Dear Hujjaaj…

Pic Credit: Unsplash

Published by: Halaal Travels

Author: Aarifah Suliman

Dear Hujjaaj

How I yearn to be you. May the honour of the invite you have been given never be taken lightly.

I travelled in 2019 for a 6 week Hajj. Subsequently, Alhamdudillah I have travelled extensively and lived extensively in several countries. There is no better way to spend your money then in the path of your Hajj. Yes its not cheap. But it’s priceless. My personal recommendation is to do the 6 weeks. Wallah the money will come. You have been invited by Allah who created money. It will come.

Make the sacrifices in everything. Take unpaid leave if you must. Sell that extra set of gold jewellery you wear once every five years or less. Do 6 weeks so that when you in Medina you have the time to enjoy this Haram before the crowds and to spiritually prepare yourself. Stay in Makkah till the last possible day you can. Sacrifice. Don’t buy a single gift for anyone at home if you need to. Take bakers biscuits and have a cup of Zam Zam tea with biscuits for lunch (we did that several times). To go early gives you the time to acclimatise and maximise. We met several people in and after Hajj that said they wish they went for longer.

Very rarely will you ever have the opportunity to return to the holy lands for 6 weeks. As a female who went everyday to the Rawdah, twice in one day with 10 rakaah of salaah. Once alone with the guards in the Rawda on a Jummuah. Returned for Jummah Salah inside the Haram.  Made 52 Tawaaf in Makkah. Spent all 6 days of Hajj without going to Aziziyah once.

Make the very most of your Hajj.

Wallahi nowhere and nothing in the world will compare. Also remember. You have been invited by Allah. The best of hosts. It will all work out Insha’Allah. Have your Taqwah and at all times remember how fortunate you are.💕

Also as someone who has lived in 3 countries on 2 continents and sat on 20 planes in 2023. I can tell you this. The world has gone very expensive. Also with an almost R18/dollar exchange you are fighting an uphill battle.

But this is your Hajj.

Wallah Allah will replace every expense with so much more barakah in your life. Please dear Hujaaj. Don’t complain about the price. Pay it with the right intention.

About the Author: Aarifah Suliman is a CA(SA) from South Africa. She has had the opportunity to live in 3 countries across 2 continents in one year. She has spent time in Malaysia, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Palestine and Qatar. She has completed her Hajj in 2019.

Click here for Aarifah’s Instagram Account