Services for Umrah, Haj boosted

Services for Umrah, Haj boostedarabnews

Services for Umrah, Haj boosted

JEDDAH: There has been a significant improvement in the services provided by the Kingdom for Haj and Umrah pilgrims, including a major increase in capacity in Makkah and Madinah, the Cabinet announced on Monday night at its weekly meeting.

At the gathering chaired by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman at Al-Salam Palace in Jeddah, the Cabinet lauded the initiatives ordered by the monarch to expand the Two Holy Mosques, said Minister of Culture and Information Adel Al-Toraifi, according to the Saudi Press Agency.

The Cabinet confirmed that several parts of the massive expansion at the Grand Mosque have been completed, including the surrounding courtyards, the mataf or circumambulation area around the Kaaba, and several of the upper floors where pilgrims can perform the tawaf or circumambulation.

At the outset of the Cabinet session, King Salman thanked Allah Almighty for the advent of the holy month of Ramadan, and for bestowing blessings on the Kingdom. He wished citizens, expatriates and the Muslim world well over the coming month of fasting and hoped that achieving the objectives of this month would help unify the Muslim world. He said Islam was a religion of peace and compassion and rejected violence and extremism.

The king also praised the leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) for their efforts during their 16th consultative meeting, which he said would help ensure prosperity, stability and security in the region. He welcomed the formation of the Economic and Development Affairs Commission, the basic law of the Economic Judicial Commission, and the plan to hold regular meetings of defense, interior and foreign ministers to coordinate policies among the GCC countries.

Al-Toraifi said the Council of Ministers condemned the terrorist attack on the Jordanian intelligence headquarters in Albaqa’a, which resulted in the death of several people. He said the Kingdom stood with the Hashemite Kingdom in its fight against terrorism.

The Cabinet praised the marine mediums project started by the Ministry of Interior, being carried out by the Border Guard; and the project to design and produce unmanned aircraft by Prince Sultan Advanced Technology Research Institute.

The king briefed the Cabinet on the results of his meetings with the Prime Minister of Bangladesh and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Italy Paolo Gentiloni.

Al-Toraifi said that the Cabinet announced several decisions including approving the statute of the Arab Court of Human Rights after reviewing a report submitted by the Minister of Justice, and a Shoura Council resolution on the matter.

After reviewing the report submitted by the Ministry of Economy and Planning, the Cabinet approved the formation of the National Center for Strategic Development Studies, which is an advisory body aimed at providing input on economic development issues by carrying out studies and consultations for public and private sector bodies.

The Cabinet decided to approve the minutes of the Saudi-Jordanian Council of Coordination and the Saudi-UAE Council of Coordination; authorized the Education Ministry to sign a pact with Mauritania; and the Housing Ministry to ink an agreement with India.

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Source: arabnews.com

One going to hajj must perform two sacrifices

One going to hajj must perform two sacrifices

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah’s Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

If a person goes for Haj does he have to perform a sacrifice in Mecca as well as in his home or will the sacrifice in Mecca be enough. I have been told that a second sacrifice, specifically for Eid Al Adha is also mandatory for a person performing Haj despite his having performed a sacrifice in Mecca.

Please advise regarding this matter.

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

One going to hajj must perform two sacrifices

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Every believer who is actually performing the Hajj pilgrimage is obligated to offer at least one sacrifice on the Day of Adha at Muna, for the offering of the sacrifice is an obligatory rite of the Hajj pilgrimage.

For the believers who are not actually on the Hajj pilgrimage, the offering of a sacrifice on the Day of Adha is an extremely preferred Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (saws) and thus voluntary. If one offers the sacrifice for the Sake of Allah one would be eligible to receive a huge reward from their Lord; and if one for any reason chooses not to offer it, there is no sin.

To the best of our knowledge there is absolutely no obligation in Shariah on one who has fulfilled the Hajj rites and already offered their sacrifice during the Hajj days, to offer a second sacrifice when they return home.the sacrifice that they offered as one of their Hajj rites would more than suffice to fulfill their obligation.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allahs Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

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Article by: islamhelpline.net

Going to Umrah in Ramadan

Ibn-i Abbas, may Allah be pleased with them both, narrates:
When Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, wanted to go to the Farewell Hajj (His last Hajj-Pilgrimage to Mecca), a woman said to her husband: “Send me, too, on the camel to Hajj with the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him.”
Her husband replied: “I don’t have a camel with me to give you for Hajj.”
The woman said: “Send me to Hajj on that male camel.”
The man said: “It is under protection to be used on the way of Allah.” And he went to the Prophet.
“My wife sent her salaam (greetings) and Allah’s mercy (As-Salam wa Rahmatullah). She wanted me to send her to Hajj with you. She said: ‘Send me to Hajj with the Messenger of Allah.’ And I said I didn’t have a camel with me to give her for Hajj.
But my wife said: ‘Send me to Hajj with that camel.’
And I replied: ‘That camel is under protection to be used on the way of Allah.’
Thereupon, the Prophet said: “If you send your wife to Hajj on that camel, then the camel will be on the way of Allah.”
The man said: “My wife wanted me to ask what the equivalent deed is to the Hajj with you.”
The Messenger of Allah replied: “Convey to your wife my salaam, Allah’s mercy and barakat/blessings and tell her that Umrah (the lesser pilgrimage performed in Mecca. Unlike hajj, ‘umrah can be performed throughout the year.) in Ramadan is equivalent to Hajj with me.” (Abu Dawud, Manasik: 80; Muslim, Hajj: 221)
Umra in Ramadan is equivalent to Hajj
Abdullah ibn-i Abbas, may Allah be pleased with them both, narrates:
The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) told a woman from Ansar (The Believers in Madinah who helped and hosted the migrating Believers from Makkah):

Go to Umrah when the month of Ramadan comes. This is because the reward of Umrah performed in this month is equal to Hajj. (Nasai, Siyam: 6)

The Reward of Umrah in Ramadan
Ibn-i Abbas, may Allah be pleased with them both, narrates:
The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said:

Whoever reaches makkah in the month of Ramadan and fasts and passes his/her night worshipping as much as he can, Allah writes for him/her the reward of a hundred thousand fasting of the month of Ramadan performed outside of Makkah and Allah bestows on him/her for each day and night the reward of freeing a slave.
For each day, He writes the reward of a horse’s attack against the enemy on the way of Allah. And He writes for day a hasana (good deed), and for night a hasana. (Ibn Majah, Manasik: 106.)

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questionsonislam.com

Hajj: The Global Conference of the Ummah

Hajj: The Global Conference of the Ummah

Hajj: The Global Conference of the Ummah

We are all familiar with global summits and conferences during which presidents and other heads of state meet. Besides, foreign ministers, ministers of defense or others meet during other conferences. In the professional context, there are conferences for physicians, others for engineers and the same for other professions. For each of these conferences, there are authorities that organize them, call for them, determine their places and organize their programs.
Hajj is a great and unique global conference for the Muslim nation, and if the nation of Islam realizes and benefits from its merits and goals, its state would be better than it is nowadays.
The invitation to this great conference came from Allaah The Almighty to His Prophet Ibraaheem, the intimate friend of Allaah may Allaah exalt his mention. Allaah The Exalted Says (what means): {And proclaim to the people the Hajj [pilgrimage]; they will come to you on foot and on every lean camel; they will come from every distant pass.} [Quran 22:27] It is a historic and genuine invitation that is not renewed or revoked. The permanent place of holding the conference that never changes is the Sacred House of Allaah and its holy environs that combine divine blessing, historic antiqueness and religious sanctity. The agenda with all the words and deeds contained therein is dictated by virtue of the Order of Allaah The Almighty to Muhammad the Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allaah exalt his mention ) who said: “Learn your rituals from me (by seeing me performing them).”The people invited to this conference are Muslims, whether rulers or ruled, rich or poor, men or women, with no conditions or privileges other than Islam. The only qualification is to be a Muslim –and that is it.
As a result, this conference has been held periodically for thousands of years in the sacred sites. You can see the entire nation of Islam represented in it in various categories such as its rulers, scholars, common masses, leaders, soldiers, men, women, elderly and youth. Can a conference like this be without benefits or impact?
It is a question that should be on the mind of every Muslim and every pilgrim in order to meditate and reflect, then to benefit and work. The following are some reflections on the great conference of Hajj:

  • Every pilgrim travels long distances and crosses many borders. Some pilgrims come from the countries of disbelief or countries of oppression and suppression. All of them strive and suffer in order to reach the sacred sites and participate in the gathering. By crossing all the barriers and overcoming all the difficulties, they declare that the superiority of faith is greater, the caller towards Allaah The Almighty is worthier of being answered, the path of Islam is straighter and that the brothers of faith are nobler.
  • Its unique uniform distinguishes this conference, which is not a condition in other conferences. The pilgrim abandons his ordinary clothes and adornment and devotes himself to Allaah The Almighty. In this way, he declares that this world is not in his heart, that his value lies in the essence not the appearance. He testifies that if the caller to Allaah The Almighty calls and he hears the call to worship, the whole world with its adornments will never act as a barrier in his way; rather, he is ready to relinquish it for the Sake of Allaah The Almighty.
  • This conference reminds the nation to remove all the matters that divide it and to hold firm to the Islamic divine methodology and path. When they make Tawaaf around the honorable Ka‘bah, they declare this important principle that makes humble submissive worship to Allaah The Almighty and a continuous relationship with Allaah The Almighty the center of their lives.
  • This conference is an opportunity for setting the general policies of the nation, discussing problems, guiding and instructing through sermons in the season of Hajj , just like the comprehensive and all-inclusive Prophetic sermon in the Farewell Hajj.

Finally, Hajj is the season of practically demonstrating the unity of the Islamic nation where differences such as color, race and language dissolve. This unity is with respect to destination and intention, acts and deeds, dress and shape, and standing and movement. In addition, it unites the souls and strengthens ties along with the fulfilling a much greater purpose, which is linking the nation to its Creator, following His Sharee‘ah (Islamic law), elevating the Islamic standards and abolishing worldly criteria.
Does the Muslim nation realize the importance of these meanings and others? Do individual Muslims know these landmarks? There should be an initiative by the responsible leaders, pious scholars and all Muslims to achieve, along with fulfilling the obligation, the major benefits for the nation that is now suffering woes, defeat and division. Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {And [mention, O Muhammad], when We Designated for Ibraaheem (Abraham) the site of the House, [saying], “Do not associate anything with Me and purify My House for those who perform Tawaaf and those who stand [in prayer] and those who bow and prostrate. And proclaim to the people the Hajj [pilgrimage]; they will come to you on foot and on every lean camel; they will come from every distant pass – That they may witness benefits for themselves and mention the Name of Allaah on known days.} [Quran 22:26-28]

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Article by: www.islamweb.net

Selfies affecting Holy Kaaba

Selfies affecting Holy Kaabaimage by: saudigazette

Selfies affecting Holy Kaaba

Islam is the religion of peace and tolerance. It welcomes everyone, without discrimination on color, caste or creed.  It accept its followers the way they are, and asks them to worship no other than Allah (SWT) and accept the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, as His last messenger.
It’s been more than 1400 years since Islam has spread across the globe, and it is not only Arabs who are Muslims, but people from every country on every plant. With the development of science and technology, things are becoming easier compared to in the past for those travelling and visiting the Holy cities of Makkah and Madinah.
Yet, pilgrimages are performed just as when they started. Technology and smart phones have helped a lot, offering several advantages to pilgrims, but the new fashion of taking selfies while on pilgrimage has become the norm and has spread like an epidemic.
A selfie has become a way to show that a person was actually here. It began on Hajj, but now has now grown dramatically. A growing number of pilgrims stop and take selfies while circumambulating the Ka’ba. Several people have been seen making videos or taking a video call while circling the Ka’ba. We will not debate whether it’s right or wrong to use phones in this way on Hajj, but it certainly does affect others.
“I miss the old days when capturing pictures wasn’t allowed inside the Haram. At least, we didn’t used to end up bumping into each other” Rahat Saleem said after a recent visit to Makkah.
“Selfie craze is disturbing the normal flow of Tawaf and it causes problems not only to elderly, but to every worshipper.” Fatima Sharif, who is in the Kingdom on a visit from Pakistan, said.
“Personally I think it takes the pleasure and serenity away from the worship and from the task you are here perform in Makkah.” another pilgrim, who is saddened by selfie mania, said.
It is a person’s choice whether to take a picture or not, either for their memory or to show others, but one has to respect other people as well. Holy sites are always crowded with people coming from near and far to worship and perform pilgrimage. When a person stops at Mataf or Sa’ee just to have their picture taken, it hinders the flow, causing people to bump into each other.  At other times, your picture can include several strangers in the background male and female who should not be in your selfie. Always take a note of whether it is the right time or place, thinking about others first is also a good deed and will be rewarded.

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Article by: saudigazette.com.sa

Hajj to fall in hot summer months for next 10 years

Haj to fall in hot summer months for next 10 years

Hajj to fall in hot summer months for next 10 years

MAKKAH — Hajj seasons will come in hot weather for the next 10 years and many pilgrims may be subjected to sun strokes, warned a study carried by Makkah daily on Monday.
The study, conducted by the Institute of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques for Hajj and Umrah Research, said the Hajj seasons will fall in the hot summer months of September, August, July and June in the coming 10 years.
The study noted a high rise in cases of sunstroke during last year’s Hajj season and added that sun strokes and other diseases of summer will continue to afflict pilgrims during upcoming seasons.
It said Makkah and the surrounding areas will be too hot during the next decade and warned pilgrims to take the necessary precautions to remain safe.
The study advised the pilgrims to avoid the direct rays of the sun, use umbrellas, take lot of water and soft drinks, cover their heads, wear light clothes and put the air conditioner on while taking a bath.
It said the symptoms of sun stroke include hot body temperature, headaches and dizziness, loss of consciousness, fast heart beats and sweating.
According to the study, there were 1,014 cases of heat exhaustion last year, 723 sun strokes and 1,737 heat injuries.

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Article by: saudigazette.com.sa