It is a dream for every Muslim to travel to Makkah to perform the lifetime journey of Hajj.
Towards this dream, they save cash for years and pray to be picked to make the journey.
Therefore, Rajab Rama, a 48-year-old businessman in Kenya, felt disappointed after news came to confirm cancellation of hajj for overseas pilgrims for the second year due to COVID-19.
“I got fully vaccinated for this, I knew that they would recognize vaccination certificates,” he told Anadolu Agency.
“I used to pray about this every day that they would allow me and my family to travel for Hajj, I am very disappointed.”
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Hassan Ole Naado, the national chairman of the Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims (Supkem), said he believes the cancellations of last year’s and this year’s Hajj for foreign pilgrims was that it was a “divine decree.”
“The Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims has received news of the cancellation of Hajj for international pilgrims for the 2021 season,” he said.
“We have accepted that it is Allah’s divine design that the multitudes will again this year not perform the Hajj. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is only playing out a script ordained by our Creator long before the creation of the universe.”
Return to Allah
Believing that hajj is an invitation from Allah, Ole Naado asked Kenyan Muslims to turn to Allah for repentance in order to be admitted for Hajj in the future.
“I am okay with that. It is beyond us now. If that is Allah’s will, so be it,” said Jamal Hakim, a would-be pilgrim.
Hajj ceremonies symbolize the essential concepts of the Islamic faith. It commemorates the trials of Prophet Abraham and his family.
Every able-bodied adult Muslim who can financially afford the trip must perform Hajj at least once in a lifetime.
Earlier this month, Saudi authorities announced hajj restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Kingdom said no foreign pilgrims would be allowed to perform Hajj this year, setting a maximum of 60,000 pilgrims.
Losing the chance to perform hajj this year, Hakim said he would never lose hope.
“As long as I am alive, I will go for Hajj as soon as it is announced. For now, I will keep praying for the pandemic to end. This is due to plans that are beyond us. Missing Hajj twice in a row is sad for us, but we cannot do anything. The 60,000 pilgrims allowed are meant to be there.”