in Makkah , Madinah and the Holy Sites ,with a core focus on a full spectrum of multiple service utilities ,including the expansion of the Two Holy Mosques and the areas dedicated for the accommodation of pilgrims in Makkah and Madinah through the launch of the Al Mashaaer Al Mugaddassah Metro Southern Line, the construction of Jamarat Bridge, and completion of projects in relation to the expansion of airports, ports , haj and Umra lounges, transportation, health and hygiene services, coupled with logistics for Haj pilgrims, Umra performers and visitors, and the creation of a new hospitality industry to bolster up the economies of Haj and Umra.

Old Video of Masjid al Haram Makkah al-Mukarramah

Conditions of Hajj For women

 It is narrated that Ayesha (RA) said, “O Allah’s Messenger (PBUH)! We consider Jihad as the best deed. Should we not fight in Allah’s Cause?” He said, “The best Jihad (for women) is Hajj-e-Mabrur (i.e. Hajj which is done according to the Prophet’s tradition and is accepted by Allah). 

Abdullah Ibne Abbas (RA) said: The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) who wants to perform Hajj, he should hurry up, because he does not know what kinds of excuses may expose to him. (Musnad Ahmad) 

CONDITIONS OF HAJJ FOR WOMEN

1. To be a Muslim

2. He should be wise i.e. do not be mad

3. To be an adult

4. To be free

5. Affordability (having power and ability) To be days of Hajj

6. Should be no obstacles from the government

7. To be healthy and Wealthy

8. Ways should be safe and secure.

9. She should be accompanied by a Mehram (unmarriageable kin) or husband.

10.  She shouldn’t be in the state of Iddat (waiting period). 

Clarification: Some scholars have counted the last five conditions 6 to 10, namely (to be no obstacles from government, to be healthy, the ways should be safe, woman should be accompanied by a Mehram (unmarriageable kin) or husband and not to be in Iddat (waiting period) as performance compulsions, i.e. excluding these five conditions, Hajj becomes obligatory, But, since he/she is unable to perform, this is why, such person either has to cause perform his/her substitute hajj or make a will or when all the hurdles are removed, he/she should himself perform Hajj. 

Hajj like Salah, Fasting and Zakat is an important cardinal pillar of Islam. It is obligatory once in the whole life on a person who owns that much of wealth which can enable him to travel easily from his house to the holy Makkah and can afford the expenses of his family till his return.

Obligation of Hajj by the holy Qur’an:

As a right of Allah, it is obligatory on the people to perform Hajj of the House – on everyone who has the ability to manage (his) way to it. If one disbelieves, then Allah is independent of all the worlds. (Aale Imran: 97).

Narrated Ibne ‘Umar (RA): Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) Said:

Islam is based on (the following) five (principles):

1. To testify that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah and Muhammad is Allah’s Messenger (PBUH).

2. To offer the (compulsory congregational) salahs dutifully and perfectly.

3. To pay Zakat (i.e. obligatory charity).

4. To perform Hajj (i.e. Pilgrimage to Makkah)

5. To observe fast during the month of Ramadan.  (Bukhari & Muslim) 

It is narrated that ‘Abdullah (RA) said: “The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: “Perform Hajj and ‘Umrah consecutively, for they remove poverty and sins as the bellows removes impurity from the iron.’’ (Ibne Majah) 

The Hajj is a pilgrimage to Mecca. It is currently the largest annual pilgrimage in the world, and is the fifth pillar* of Islam, a moral obligation that must be carried out at least once in their lifetime by every able-bodied Muslim who can afford to do so. The Hajj is a demonstration of the solidarity of the Muslim people, and their submission to Allah (God). Shahadah (Profession of Faith), Salah (prayers), Zakat(Giving to the poor and needy), Ṣawm- Fasting during Ramadan, Hajj - Pilgrimage to Mecca

The pilgrimage occurs from the 7th to 13th day of Dhu al-Hijjah, the 12th month of the Islamic calendar. Because the Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar, eleven days shorter than the Gregorian calendar used in the Western world, the Gregorian date of the Hajj changes from year to year. In 2007, the Hajj was from December 17–21; in 2008 from December 6–10, and in 2009 will be November 25–29.In 2015 Sep End of month was Hajj, In 2016 Sep Month was Hajj (Dhu al Hijjah)