By Rehan Ansari, TwoCircles.net,
Mumbai: The perfect bright morning, sobbing people hugging each other, Ehram- (special two piece white cloth) clad pilgrims humming Labbaik Allhumma Labbaik. The scene on Monday was of the Mumbai Chatrapati Shivaji International Airport where the first caravan of Haj pilgrims from Mumbai left for Jeddah from the Saudi Airlines flight at 12.15 p.m.
Haj is one of the five tenets of Islam along with reciting Kalima, offering Salah, fasting in the month of Ramzan and giving Zakat every year. It is obligatory on every Muslim who can afford the expenses to perform Haj once in his life time.
Shakir Husain CEO of Haj Committee of India speaking on a farewell programme for Hajjis
“I have been to the Hajj earlier while working in Jeddah but this is the first time Alhamdulillah I got the opportunity of going with my wife and fulfilling the 5th responsibility of Islam” Rafique Ansari, 64 told TwoCircles.net. He was heading to Hajj with his wife Abeda. “May Allah offer this opportunity to every Muslims,” he prayed.
Abeda Ansari was concerned about her daughter. She said, “Thank God that Allah has provided this opportunity and I ask Allah to forgive our sins, mistakes and accept this endeavor.”
Gufran Khan, 10 years, was also going for Hajj with his parents. He said, “I am very excited because this is the first time I will be travelling in a plane that too for Hajj.” He added, “I have been listening about the home of Allah, Ka’aba. I thank Allah that I am going to see it finally.”
Chief Executive Officer of Hajj Committee of India, Shakir Husain, Arif Nasim Khan, Minister of Minority Affairs, and Kripa Shankar Singh, Sarfaraz Arzoo, Editor Hindustan Urdu Daily and volunteers from around Mumbai attended farewell programme at the Airport organized by Labbaik Committee.
Rafique Ansari with wife Abeda
“We have tried our best to improvise the services provided to Haj pilgrims but please forgive us if any mistakes are committed” announced Shakir Husain, CEO of the Hajj Committee. He added, “We have introduced a new facility from this year. Our staff will collect your luggage maximum of 45 Kg and a cane of Zamzam from your hotel a day before you will leave the holy Makkah and Medina after the hajj.” He also said that Haj pilgrims will be free with one air bag of 10 kg to take and report at the airport.
Shakir Husain also announced that from the next year every applicant of Hajj has to submit original Passport along with the application form.
Arif Nasim Khan, Minister of minority affairs, Maharashtra, said, “During the visit of the Prime Minister I and the Chief Minister requested him to ask the Saudi government to increase the quota of Hajis from India according to its population.” He added that Prime Minister assured us for the same.
Arif Nasim Khan requested the pilgrims to pray for the Peace and Harmony in the country.
Gufran Khan going for Hajj with his Parents
Dr. Shaikh Salahuddin and Arif Ansari are two among many activists volunteering at the airport and assisting Haj pilgrims. Dr.Salahuddin said, “We are volunteering here so that Allah May forgive our sins and accept our good deeds also call us for the Hajj.”
A total 575 Haj pilgrims left on Monday October, 17th from Mumbai in two flights.
India had asked for an increase of 40,000 seats, however only one-fourth could be approved by Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Haj. This year the quota of Indian Hajis was raised by 10,000 to 170,000.