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IN MAKKAHTUL MUKARRAMAH |
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Makkahtul Mukarramaah Pilgrims’ Grouping Center At the Pilgrims’ Grouping Center, make a written note of which bay your bus has been allocated and the plate number of your bus. This is because all the bays look alike and all the Muassassas buses are similar in colour and shape(!). Also, send two of your reps. with the bus driver to finish off all the necessary formalities. This can take anything up to 3 hours!! There are many eating facilities here, cold drinking water, (Zam Zam), an ablution block and a Masjid. At this center, one of the officers of the Muassassas will board your bus with the passports, and you will now be driven first to the Muassassas city office in Makkah. If your bus has people of different nationalities, (which is usually the case), then make a note of which number your Muassassas office is. (This number has been stuck on your passport at the Unified Agents’ desk at the Hajj Terminal). At your Muassassas office, your passports will be handed over to the officer-in-charge. (Please ensure that your reps. accompany the driver). The officer will demand two passport-size photos of each and every one of the Hujjaajj. Thus, from Madinah, ensure that your passport photos are kept handy i.e. in your hand purse and not in your luggage, (which will have been securely tied up on the top of the bus). This officer will tell the reps. to return to his office a couple of days later to collect all your I.D.’s which look something like our NRC, only larger. Make a mental note of the exact location of these offices by identifying some prominent landmark nearby.
All of you will also be issued with a color-coded wristband depicting the office number and its physical address. This wristband you will wear all the time till your departure from the kingdom. Next, the Muassassas office will allocate an official to you and transport you in their vehicle to your pre-paid lodging. This same office is now at your disposal till your departure from the kingdom. (It is supposed to assist you in your Tawaaf, Sa'ee, etc., but I have yet to encounter such services!). Functions of the Muassassas (Mutawwifs) These people are assigned by the Saudi Arabian government and are responsible for the needs of the Hujjaajj such as transportation between the Holy Sites, accommodation in the tents at Mina and Arafat, etc. Their office is also named the Experimental National Establishment for Pilgrims of ... (name of country or area e.g. African, European, Asian). Hence the Hujjaajj are grouped according to their nationality. These are the same people who keep your passport till your departure. These are the same people to whom you pay a fixed amount through the Saudi Arabian Embassy in your country. They have offices in Mina and Arafat and all are open 24 hours. These offices are normally staffed by individuals who speak the appropriate language of the countries they represent. Some of the services they provide are as follows:
They furnish you with an ID card in place of your passport. They arrange all you transportation and provide tents and related services in Mina and Arafat. They inspect your place of accommodation for its cleanliness, water availability, room occupancy, etc. They deal with disputes between the pilgrims and the agent/hotel. They assist during illnesses and emergencies with ambulance and hospital facilities. In the event of a death, they arrange for the necessary documentation and the funeral. They take care of pilgrims who have been lost. They provide books, guides, etc. and can arrange tours of various places in and around Makkah/Madinah/Jeddah.
Doors of the Haram
There are over a hundred doors to enter the Haram from. All of them look very similar but fortunately, are numbered both on the inside and outside, with most having a name also, the names and numbers being both in Arabic and English. These doors are numbered in an anti-clockwise fashion.
Bab-us-Salaam is Door No 24 and on many an occasion is closed because of people performing Sa’ee very near this door.
Near Door No 13 is a “Lost and Found Centre”, both for lost articles and lost people! Wheelchairs
Most entrance doors have steps/stairs and hence not suitable for wheelchairs.
Door No 11 is the main area for entering the Haram with a wheelchair.
Other doors providing wheelchair ramps are Doors No 1, 10, 43, 64 & 94.
Wheelchairs are available from inside the Haram near Safa Gate, Door No 11. To the right of this door are elevators going to the first floor where you will also find wheelchairs directly in front of you. All these wheelchairs are free but some form of ID has to be deposited as security. There is no one to push these chairs.
If you need someone to push then such wheelchairs are available from outside Door No 13 area and cost about 50 Riyals. However, these are not recommended as the person doing the pushing does not stop at Safa or Marwa for you to perform the Sunnat Du'aa. Note that if you are going to make use of these wheelchairs then you will complete your Sa'ee much earlier than those doing it on foot, hence pre-arrange a meeting place.
You need to obtain a permit from the office near Door No 12 if you have your own wheelchair in order to enter the Haram with your own make and model!
During busy periods, wheelchairs are not allowed at all. In this case you have to hire a “Shubriah”, (also known as a “Kursi”), which is carried by four persons and costs about 250-350 Riyals. (Note that the person doing Tawaaf in this stretcher-like carrier will complete Tawaaf before you, hence pre-arrange a meeting place).
Wheelchairs are allowed in the centre lanes on the ground floor and also on the first floor for Sa’ee.
Outside Door No 1 a new outlet has been opened for free usage of wheelchairs.
Ensure that the wheelchairs have a plastic band as a footrest, (as opposed to a metal pedal), since the latter can cause a painful injury to the person in front of you in the crowds. Retaining Same Room in Makkah If you are returning to Makkah before Hajj, it is highly advisable that you secure your rights to your room in Makkah while you are in Madinah and that you return to Makkah at least a couple of days before Hajj. You could also leave most of your luggage in your Makkah hotel room as a means of retaining your rights to the room since your “absent” days have already been paid for. Porters Do not worry about carrying your luggage, (albeit heavy luggage because of your Madinah shopping!), with you to your accommodation in Makkah because there are a lot of private porters roaming around, with large trolleys, only too eager to assist you at a nominal charge. Identification Documents Once you have settled down in your hotel, get the hotel’s business card and staple to it another one of your passport-size photos. On this same business card indicate your room no., passport no., and later, your Saudi I.D. no., when the latter is received a couple of days later. Carry this self-made I.D. card with you everywhere. Umrah It does not matter what time of the day it is, do not commence your Umrah now. Understandably, you are all too eager to come out of your Ihraam, but be patient, and wait until after Esha. After Esha, refreshen yourself with a good meal, visit the toilet and renew your Wudhu. You will need all the energy to complete your Umrah in a serene and calm manner. It may take as long as 3-4 hours, or as short as 1 hour, depending on the crowds and on whether you are performing everything on the rooftop, 1st. floor, or ground floor. Ensure that you have effected the Idjtibaa in your hotel room before commencing your Umrah Tawaaf, as to do Idjtibaa in the Haram, although allowed, is awkward. Also ensure that your womenfolk have sewn a ribbon/bow of a distinct color on the back of the headpiece of their “burkha” for easy identification from the rear in the crowds! Before commencing Tawaaf, get a bearing of your surroundings inside the Haram and identify landmarks which each one of you can easily spot, (e.g. three vertical green lights on the Masjid wall in line with Hajr-e-Aswad - this is a very common identifiable landmark - or neon lights indicating various gate numbers, etc.). The selected point should be the designated meeting place for all, in case you get lost or split up during Tawaaf, the latter being the more likely.
Avoid doing a Sunnat, (e.g. kissing the Hajr-e-Aswad or praying immediatelyy behind Maqam-e-Ibrahim), if it would mean harming others in the process, as harming others is Haraam. It is difficult to read and recite from Kitaabs or the Qur’aan without bumping into others, (males and females alike!), especially during Tawaaf; thus it is better to recite shorter Duas and/or verses from memory. Ensure that you, as a male, do not perform a Salaat near, (or behind), a female for whatever reason. Women should pray behind men in areas that are specifically designated for them by distinct barriers. However, it is highly advisable that your womenfolk pray all their Fardh Salaat in their respective hotel/apartment rooms. During Tawaaf, try and stay on the periphery of the Mataaf in order to avoid congestion, jostling and treading of toes. However, by doing this, your circuit will be longer, (but you will obtain more Thawaab.) Distance between Safa and Marwa is about 450 metres hence the total distance covered in Sa'ee will be just over 3 kilometres! The fast walking between the green lights for the males is nearer to Safa than Marwa. Shaving of Head (Halq/Qasr) AFTER Sa'ee, make Marwa gate on the outside of the Haram your meeting place, before going to the barbers. These barbers are just opposite this gate. In the meantime, the womenfolk can wait in the open plaza just outside the Safa-Marwa area. Do not allow them to return to the hotel on their own, as they are likely to get disorientated. Alternatively, instead of having your head shaven by the barbers at Marwa, you and your womenfolk could all return to your hotel and the men folk could then have their head shaven by barbers in the hotel’s vicinity. Cconfirm the price that the barber is going to charge for shaving your head before sitting on his chair. Generally they trick you by showing 3 fingers but end up, quarrelling, demanding 5 Riyals and they will tell you that 3 Riyals was for “Qasr” (trimming) and 5 Riyals for "Halq" (complete shaving). Ablution Block Toilet and Wudhu complex is also very near the Safa-Marwa area and cold Zam-Zam drinking water fountain taps are also found in close proximity. Ensure you have Wudhu all the time in the Haram Shareef or else you may miss out on the Salaat with Jamaat even if you get to the nearest Wudhu facility. This is because of difficulties in coming out of the Haram due to the crowds. Levels For Salaat in the Grand Mosque The Makkah Haram consists of four floors but “5” levels for Salaat. These are as follows: a. Basement Level This level is not apparent to many. This level has entrances from both the outside and inside of the Haram and admits both males and females and is only opened during peak periods. Normally this level is used for Salaat only.
b. Mataaf Level This is usually where the bulk of the people perform Tawaaf. Salaat is also performed here. This level is open to both males and females.
c. Ground Level This is part of the covered portion of the Masjid immediately adjacent to the Mataaf level and is of Turkish design. This level is used mainly for Salaat, although people do perform Tawaaf here, and is accessible to both males and females.
d. First Floor Level This is also part of the covered portion of the Masjid and is of Saudi origin. This level is accessible to both males and females via lifts, stairs and escalators and is used mainly for Salaat although people do perform Tawaaf here.
Close to Babul Umrah, this level can be accessed directly from the street using pedestrian bridges/fly- overs as the street here is at the same level as this floor.
Aluminium stairs found near the Sa’ee area are used for crossing the Masaa, (Sa’ee area), using the pedestrian flyovers, either into or out of the Haram. These stairs do not lead to the first floor.
e. Roof Level This floor is only for males all the time except during Hajj when females and children are allowed too. This floor is mainly for Salaat but people do perform Tawaaf and Sa'ee too. This level is accessible only via the escalators although some staircases do reach the roof level but are usually not open.
The Direction of the Qiblah in the Haram
The prayer mat-sized, prayer mat-shaped marble tiles in the new extension and in the Mataaf are all facing the Kaabaah. This is also true for the courtyard on the outside.
At some places, especially in the Turkish extension, these marble tiles are not laid in a circular fashion, hence are not facing the Kaabaah at any given point. However, if you look carefully on the floor, you will notice two parallel lines, blue in colour, etched in the marble floor right round this extension. These two lines, sometimes only visible in between adjacent carpets, are in a circular fashion, indicating the direction of the Qiblah. By following these blue lines you will be facing the Kaabaah even if this area is covered with rectangular carpets.
There is also a strip of dark-coloured tiles at various intervals which represents the direction of the Qiblah.
Avoid joining a row of prayers without ensuring the Qiblah direction as that row may not be facing the Qiblah at all. This is especially true in situations where the Kaabaah is not visible at all, and also in the ladies' section.
Qur'aans
It is advisable to have your own pocket Qur’aan with you from your home country as it will be of the “print” you are used to. In addition, you tend to lose your place of Salaat by getting up either to get a Qur’aan or to return it in the Haram.
Qur’aans in the text we are used to, (i.e. “ Pakistani” version), are available in the Haram but are placed haphazardly in the shelves, (unlike Madinah), and are difficult to identify from the bound edge. Daily Routine Ensure that each one of you has a “ Theli ” made of white calico to hang around your neck. This bag should have two vertical compartments - one for your slippers, (pata-patas), and the other for your collapsible umbrella or for a small plastic bottle of mineral, (or Zam Zam), water. This bag will ensure that both your arms remain free. While in Makkah, try and reverse the day for the night and vice-versa, getting up only for Zuhr and Asr. Try and begin your day of intense Ibaadaat from Maghrib till Fajr/Ishraaq, only breaking for supper and snacks. Sleep during the daytime. Zam Zam Water Buy, or fill, a 10-litre can of Zam Zam water regularly to keep in your room for drinking purposes. However, ideally it is the responsibility of the Muassassas office to ensure that you are constantly supplied with Zam Zam water(!) Water coolers, (iced and non-iced), of Zam Zam water dotted all over the Haram. Non-iced water coolers are marked with green Arabic writing. During busy periods, these coolers are removed in order to create more space for Salaat.
These containers have cup holders both on the right and left when facing them. On the right are supposed to be unused cups and on the left, used cups. Be wary of the cups you use!
The Zam Zam well entrance which used to be located diagonally behind Maqam-e-Ibrahim towards Safa has been closed and the area flattened since 2004 in order to make more space for Tawaaf and Salaat. These Zam Zam taps have now been relocated in the same area against the wall separating the Mataaf level from the "ground level". The taps at the Mataaf level are for the males whereas those on the "ground" level are for the females. Hence the females will have to climb a few steps to access these taps.
If you wish to fill large containers with Zam Zam water then such taps are outside Door No. 45 which is located under the ramp leading to the street. Alternatively, you may be allowed to fill a 500-750ml bottle from the coolers inside the Haram. Haram Clocks Dotted all around the inside of the Haram Shareef are square-faced clocks suspended from the ceiling. These clocks have two opposing faces, depicting Arabic/Islamic time, (which is 00:00hrs. at Maghrib time and 01:30hrs. at Esha Azaan time), and the other two opposing faces depicting the dial you are used to. Above these clocks is a continuous digital display of the various Azaan times for the day. Note that the Tahajjud Azaan is one hour earlier than Fajr Azaan. All Azaans are at Awwal times, hence Sehri ends with the onset of Fajr Azaan. Jamaat times are not fixed, (unlike in our hometowns), and they tend to vary on a daily basis. As Hajj draws nearer, the time between Azaan and Jamaat gets shorter and shorter, sometimes Iqaamat being called more or less immediately after Azaan(!). Ishraaq time is not indicated on these clocks. However, sunrise time is indicated and exactly twelve minutes later the rooftop spotlights go off indicating that Ishraaq time has now set in! About fifteen minutes before each Azaan time, the Muezzin blows into the public address system which alerts the female security officials to place themselves in such a position in the Haram so as to prevent the womenfolk going down into the Mataaf area. The womenfolk will instead be directed towards their designated prayer area. Invariably, after a Farz Salaat, an announcement in Arabic is made, and this is the call for a Janaazaa Salaat which will ensue a few minutes later. Note that in this Janaazaa Salaat, the Imam says “Assalamoalaikum Warahmatullahe Wabarakaatooh” once only but you should turn your head to either side. Juma Zuhr Salaat On any given Juma, the time between Zuhr Azaan and Khutba is extremely short, so much so that you may still be praying your Sunnats and the Khutba may have already started(!). No matter how early you go and secure a good place for Juma Zuhr Salaat, you will invariably be “squeezed” from all sides in due course. I personally would recommend that you join the Safs outside the Haram just before Azaan time, pray your four Sunnats, listen to the Khutba, (under a collapsible umbrella!), finish your Jamaat, and then return to your room to complete the rest of your Salaat. If you are going early then take a prayer mat with you in order to "book" your place! Your neighbour might just respect your domain as represented by the prayer mat! In case you do happen to pray Juma Zuhr inside the Haram, then do not venture to exit once you complete your Salaat as there is a lot of congestion at the exits and it may take you anything up to forty-five minutes to come out! A plausible alternative would be either to make a Tawaaf or to pray the Qur’aan and then make for the exits about thirty to forty-five minutes later. Disorientation If you do get lost anywhere in the city or its environs, locate the “Pilgrims Assistance Booths” which are set up all over to help the Hujjaajj locate their hotels, tents, Jamaraat, Masjids, etc. Alternatively, all of you could designate a noticeable landmark to meet at in case of getting lost. Baggage into the Haram You are not allowed to carry boxes, shopping bags, strollers, etc. into the Haram Shareef. Sometimes even Mussallahs and drinking water bottles are not allowed. These will have to be left outside the Masjid entrances from where they have a tendency to “disappear” as their safety is not guaranteed. Valuables into the Haram Be careful with your wallets/purses/money-belts, as these have been reported to have been snatched away or ripped open, even during Tawaaf/Sa'ee. Unfortunately, there are people who may try to con you with heart-breaking stories, especially in the Holy Places. Be wary to whom you may wish to give Lillah, or indeed, Zakaat. Footwear into the Haram It is advisable that you keep your footwear by you, (so as not to lose sight of them), either in a plastic bag, or better still, in the "theli" you have brought from home. Physical Security Check Be prepared to be physically searched by security personnel when entering the Haram. Females are searched by women and the males by men. Avoid any arguments, as the officials are only doing their assigned duties. It is actually more convenient to show them voluntarily what you are carrying on entering the Haram. Rooftop As Hajj approaches, the rooftop of the Haram in Makkah is opened and here it is very pleasant to pray Tahajjud/Fajr/Maghrib/Esha.
Medical Facilities
These are emergency facilities and are situated near Doors No 5, 64 and 94.
There is also an emergency clinic outside Door No 45 (=Babul Fatha). Office Hours and Weekends All facilities, (i.e. shops, banks, petrol stations, etc), are closed during the times of Salaat. The weekend commences on Thursday afternoon and ends on Friday night, normal week commencing on Saturday morning. Generally, shops are shut between Zuhr and Asr Salaat. Shopping There are virtually no price tags displayed on goods. Bargaining is the norm. The closer Hajj gets, the less the bargaining power you will have. Shops/stalls can be very busy so it is wise to give the exact amount or else you will have to wait for a long time for change or the attendant might even forget to give you change! Expect change to be “thrown” at you. The shop owner means no disrespect as this “throwing” is “normal”. Prices are generally the same both in Makkah and Madinah although Jeddah seems to be a bit more expensive. Do not taken small children's clothes or shoe sizes; instead measure them and draw the size of their feet on a piece of paper. This makes it easier to buy using measurement rather than a size. Do not forget to take a measuring tape with you. Similarly, for rings, measure their finger size with a piece of cotton or string. Ensure that branded goods are the original version e.g. Panasonic (not Pensonic), Citizen (not Citezen), Bata (not Rata), etc. When buying electrical items, check the voltage, whether 110V or 220V. Telephone System Fully automatic and one can dial almost anywhere in the world without the assistance of an operator. Telephone calls from your hotel are free of charge within the city; however, the lines can be quite busy. Avoid using the hotel’s telephone for international calls as these can be very expensive. Rather rely on the International Call Cabins which are all air-conditioned with privacy ensured, and are conveniently located. Cell phone sim card most convenient and easily available in the street. Since 2004, a special Hajj sim card, with special numbers, valid for the Hajj period only, was introduced at a cost of 100 Riyals. Although very convenient, mobile phones are a nuisance as they can be very disturbing during Salaat, more so during Fardh Salaat. Internet Services These are available all over the place while some upmarket hotels also provide this service. Electrical Supply In Jeddah it is mainly 110V while in Makkah and Madinah it is mainly 220V. Wall sockets are of the small, two-point, rounded variety. Buy an international plug adapter if you want to use any electrical item, especially to charge your cell phone. Foreign Exchange Shop around at the various banks and money exchangers for the best rates for your forex. It is often advantageous to have US$ than rather British Sterling. Internal Transportation All your transportation would have been paid for in advance and arranged by your agent as per the new visa regulations. Should the need arise, you can arrange for your own transportation, either private air-conditioned coaches/buses/taxis/limousines or the buses operated by the Saudi Arabian Public Transport Company, (SAPTCO). The arrival and departure of SAPTCO buses is directly in front of Door No. 79 (King Fahd Door) or if you are facing the Hilton Makkah Towers, then this station is to your right. The “yellow cabs” have Saudi Arabian drivers who do not speak anything but Arabic. Their cabs are slightly cheaper than the white limousines and may not be air-conditioned or as new as the limousines. If you are travelling from one place to another by taxi then agree on a price beforehand and do not pay the driver until he has reached the agreed destination. If he insists on being paid first then get another taxi. Fares are usually negotiable except for those departing from the airports. amadhaan
In Ramadhaan routine changes for almost everyone and everything as outlined below.
General Working Hours
These differ from the rest of the year, opening later in the morning and closing after Zuhr Salaat only to re-open after Esha till about 02.00hrs.
Food outlets are closed the whole day only to open about thirty minutes before Maghrib and close about thirty minutes before Fajr.
From the last five days of Ramadhaan till about a week after Eid is usually a public holiday during which government offices/banks etc. are closed. However, most shops are open although shops in Jeddah are usually closed for two days following Eid Day.
Zam Zam Containers
These containers are turned around from just before Fajr Adhaan till just before Maghrib Adhaan so that the tap outlet is hidden from view.
Personal Belongings
If these are not placed in designated places, (i.e. shoe racks/boxes), then they will be swept and dumped in a heap outside the Haram.
Canon Sound
Sometimes a cannon being fired can be heard. This is usually heard at Suhour starting time, Iftar time and to announce Eid if Ramadhaan is 29 days.
Salaat Times and Types
Esha Adhaan is two hours after Maghrib Adhaan while during other months this difference is one and a half hours.
Taraaweeh Salaat commences about five minutes after Esha Fardh is over.
The time between Adhaan and Iqaamat is fifteen minutes for Zuhr and Asr and ten minutes for Fajr, Maghrib and Esha. On the night before Eid, this time is adjusted to fifteen minutes. This also holds true for Fajr on Eid morning. Eid Salaat is conducted as soon as Ishraaq time sets in.
The total time for the whole Esha Salaat is two hours. Witr Salaat in congregation is performed in a manner which is alien to many so be wary.
A special Salaat called Qiyamul-Layl commences on the 21st night till the end of Ramadhaan at about 01.00hrs and lasts for one and a half to two hours. It consists of ten Rakaats, every two Rakaats lasting about fifteen minutes as all the pauses in this Salaat are quite lengthy.
The 27th and 29th nights are extremely crowded in the Haram. It is advisable to be in the Haram by Asr and only leave after Taraaweeh for a decent meal, relying on dates, water, coffee, tea, cakes, etc., (which you will have to “smuggle” into the Haram), for Iftar.
No announcement of any sort is made in the Haram whether the following day is Eid or not. However, this is done on radio and TV.
On the 29th of Ramadhaan, the clock display in the Haram will indicate Esha to be one and a half hours after Maghrib, instead of the allowable of two hours in Ramadhaan. Usually this is seen as an indication that the following day will be Eid. However, this is not so, as Esha will still be two hours after Maghrib if Ramadhaan is thirty days, (despite the clocks indicating otherwise).
Eid Salaat is about twenty minutes after sunrise, the latter time being indicated as Al-Shurook on the digital clocks.
Most shops are closed on Eid Day and the rest of the day is comparatively quieter than the last ten days of Ramadhaan.
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