TH TREATS PILGRIMS TO TOUR
Muzawir guide pilgrims to locations of historical value
TABUNG Haji’s (TH) Ziarah Luar programme in Madinah, where haj pilgrims are taken on a guided tour of locations here, besides the Prophet’s Mosque, helps deepen their understanding of Islam and prepares them for the challenge of haj.
The tour includes Quba Mosque, the first mosque Prophet Muhammad built when he arrived in Madinah. He used to go there every Saturday and offer two raka’at prayer.
“The prophet said whoever makes ablutions at home, and then goes and prays in Quba Mosque, he will have a reward like that of an umrah,” said Mohd Fakhruddin Parazi, 26, the head muzawir (Islamic guide) for TH’s Ziarah Luar programme.
The pilgrims are also taken to Martyrs Cemetery at the foot of Mount Uhud and Qi- blatayn Mosque where the prophet received the command to change the direction of prayer (qiblat) from Jerusalem to Mecca.
Fakhruddin said there were 70 muzawir involved in the programme, consisting of mainly Malaysian students from the Islamic University of Madinah.
He said the Malaysian haj pilgrims appreciated the tour as they realised how special it was to be in Madinah, the sacrifices that the prophet, his companions and followers made, and the rewards they would receive for their prayers.
“They can take this knowledge and spirit with them when they go to Mecca, For example, how the companions in Uhud would make sacrifices when they knew their comrades were in trouble,” Fakhruddin added.
Haj pilgrims Mohammad Adnan Mohammad Kassim, 42, and his wife Suhaila Muhammad, 40, from Kelantan praised the muzawirs for their clear briefing on the historical significance of the Battle of Uhud and the sacrifices of the martyrs.
“The explanation given covered details that we were not aware of before.
“He explained the role of each martyr. This is beneficial knowledge,” she said.
TH has reassured haj pilgrims and their families that the situation in Mecca was secured and under control, following a failed missile attack near the holy city by Yemen’s Houthi rebels.
Nurrin Anuwar Shamsuddin, deputy head (pilgrims’ welfare) of the 1438H Malaysian haj season, said TH was working with the Malaysian embassy in Riyadh and consul general in Jeddah on the safety aspect.
“We always get the latest information on safety from them. “No alert has been issued.
“The situation in under control and haj pilgrims can move freely, as there are no restrictions.”
Saudi defence forces on Thursday intercepted a ballistic missile 69km from Al-Wasliya in Taif. The missile, reportedly launched by Houthi rebels in Yemen, did not claim any lives.
The first group of Malaysian pilgrims is scheduled to arrive in Mecca tomorrow.