Has anybody gone to perform Hajj in the past 10 years? I want to know what it is like … mainly, what are the facilities like considering there will be a billion people there? I hope it’s clean.
Also, what happens if you have a camera on you? I know we can’t take pictures while on Hajj but if we are travelling to other places as well (Pakistan), then will the Saudis say anything if we have a camera on us or will they take it away?
Last question, are there any provisions for elderly people who are in a wheelchair?
I would like for you all to share your experiences if you can … particularly the ladies.
wow mashaAllah, r u goin this year for Hajj?
Just wanted to put in a request for your travel diary in advance... your omnibus will be extremely useful - I'm hoping to go the following year (Jan. 2006).
Yes, Inshallah my family will be going in January. We just have a few things to sort out first and then we’ll book a package.
The first gliche (well it’s not really a gliche) is that all the packages seem to use Royal Jordanian Airlines as the airline. They don’t fly from within Canada, which means we will first be shipped off to somewhere in the States and then fly to Amman (which I really don’t mind … maybe I’ll get a chance to shop) and from there to Arabia.
The second potential problem is that my nani ammi is coming with us so the authorities there might cause trouble since my dad doesn’t have any official documentation saying that she’s not only his mother in law, but also his khala … so the whole non-mehram thing shouldn’t come into play but there is always a chance that it may. My dad has spoken with the people organizing hajj packages and they said it was fine, that they would sort out the paperwork.
I performed Hajj last year and am just in the process of applying to go this coming year too. Feel free to PM me any specific questions you might have.
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*Originally posted by Shahreen: *
I performed Hajj last year and am just in the process of applying to go this coming year too. Feel free to PM me any specific questions you might have.
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Are you allowed go perform Hajj 2 years in a row? I thought they had a set time period between allowing people to go.
I may also be going for the first time, but its not confirmed yet.
Shahreen, did you have to take a connecting flight from Jordan? I just found out that we are flying to London and from there flying to Jordan and then to S.A. Hmmm, can we shop in Jordan? I hope they have good shops at the airport.
Stupid question, but do they have toilets and stuff set up for wudu along the Hajj route? I know they probably do but I’m worried it’ll be dirty cause of the millions of people that will be using it all.
What about shoes? I’m guessing flip flops and buying them over there would be most appropriate as it’ll be cheaper, and apparently, shoes are easily stolen there. People just wear anybody elses shoes so I figure, shouldn’t they be selling them there for those who’ve had their shoes taken? I’m thinking along the same lines when it comes to wearing an abaya … just buy it once we get there. I’m guessing they are readily available over there. Or would it be best to buy it before we leave here?
Are you allowed go perform Hajj 2 years in a row? I thought they had a set time period between allowing people to go.
I may also be going for the first time, but its not confirmed yet.
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I believe it depends on your country of original destination. Lasy year I went from France as I was living and working there, but this year I'm applying to go from the UK.
I believe it depends on your country of original destination. Lasy year I went from France as I was living and working there, but this year I'm applying to go from the UK.
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i doubt that..
since you have performed Hajj last year - you won't be able to do it this year - most likely you'll received the denied applicaiton - the time period has been set 5 years by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia followed by the year you performed Hajj
MehnazQ - is this your family's first time? if so - beware regarding your passport, hajj documents, money and other belongings - since you will be on the visit visa...you will asked by the authorities to show your passport and documents time and time again..
it's likely you will enter the Kingdom from Jeddah if you have a connecting flight from London/Jordon....Europe..i don't know about the shops in Jordan but you will be able to shop in Jeddah..
as for the toilets...they will be in bad condition on the Hajj route...but once you reached Makkah and Medinah.. you will fine..
as for the shoes...leave the expensive ones whereever you reside...but don't ...I REPEAT...don't take it with you at Mosque....or if you'd like to...keep it your place IN FRONT of your eyes where you offer prayers...if you forget where you put your shoes or slippers...or if you can't find them at the place you put it....most likely they are gone....i think it would be appropriate if you buy slippers once you reached the Kingdom..the cheap price should be under 8 riyals.
if you need to ask other questions - ASK - i'll ask to my family and let you know....:)
Thanks for the information Talha. I will definitely keep posting questions in this thread as they come up.
My father is the only one who has performed Hajj before. He last went in 1982. Apparently, now it has become very ‘organized’ compared to when he went before.
Right now, we are tentatively going to Karachi afterwards for a week. Last time I flew to Karachi, stuff was stolen from within our suitcases and I don’t want to be robbed when we are in Arabia cause obviously, we’ll have gifts for our relatives in Pakistan. I will leave the nice shoes at the hotel … what will they do with our camera though??? We need it for our trip but obviously, we won’t be taking any pictures in Arabia.
My nani ammi will be in a wheelchair cause it’ll be too much for her to do it all on foot. We’ve been told through the company we are booking with that they have guys who will make a circle around us women (me, my mom, my sis and my nani) to protect us, particularly during the throwing of the pebbles. Whether they will actually do this, I don’t know. My nani will be in a wheelchair though so hopefully, we won’t lose her in the crowd.
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*Originally posted by MehnazQ: *
what will they do with our camera though??? We need it for our trip but obviously, we won't be taking any pictures in Arabia.
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When we went Umrah a few years ago, we had our camera there and we were using it there, outside the holy places though of course. Although in one place my cousin was told off.
But best not to carry it into the mosques, since they do check your bags when u enter and my sis told me she saw one incident where a woman tried sneaking in a video camera (or something) and they threw it on the floor and it broke, maybe she was being persistent. Because another time my mum had a normal camera, they saw it in her bag and even asked her if it was, but they did nothing.
So best to just leave it with your main luggage and not carry it around much. Especially with the rush, it will probably have more chance of getting nicked.
when u get to mecca.. leave ure camera at the hotel.. walkin will be hard enuff in the rush.. forget bout takin pics....majority of times tehy dont allow it inside.. sometimes tehy do.. they wouldnt allow my mom to take it in.. but the next day my bro took it and he was allowed :D so ya. they are moody ppl..
ive never heard of anything gettin stolen from ppls luggage here... dont fret
hmm.. about ure naani, there is a service within haram shareef that u can use for the tawaf... They have this cot like thing that the handicapped person sits in. Then they are raised above head level and carried by 4 ppl (u can hire the cot and the ppl to carry her from a booth within the mosque) .. i know its not the best way to explain... but almost like a casket... (god forbid)... this is for the tawaaf only...]
if she does do her tawaf in a wheelchair.. its best to do it on the roof.. less ppl (as less as they can get in hajj :s )
for sayee a wheelchair will do .. either take ure own or u can get one for hire near teh sayee place... u can also get a man to push the wheelchair, but that usually happens only if u hire the wheelchair from teh sayee place...
when u get to teh stonin the devil part.. honestly.. let the men do it for u and the rest of the women... its not farz for a woman to go and do the actual stoning.. my father and brotehrs did it for us women... it can get very crazy out there.. if this isnt an option.. i would really insist u atleast leave ure naani out of it and get ure dad or someoen else to do the stoning on her behalf... they promise a lof of thigns initially, but u must understand.. 3 million pilgrims.... promises are bound to be broken at such a time...
you won’t be alllowed to take pictures in front of Haram…if you get caught - the police will take the reel out from your camera - they might even fine..
things have changed alot since 1982(tho i wasn’t even born then) but those who visit for Umera and Hajj for the first time - my advise would be to carry a locket with your name, the place you are staying, citizenship, and age around your neck - in case if some member of your family get lost(which i hope doesn’t happen) - you will be able to contact police immediately with description - and it would be an easy task for them(police) to find missing person…remember most of the shurtas(meaning police in Arabic) don’t speak English…and don’t be surprise by people staring at your while speaking English..
it’s Hajj time so there will be a rush when you take 7 rounds of Ka’ba and throw pebbles at the Satan(the place where casualities have had in last 4 or 5 years) - so be careful when you are there…or follow the advise given by khawateen - let men do it for you and women of your family.
People, I’m not stupid (despite my somewhat stupid posts ), I wouldn’t take pictures anywhere in S.A. … especially not in any masjid over there. I just wasn’t sure if they would even allow us to take it into the city (and leave it in the hotel).
Thanks for your helpful info and tips … I will keep posting questions here.
cuz the chance of contracting meningitis there is increased 
), I wouldn’t take pictures anywhere in S.A. … especially not in any masjid over there. I just wasn’t sure if they would even allow us to take it into the city (and leave it in the hotel).