High sense of decorum, critical to successful Hajj, cleric tells pilgrims

A cleric, Prof. Muhammad Abubakar-Walid, has charged pilgrims to be orderly and respect constituted authorities to enable the 2024 Hajj record the desired success.

The cleric, who is also a member of Da’awah Committee of Kebbi Pilgrims Welfare Board, stated this at a routine enlightenment session shortly after the dawn (Subhi) prayer in Makkah, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on Friday.

NEWSVERGE reports that the essence of the enlightenment session is to educate the pilgrims on rituals of Hajj towards an acceptable Hajj (Hajj Mabrur).

Abubakar-Walid said the call became imperative in view of the fact that Almighty Allah has instructed Muslims in the holy Qur’an to obey Him, obey His messenger and those in position of authority.

He advised those who might not leave Makkah early due to the screening processes up to the time of Juma’at prayer not to force themselves in observing Juma’at prayer at the Haram Mosque, “because your condition is just like a traveller.

“Therefore, observing Juma’at prayer is not obligatory upon you.

But you are expected to pray five congregational prayers of Zuhur, Asr, Magrib, Isha’i and Subhi in Muna and the following morning leave for Arfat for the D-Day, standing in the Mount of Arfat.”

Vividly explaining what is expected of a pilgrim, the cleric said: “Today, being the 8th of Dhul-Hajj, you are expected to take bath in your hotel room, perform ablution, wear your Ihram and pray two raka’ats, then board a vehicle to Muna.

“Inside the vehicle, once the driver starts moving, you pronounce “Labbaik Allahumma Hajjan” meaning, oh, Allah, I have answered your call to perform Hajj.

“From there, he/she will continue with Talbiyya ‘Labbaikallahumma labbaik, labbaika la sharika laka labbaik, innal hamda wanni’amata laka wal mulk, la sharikalak.”

On reaching Muna, the cleric said, a pilgrim is expected to rest and get ready for Arfat the following morning.

He advised pilgrims not to carry much load with them, as it might later become a budden to them, however, explaining that if a pilgrim so wishes to stay in Muna for the two days, 11 and 12 of Dhul-Hajj, then he/she could carry one set of cloth to change after stoning of third Jamrat with seven pebbles and shaving on the 10th.

The cleric added that a pilgrim is expected to stone all the three Jamarat with seven pebbles each on 11th Dhul-Hajj and repeat the same thing on 12th Dhul-Hajj.

Abubakar-Walid urged pilgrims to always ask questions on grey areas, “because you are not expected to serve God Almighty ignorantly.

”Allah (SWT) does not accept ignorant and reckless worship but pardons those who serve Him with knowledge but make mistakes or forgetfulness.”