“Unfortunately we can no longer get our money back, and the hajj company is offering to provide credit for hajj in 2021. So, our money will remain out of reach for almost 16 months! Only Allah knows if we will live to go for hajj next year, and whether we will have to pay extra with the expected increase in travel prices post COVID-19,” Saad added.
Saad urged Muslim companies to honor their agreements with the pilgrims and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
She said, “We were tested with a tour agency that did not honor their refund date and one day before the refund deadline they decided to not accept any more cancellation requests. They refused to return our money.”
“I will take a moment here and send a call to everyone out there: Please honor your words it is Sunnah after all. Prophet Muhammad never broke his promises.”
Another Journey
Unable to perform Hajj this year, Saad however still relishes the beautiful memories of her umrah journey. Back in 2018, she visited the holy city of Makkah for the first time in her life.
“Alhamdulillah I was blessed to go to my first Umrah in October 2018. It was the best trip I experienced in my life as the spiritual factor was out of this world. It is such a blessing and honor to visit the Ka’bah and the Prophet’s mosque,” she said.
“I covered this amazing journey for AboutIslam.net through the lens of two sisters in faith, a convert and a teenager. I was rereading it today to freshen the beautiful memories and tears just flowed down and I totally lost it when I read the concluding words of the article: “For sure there would be many more umrahs to come. But, first hajj.”
As the COVID-19 upended the plans of Saad to make the sacred journey, she is determined to go next year to pilgrimage.
“They told us at the agency that our payment will be transferred to next year’s hajj in shaa Allah, the intention is still there so if there are no delaying factors, Allah wills we will go next year in shaa Allah.”