Pilgrimage to Makkah for hajj is a lifetime journey many Muslims dream of and plan for.
After two years of hajj restrictions, more than 130 British Muslims attended a hajj seminar in London on Sunday as they prepare for their hajj journey to Makkah.
Attendants of the seminar, hosted by the London Muslim Center, learned how to perform the fifth pillar of Islam. They were also given practical tips to ensure a smooth journey as well as health and safety advice.
📚 Read Also: The Spirituality of Hajj: An Introduction
“We want to make it easy for pilgrims to have a spiritual and uplifting journey,” Rashid Mogradia, CEO of the Council of British Hajjis (CBHUK), told Arab News.
“We’ve been running Hajj seminars since our inception in 2006. It was very important for us to reconnect with Hajj pilgrims face-to-face this year after the COVID-19 pandemic.”
The event, organized by the CBHUK, was the final in a series of seminars held across England by the organization, and was watched online by dozens of people.
📚 Read Also: 8 British Muslims Arrive Madinah on Bicycles for Hajj
It was given by Imam Yunus Dudhwala, a Muslim scholar and the head of chaplaincy at Barts Health NHS Trust.
Mogradia added that this year event was not only held to educate pilgrims about the rites of Hajj, but also “the latest developments in Saudi Arabia, and health and safety requirements in the Kingdom.”
He added: “Such events allow us to connect directly with the pilgrims themselves, and address the needs and concerns they may have at an early stage so that we can relieve any anxiety and stress pre-departure.”
Fears
While some pilgrims are already preparing for the journey, others are at risk of losing thousands of pounds due to the Saudi government’s sudden plan of enforcing online booking.
The problem occurred after Saudi government told pilgrims to use a website to register their interest, to be subsequently followed by a draw to choose who would go to Hajj.
Yet, the shocking news came after some Muslims had already booked with Hajj tour operators. Those would-be pilgrims could lose their money, BBC reported.
Famida, not her real name, is in her 30s and lives in the north west of England. Planning for hajj for more than two years, she said she felt “heartbroken” when she heard about the new regulations.
“It was so upsetting it actually made us cry,” she said.
Mohsin Shah, a Manchester based travel agent, was due to take 48 pilgrims to Makkah later this month. The new rules have disrupted his plans having to rebook their visit online.
“It’s a big (financial) impact (on us) because we’re not sure what’s going to happen and how we can arrange it because hotels were booked and transport,” he said
There are 3.72 million Muslims in the UK according to figures from Office for National Statistics. All pilgrims from Europe, America and Australia must use the new online portal to book their pilgrimage.
Every able-bodied adult Muslim who can financially afford the trip must perform hajj at least once in a lifetime.