All posts tagged: Hajj pilgrimage

Muslims begin the annual Hajj in sweltering heat against a backdrop of war concerns

Muslims begin the annual Hajj in sweltering heat against a backdrop of war concerns

Published by Sam Flores

MECCA, Saudi Arabia (AP) — The annual Hajj pilgrimage, one of the Five Pillars of Islam, officially began Monday. More than 1.5 million pilgrims have arrived in Saudi Arabia from outside the country, Saleh bin Saad Al-Murabba, commander of the Hajj passport forces, said Friday. The faithful have been pouring into the country for the Hajj against the backdrop of a tenuous ceasefire in the Iran war and related regional tensions and uncertainty. Egyptian pilgrim Samya Abdul Moneim said she was grateful to God that she made it to the Hajj, which is required once in a lifetime of every Muslim who can afford it and is physically able to make it. “I am in a state of blessing and happiness,” she said in Mecca on Sunday. “It’s an indescribable feeling, truly. I mean, thank God, I am in a blessing.” Typically on the first day, many pilgrims in Mecca converge on a vast tent camp in the nearby desert. Ahead of that, pilgrims have been circling the cube-shaped Kaaba in the Grand Mosque in …

NY City Council passes bill to protect Muslim pilgrims from Hajj scams

NY City Council passes bill to protect Muslim pilgrims from Hajj scams

Published by Sam Flores

(RNS) — The New York City Council passed a bill to educate New Yorkers on scams related to the Hajj and Umrah, the Islamic pilgrimages performed by millions every year. The first of its kind, the New York City bill aims to protect pilgrims, and particularly seniors, navigating the Hajj travel industry from scams related to travel, accommodation, catering services and visa applications. “Fraudulent travel packages, fake visa brokers, and predatory booking services have for too long targeted New York City Muslims who save for years to make these pilgrimages,” wrote Harlem Council Member Yusef Salaam, who sponsored the bill and is a Muslim, in a press release. Hajj, which begins on Sunday (May 24), is a seven-day pilgrimage that Muslims are expected to complete in their lifetime if they have the means and are physically fit. It is considered one of Islam’s five pillars and takes place in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, one of Islam’s holiest sites. Umrah, another pilgrimage to Mecca, is a non-mandatory ritual and can be accomplished at any time. Since 2022, …

As Iran war persists, some US Muslims consider risks of Mecca pilgrimage

As Iran war persists, some US Muslims consider risks of Mecca pilgrimage

Published by Sam Flores

STERLING HEIGHTS, Mich. (RNS and NPR) — Juber Ahmed, a pharmacist, and his mother, Shamima Akther, are preparing for a trip to Mecca in Saudi Arabia to perform the Hajj pilgrimage — a once-in-a-lifetime experience that’s considered a sacred obligation for Muslims. The Sterling Heights, Michigan, residents found out their applications to go were accepted in January, after months of waiting. “Honestly, that feeling, I still can’t find the words to express,” he said. “I was in tears, did sajdah as-sukr (offered gratitude) and then I hugged my mom, and both of us just were in tears.” Akther, 63, said she waited nearly 30 years to make the journey and wants to do it while she’s still physically able. “I was waiting for my kids to grow up so I can go with my oldest son,” she said.  They are among a few thousand pilgrims from the United States who will join the estimated 1.5 million people from around the world performing Hajj this year. Hajj is performed on the eighth through 13th days of …