Pilgrims advised not to get carried away with gadgets

MADINAH: Malaysian haj pilgrims have been reminded not get carried away with their mobile phones or other gadgets while in the Holy Land for fear of ruining the quality of their pilgrimage.

Haj guide Ramli Ibrahim said that pilgrimage was the fifth and final pillar of Islam and should be done wholeheartedly and in the best manner possible.

“Allah has mentioned in the Quran that successful believers are those who are devout in prayers,” he told reporters after the ‘Yasin’ recital, ‘solat hajat’, and ‘doa selamat’ for a smooth haj season this year and the safety of pilgrims yesterday.

Hence, he reminded the pilgrims not to mix their pilgrimage with other activities including extreme use of gadgets that could stray their focus from getting a ‘mabrur’ haj (divinely accepted haj).

Meanwhile, this year’s Malaysian haj delegation deputy chief (Welfare) Nurinanuwar Shamsuddin said the Yasin recital, doa selamat and solat hajat were a tradition for the TH staff to mark the start of the haj season and praying for a successful haj operation.

“We hope that the pilgrims and TH staff on duty will be able to perform their haj safely and smoothly.

“God willing, with the prayers from us here and their family members back home, all of us could complete the pilgrimage safely and return home,” he said.

The first group of Malaysian pilgrims this year is scheduled to arrive at the Prince Mohammad Abdulaziz International Airport at 10 am (local time) yesterday.

As the pilgrims have been getting pre-clearance in Kuala Lumpur from the new fast-track immigration service, they are expected to arrive at the accommodation building much earlier than the previous year.