November 07, 2013
Discover : Cairo * Kadhmain * Najaf * Kufa * Karbala * Sammarah,
Includes:
- International Flights
- All Transfers using a private A/c vehicl
- Accommodation of 9 Nights with all Meals
- Services of an English speaking Rahbar
- Support Documentation for obtaining Visa
Hajj is a fundamental duty to be performed once in a lifetime by every adult, sane, free and able Muslim, whether male or female.
The rituals associated with the Hajj remains unchanged from one thousand years ago but the method is unrecognizable.
Jets have replaced caravans of camels, the centuries old trade routes are non-existent beneath busy highways and the simple tents have given way to five-star hotels.
As much as the Hajj is a spiritual venture package deals and five-star luxury await those who can afford it including tents fully equipped with televisions, internet, computers, refrigerators, electric lighting and mobile phones.
Pilgrims of old slept in basic tents with minimal provisions, now they have the choice of luxury tent on the Hajj and a meal provided by a five-star hotel. Hajj travel packages for foreign pilgrims cost thousands.
You can zoom around Mecca in Japanese taxis, place long-distance telephone calls and watch NBA games beamed in via satellite and drive out to the Plain of Arafat in German buses, through traffic controlled by computers and closed circuit TV.
Aspects of the Hajj remain resolutely the same and the essential rites remain unchanged. You turn the Tawaf in precisely the same way the pilgrims did in 1050. The ihram, the requirement to wear two white robes, results in all pilgrims being brought down to the same level, affording them protection in large crowds.
Pilgrims still pray from noon to dusk on the plains of Arafat except now they travel there by bus or train instead of on foot.
The act of Sa'ee, running back and forth between the hillocks of Safa and Marwa takes place inside on a concourse, which even includes a special circuit for those in wheelchairs.
Instead of selecting a sacrificial animal at the markets pilgrims may pay for a coupon from a vending machine inside a gift shop.
Due to the complexity of the Hajj's rituals and the sheer size of the event, most pilgrims require the assistance of a guide or Mutawwif. In the past these would have been locals who had completed the Hajj before. Now Mutawwifs are regulated by the Ministry of Hajj and are usually professors or experts in Islam with PhD's and day jobs.
The modern pilgrim's Hajj differs in practice but not form. The rituals are the same though some of the settings have been altered and improved. The Hajj has evolved and expanded to cope with the vast numbers of pilgrims while maintaining the rituals' integrity.
Going on the Hajj is a serious undertaking. As it is a once in a lifetime experience for most people, early and adequate preparation cannot be underestimated. There is a considerable investment of time, money and physical effort required for the pilgrimage to be successful. Prospective pilgrims need to make sure they are prepared and ready for what will be one of the most memorable experiences of their lives.
Journeys of Faith can take care of the planning for you. We will present to you in 2013 various options to suite your requirements. Please bear with us till then.
