By Imam Yusef Maisonet I will remember this Hajj for the rest of my life. In my forty years as a Muslim, I have never expected anything like this. Hajj 2007 was my third time on hajj. The first was by myself and the second time was with my wife. However, this time, hajj had a special meaning to it because I was making a historical hajj with brothers from the Latino community, and I was making this hajj for a friend that had his intention on making this hajj and died before he could accomplish his goal. We spent

By Imam Yusef Maisonet Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates Allah blessed thirteen Muslims from the United States and one from France to attend a historical pioneer Imams Training Program in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) recently, after being randomly selected. All Praise is due to The Creator that I was among those selected to be a participant in this program. The Imams Training Program was put together by a brother with vision, Bro. Khalid Ahmed, who spent the last two years back and forth between the U.S. and the UAE, getting the logistics worked out. Dhabi sponsored this program, including

By Syed Abul Ala Maududi Excerpts from his book, “The Fundamentals of Islam.” Nature of journey for Hajj The people of the world are usually aware of two kinds of journey. One journey is that which is made to earn livelihood. The second one is that which is undertaken for pleasure and sight-seeing. In both [of] these journeys, a man is impelled to go abroad by his need and desire. He leaves home for a purpose of his own, he spends money or time for his own requirements, therefore, no question of sacrifice arises in such a journey. But the

From SoundVision http://www.soundvision.com/Info/hajj/prepare.asp Any Muslim who can afford it and is in good health must perform Hajj. it’s an obligation not an option. This once-in-a-lifetime experience for most Muslims requires the utmost preparation and planning beforehand. Below are some tips to help you start preparing today. 1. Ask Allah Say Bismillah (In the Name of Allah) and make Dua (supplication) to Allah to help you find the resources and time to perform Hajj this coming year. Only He can make it happen. 2. Discuss vacation time If you work or have other obligations, you must ensure you get the three

By Enrique Raheel Rojas Many people asked me about Hajj when I returned. My Christian parents were glad that I came home alive. However, I did not expect them to realize the full significance of Hajj. My brother-in-law did his best to stay awake during my retelling of my Hajj experiences. Alhamdulilah; this is or will be the extra experience that a Muslim revert will go through that a born Muslim will not. What can I say about Hajj other than what the Prophet (pbuh) said, “GO. Go as soon as you can or eliminate the conditions preventing you from

By Ni’mah Isma’il Nawwab http://www.saudiaramcoworld.com/issue/199204/the.journey.of.a.lifetime.htm Saudi Aramco WorldJuly-August 1992 The hajj, or pilgrimage to Makkah, a central duty of Islam whose origins date back to the Prophet Abraham, brings together Muslims of all races and tongues for one of life’s most moving spiritual experiences. For 14 centuries, countless millions of Muslims, men and women from the four corners of the earth, have made the pilgrimage to Makkah, the birthplace of Islam. In carrying out this obligation, they fulfill one of the five “pillars” of Islam, or central religious duties of the believer. Muslims trace the recorded origins of the divinely

By Kazi Mahmood http://www.islam-online.net/English/ArtCulture/2003/12/article05.shtml IslamOnlineDecember 17, 2003 Inside Mecca is a nice production depicting the journey of three Muslims from three continents: one from Malaysia, one from the United States and one from South Africa, describing their experiences both before and during the Hajj. One of the five pillars of Islam, the Hajj is required of all who can manage it at least once in a lifetime. Each year, Muslims from all over the world travel to Mecca to praise and give thanks to Allah, to ask pardon for their sins and renew their spiritual commitment through an elaborate series

By Damir AhmadIslamOnline Correspondent http://www.islam-online.net/English/News/2004-01/26/article03.shtml MOSCOW, January 26 (IslamOnline.net) Up to five thousand Russian Muslims undertake the holy journey to Makkah to perform hajj this year despite high costs. Many Russian Muslims complained about the highly-priced visa issuance, hajj costs and the hardships faced by pilgrims traveling by buses. Traveling by road costs about 36,000 Russian rubles ($1300), while by plane around 51,000 ($1800). According to the Saudi consul in Moscow, Abdal Razek Al-Kashmi, 3500 pilgrims were traveling by road this year. In sub-zero temperatures, the last 180-strong batch of pilgrims left the capital of Ingushetia Nazran Saturday, January 24,

By Shinoa Day 1: January 18, 2004Sunday 5:30am We’re here at the Novotel Hotel in Cairo where we spent three hours sleeping. Originally, we meant to go straight to Jeddah but our entire group missed our flights. Needless to say, this is my first opportunity to write down a few thoughts. It’s about 5:30am, and I’m waiting for Brenda to finish getting ready. We just washed and entered into the state of Ihram for Umrah. The rest of the group should be already downstairs eating breakfast. My own flight to London the previous night was calm and without much turbulence,

By Imam Ibn Qayyim al Jawziyyah http://www.muhajabah.com/poems/000056.htm By Him whose House the loving pilgrims visit,Responding with ihram at the appointed limit,Uncovering their heads in total humilityBefore One to Whom faces bow in servility.They exclaim in the valleys, “We have responded to You –All Praise is Yours, and Kingdom too!”He invited and they answered, with love and pleasure;When they called upon Him, nearer came the Divine treasure.You see them on their mounts, hair dusty and dishevelled,Yet never more content, never happier have they felt;Leaving homelands and families due to holy yearning,Unmoved are they by temptations of returning.Through plains and valleys, from