Pilgrims benefit from projects in Makkah, holy sites

arabnews.com

Pilgrims benefit from projects in Makkah, holy sites

MAKKAH: Projects carried out by the government in Makkah and the holy sites are facilitating pilgrims’ movement and providing them with the services they need to complete their Hajj comfortably and easily.

The Makkah Development Authority has implemented 14 projects worth SR300 million ($80 million).

The most prominent projects are the third expansion of the Grand Mosque (the largest expansion in Saudi history), the Jamaarat facility, the Muaissem slaughterhouse, the shuttle bus service, Al-Mashaaer Metro, pedestrian routes separated from vehicle traffic, fire-resistant tents and the removal of slums.

The Jamaarat facility has attracted global attention for its advanced architectural construction and its ability to hold millions of people without any major incident.

Al-Mashaaer Metro is expected to accommodate more than 350,000 pilgrims this year. Maj. Gen. Hamid Al-Jahdali, assistant commander of Hajj security forces, said 9,500 soldiers and officers will help with crowd management at the metro.

“We have 17 trains, each has 12 vehicles, and each vehicle can accommodate 250 people, including 50 seats for the elderly and 200 standing,” he said.

“The total capacity of each metro is 3,200 passengers in nine stations. The total number of passengers will be 72,000 passengers per hour.”

Types of Packages

Prime travel agency of the UK, British Hajj Travel Ltd is famous for offering best Hajj packages and Umrah deals to British pilgrims.

VIP Hajj Packages   |   Golden Hajj Packages   |   Silver Hajj Packages   |   Deluxe Hajj Packages

VIP Umrah Packages   |   Golden Umrah Packages   |   Silver Umrah Packages    Deluxe Umrah Packages

source: arabnews.com

264,000 more pilgrims from abroad this year

source: saudigazette.com.sa

264,000 more pilgrims from abroad this year

THE number of foreign pilgrims performing Haj this year would be highest in history, according to sources at the Ministry of Haj and Umrah. Saudi authorities have made flawless and elaborate arrangements to receive the largest number of pilgrims in the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah and to ensure a hassle-free Haj. So far nearly one million foreign pilgrims have arrived in the Kingdom.

The number of foreign pilgrims last year was 13,25,372. However, this year, there will be an increase of about 264,000 pilgrims reaching a total of around 1.6 million. Most of them have started flocking the holy land from all over the world. This was made possible following Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman’s directive to lift the 20 percent cut in the quota of foreign pilgrims and 50 percent cut in the number of domestic pilgrims. The quota cut was enforced in 2012 due to the massive expansion works of mataf (circumambulation area around the Holy Kaaba) and the Grand Mosque.

As of Thursday, a total of 916,562 pilgrims have arrived in the Kingdom, an increase of 165,013 (22 percent) comparing with the same period last year. According to a statistical report of the General Directorate of Passports, the number of pilgrims who arrived by air reached 878,567, while the number of pilgrims who arrived by land and sea account for 35,023 and 2,972 respectively. Of these pilgrims, 607,715 reached Madinah to visit the Prophet’s Mosque and spend a few days in the holy city before setting out for Makkah.

Meanwhile, more than a million pilgrims and visitors offered Friday prayers at the Grand Mosque in Makkah and the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah. In his Friday sermon, Sheikh Faisal Bin Jameel Ghazzawi, imam and khateeb of the Grand Mosque, urged the pilgrims to engage in supplications and spiritual preparations in anticipation of their life-time journey which is around the corner.

The imam specially spoke about the virtues of the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah, asking pilgrims to take full advantage of them well before moving to the holy sites to perform the Haj rituals. “Haj is the greatest of all worships that make the believer much closer to Almighty Allah and there should not be any laxity and delay in utilizing the opportunity of performing this fifth pillar of Islam,” he said.

Sheikh Ali Al-Hudaifi, imam and khateeb of the Prophet’s Mosque, cited in his sermon a myriad benefits — both spiritual and material — a Muslim obtains by performing Haj. “Nobody except Almighty Allah can calculate the rewards and benefits of Haj. In the event of an acceptable Haj, Allah will safeguard a Muslim from the machinations of Satan during the rest of his life,” he said while urging pilgrims to be cautious to win the pleasure of God through respecting the Signs of Allah in the holy city as well as performing the rituals earnestly and not spoiling their rituals with involvement in worldly affairs.

Meanwhile, Minister of Islamic Affairs, Call and Guidance Sheikh Saleh Al-Asheikh launched the ministry’s media programs to educate pilgrims during the current Haj season. He said the plan included distribution of millions of publications, books, CDs, films and dawa mass media material in 32 international languages. “Around 100 satellite channels are taking part in educating pilgrims through the dissemination of films and programs produced by the ministry. The plan also reflects the Kingdom’s efforts in serving the pilgrims,” the minister said.

Types of Packages

Prime travel agency of the UK, British Hajj Travel Ltd is famous for offering best Hajj packages and Umrah deals to British pilgrims.

VIP Hajj Packages   |   Golden Hajj Packages   |   Silver Hajj Packages   |   Deluxe Hajj Packages

VIP Umrah Packages   |   Golden Umrah Packages   |   Silver Umrah Packages    Deluxe Umrah Packages

source: saudigazette.com.sa

Arafat Day on Aug. 31

Arafat Day on Aug. 31

RIYADH – Standing at Arafat, the main pillar of the annual pilgrimage of Haj, will be on Thursday, Aug. 31 and the first day of the Eid Al-Adha festival will be on Friday, Sept. 1, according to a statement issued by the Supreme Court on Tuesday.

The court, after holding a session at its headquarters in Riyadh, stated that a number of people who sighted the crescent moon of Dhul Hijjah on Tuesday evening made their testimonies in their respective regional courts. Accordingly, Wednesday, Aug. 23, will be the first day of the month of Dhul Hijja, after completing 30 days of Dhul Qada on Tuesday.

The Supreme court wished all pilgrims a successful and comfortable Haj, and greeted Muslims all over the world that Almighty Allah may accept their deeds.

Types of Packages

Prime travel agency of the UK, British Hajj Travel Ltd is famous for offering best Hajj packages and Umrah deals to British pilgrims.

VIP Umrah Packages  |  Golden Umrah Packages  |  Silver Umrah Packages   Deluxe Umrah Packages

source: saudigazette.com.sa

Luxury hajj and umrah packages for UK citizens and 5 star Hotels

Luxury hajj and umrah packages for UK citizens and 5 star Hotels

We, at British haj travel, provide dynamic hajj and Umrah packages to aid our brothers and sisters varying needs so they can enjoy their ibadah during the tour. 

The trust of millions of holy pilgrims makes us one of the best travel agency in UK specialized in reliable hajj and Umrah packages. Each packages contains all important facilities one would need during his hajj or Umrah tour in spiritual land of Mecca and mesmerizing air of Medina. 

From visa processes to flight bookings and finally completing your hajj or Umrah tour, we guide you through each process with our inexpensive hajj and Umrah packages.

5 star Hotels in Makkah and Madinah

The Holy cities of Makkah and Madina now have best of the world’s leading hotels and international chains including the prestigious Intercontinental, Sheraton, Sofitel, Hilton, Accor and the Marriott.

Types of Packages

Prime travel agency of the UK, British Hajj Travel Ltd is famous for offering best Hajj packages and Umrah deals to British pilgrims.

VIP Hajj Packages | Golden Hajj Packages | Silver Hajj Packages | Deluxe Hajj Packages

VIP Umrah Packages | Golden Umrah Packages | Silver Umrah Packages | Deluxe Umrah Packages

source: alkhairtravel.co.uk

Haj is not just a business | British haj travel

Haj is not just a business

Hajj is not just a business but this is the opportunity to serve the guest of Allah. With Haj less than a month away, many who have committed to perform this arduous requirement for Muslims are preparing for the task. Performance of the Haj (pilgrimage to Makkah) is required of every adult Muslim, male or female, if physically and financially possible. Many Muslims spend their entire lives saving and planning for this journey; others make the pilgrimage more than once if they are able.

The requirements for performing the pilgrimage are as follows:

• Pilgrims must have maturity and a sound mind, in order to understand the significance of the pilgrimage experience;

• They must have the physical capability to travel and perform the pilgrimage rites;

• They must demonstrate financial stability, be free of debt, so that they are able to bear the pilgrimage expenses as well as provide for dependents during travel.

For those who meet these criteria, performing the pilgrimage is obligatory at least once in their lifetime.

To combat the rising prices of performing Haj, the Haj Ministry in 2013 announced that it had licensed 22 companies to provide low-cost Haj services to domestic pilgrims, including expatriates. “These companies will charge SR1,900 to SR3,900,” it said, adding that such services would cover 20 percent of domestic pilgrims.

The ministry at the time said it was encouraging Haj companies to provide low-cost services to meet the requirements of a large number of Saudis and expatriates by providing incentives such as increasing the number of pilgrims they serve.

“They are also given priority in tent allocations in Mina,” a ministry official said. Moreover, they are allowed to rent 70 percent of buses from foreign companies. The ministry stressed that the prices of low-cost Haj firms would remain within the range of SR1,900 to SR3,900 in the coming years.

But many are finding it hard to pin down Haj operators who are abiding by the Ministry’s rules. One such hopeful is Yawar Ayub who because of his journey in a fruitless search for affordable Haj operators vented his ire in an email addressed to me.

He said: “I am an expatriate, and I have always read your columns and found you to be neutral, while discussing matters related to expatriates or Saudis. Hopefully, you will find time to read my email. I have been trying to get registered in a low-cost Haj scheme through the Internet since last year, but, unfortunately, I have not found the low-cost or Muyaser slot for low-income people on the official website. 

The website only shows the cost for the normal fare. Every time I search it is the same. I have even tried odd times like 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. in the morning or during the working day.

“Is this some type of joke with us low-income people or are the low-cost slots already distributed before the website goes online? Due to the rise in the cost of rent and other items including family fees, I was planning to send my family back, but before that I wanted to avail the opportunity of doing Haj while being in Saudi Arabia.

“I have complained to Allah and said that I am sorry that I am unable to afford the Haj from Saudi Arabia, and I am also writing this to you as I have no one else to share my feelings with. 

Please highlight this matter because no one is writing anything in the print media about the plight of us low-income people who want to perform Haj before returning home.

“There are many more like me who are wondering what to do. Once we go back to our country, it will be impossible to return and perform Haj due to the high traveling costs.”

Yawar has a legitimate complaint. Haj operators have raised prices atrociously with the result that many low-income people cannot afford to perform Haj. The website dedicated to supporting individuals like Yawar apparently falls short of expectations, leaving many dreams unrealized.

The Haj Ministry should review the prices that are being charged in order to ensure fair value, and prevent Haj from becoming just another business venture for greedy operators.

Types of Packages

Prime travel agency of the UK, British Hajj Travel Ltd is famous for offering best Hajj packages and Umrah deals to British pilgrims.

VIP Hajj Packages | Golden Hajj Packages | Silver Hajj Packages | Deluxe Hajj Packages

VIP Umrah Packages | Golden Umrah Packages | Silver Umrah Packages Deluxe Umrah Packages

source: saudigazette.com.sa

Importance Of Different Cities During Hajj And Umrah | British haj travel

Importance Of Different Cities During Hajj And Umrah | British haj travel

Importance Of Different Cities During Hajj And Umrah Each year millions of people travel from east and west to the Holy cities of Saudi Arabia in order to perform the most religious obligations of Islam. People tend to travel in the form of groups.

Often people travelling from the Western lands go to the Holy city Makkah first to perform Umrah and then they would travel to Madinah and would come back again. There are some groups who first travel to Madinah as well.

You don’t have to get worried about Ihram when landing in Jeddah if you are travelling with one of those groups who are going to Madinah because you are not getting entered in Makkah. This is the most preferable method of many pilgrims because then they don’t have to face the trouble of entering in Ihram when they are on plane.

Outside the Holy city, Madinah, there is a place called Dhu’l-$ulayfah and every single driver of bus and taxi stops at Dhu’l-$ulayfah and informs you that it is a particular place of gettinginto Ihram. 

Because people are travelling from all over the world, availing any kind of package like Hajj Packages 2017 from Birmingham, England or any other, and often don’t know the places and their names so the drivers are trained enough to inform all the pilgrims so that they don’t face any trouble.

In Dhu’l-$ulayfah, you perform the two rakaat of Namaz, wear your Ihram and then move to the next place. You also say Labbayk when you are in Dhu’l-$ulayfah. It is very important to note one thing that wearing and Ihram and being in the state of Ihram are two completely different things. 

You can wear your Ihram but unless you don’t say Labbayk then you would not be in the state of Ihram.

Contrary to this, if you are going to Makkah first then you must wear your Ihram in the plane. People often ask the question that if we are performing Hajj Tamattu in which you have to perform both Umrah and Hajj then is it necessary that you go to Dhu’l-$ulayfah to enter in the state of Ihram and say Labbayk ? 

Here the strongest point to be noted is that you might be wearing Ihram when you are coming back to Makkah because you are doing Hajj Tamattu and there is no point of wearing your Ihram again in Dhu’l-$ulayfah because you are in the period of enjoyment and pleasure. 

Since the word Tamattu means enjoyment, the purpose of this kind of Hajj is to take pleasure in normal daily routines as well.

Types of Packages

Prime travel agency of the UK, British Hajj Travel Ltd is famous for offering best Hajj packages and Umrah deals to British pilgrims.

VIP Hajj Packages   |   Golden Hajj Packages   |   Silver Hajj Packages   |   Deluxe Hajj Packages

VIP Umrah Packages   |   Golden Umrah Packages   |   Silver Umrah Packages    Deluxe Umrah Packages

source: articlesfactory.com