1.) Perform Salaat with Jamaat regularly.

2.) Between the Fardh Salaat and the Salaat e Janaazah, one may perform 2 Rakaats of the Sunnats, if there is to be performed.

3.) Make as many Tawaafs as possible, the best time to make Tawaafs is 11pm to 2pm. It is reported in Tirmidhi, “Whosoever visits my house and performs 50 Tawaafs, returns home like one whom his mother has just given birth too (free from minor sins)”. So make 50 Tawaafs.

4.) It is permissible to perform Umrah before Hajj.

5.) More Tawaaf is better than more Umrah.

6.) Try to make 1 Khatam of The Noble Quraan in Makkah.

7.) Perform your Qadha Salaat.

8.) Value the place.

9.) It is permissible to shop but do not overdo it.

10.) Eat good food and sleep well.

11.) Do not claim to be an authority on Islaam, when you are not so.

12.) Attend the various programmes of reliable Ulema.

13.) Avoid acts of Bid’at and Shirk, strictly.

14.) Do not congregate in hotel lobbies and waste away your most valuable time.

15.) Avoid unnecessary company.

16.) Understand you are valuable, you are a Muslim, make duaa for the entire Mankind.

If one wants to go to Jeddah then the procedure is as follows; generally the agent charges a normal fee and arranges a day trip to Jeddah. This includes a visit to various Masjids, some graves, lunch and shopping. If you want to go with your family, then go to the Mohassasah office with one photo each, then at the office, a permit will be issued to you for the day trip, use it on that day. On the road to Jeddah, both going time and coming time there will be policemen to verify entry documents.

It is permissible to use a wheelchair for the journey, on the journey, for Tawaaf, for the 5 days etc. If one has one’s private wheelchair then one has to go to the governmental offices situated behind Safa/Marwah for a weekly permit. This will allow you to enter the Haram. The disadvantage of this is, daily permission is to be sent.

It is better to get a government approved and serviced wheelchair from one of their outlets. In 2002 it was near the general Hospital in Ajyad. They may take a deposit or your Mohassasah card. On returning the wheelchair you will get back your deposit. However, get a wheelchair that does not have a foot pedal but rather a plastic strap. If it does have a metal foot pedal than be cautious as to how you push the wheelchair. Pushing the wheelchair onto others from the back is extremely painful and you may injure someone on the path very seriously. Be absolutely considerate of others. In the 5

days the wheelchair can be used to load the luggage.

Before discussing the 5 days of Hajj, day to day, some useful information on the walking Hajj has to be shared. Mufti Aashiq Illahi Bulanshari Muhajir Madani (A.R.) once asked me how I perform Hajj, after I explained he gave a suggestion that we go to Arafaat and pitch a tent and spend the day under it. I replied, that we are South Africans, we are made out of Sugar Candy and that we will melt and die. However, on reaching Makkah, whilst having various question and answer sessions on the roof top, I promoted the idea and eight of us were ready.

The plan of action was simple, each one of us were going to bring 1

metre of nylon rope, 1 single bed sheet and some big napkin pins.

Upon reaching Masjid e Namira in Arafaat, instead of going to the South African tents which is about 3 kilometres from Namira, we looked for the first suitable spot and using the equipment we pitched a tent. We then passed the day of Arafaat under these make shift tents. The next year our numbers doubled and ever since it has been on the increase.

Another strategy was that we used when we were around 300

people was to read Fajr on the Mina/Muzfdalifah border. This meant leaving the South African tents before Fajr and making Fajr at the Mina/Muzdalifah border at the first time then proceeding immediately to Arafaat. Then we used to camp at Namira and then proceed to Muzdalifah/ Mina border to camp for the night of Eid. In this way we have a head start always. It worked and still can work for those groups which do not have large numbers.

However, our numbers swelled to 1500, when the currency exchange rate was good and the total South African contingent was 7000, now we average around 800 to 1000. Moreover, many have learnt what and how we plan the walk and have started to lead their own groups. All Praise is due to Allaah, we encourage such groups and make duaa they increase.

Due to huge numbers we added new methods and techniques. Huge South African Banners and flags, we have divided groups into 50’s with their own sub Ameers. We use neon- ribbons as markers.

Ladies adorn them on the back of their heads, whilst men wear it at the back of the Ihraam. A group in proportion to total quantity are appointed to serve as “sweepers”. This is to ensure that no one is lost/left behind/misplaced.

Although we clearly state that it is good to walk. It is better, easier, cheaper, safer, hassle free, comfortable and more rewarding to walk.

Some Ulema go from hotel to hotel and even over radio stations try to discourage walkers. But this seems to have an adverse effect, the more propagation against walking the more people that walk. It can be safely and academically proven that it is more rewarding to walk.

I do not want to go into the academics here, but will soon Insha – Allaah deal with this matter in a separate treatise. These days we walk to the South African tents in Arafaat and so far we have, by the Grace of Allaah Only, returned more than the quantity we started with.

1.) A good, knowledgeable, pious, strong Ameer who can make a decision and is certain of what he is doing.

2.) Banners/ flags/ markers and ribbons must be used if group is more than 100.

3.) Good inter communication system between leader in front and Ameer in the centre and sweeper in the back.

4.) A good pair of footwear which is Shari compliant. Females may use any footwear of their choice, whilst male’s footwear must have the raised foot bone exposed and the ankle bones bare. Use the footwear before the 5 days so that you become accustomed to it.

5.) Long umbrellas for men who are later going to use it as a walking stick and colourful short umbrellas for females, so it can be used as markers later.

6.) Essential little medication.

7.) A few books to read.

8.) Hajji mat with pillow.

9.) Backpack if possible.

10.) The lighter the better.

11.) Pair of sunglasses.

12.) An empty plastic bottle of water.

13.) Small empty plastic bag for stones.

The walking road has many facilities and amenities. It is a tar road, plenty of food and drinks available on the route. There are water sprouts every 12 metres and shower/ toilet facilities every 50

metres and clinic facilities every 300 metres. No bus fumes, no other form of traffic, only walkers. The road is marked to indicate how far to Arafaat. The first two walks are done in air extracted blower fans from Makkah to Mina and we also walk in sheds. There are sheds from one end of Mina to the other, and we walk mostly in the dark.

That is why; the route to take is to walk. By walking, you make your Hajj, by taking the bus, the Hajj is made for you.

They have now put benches to rest between the water sprouts.

There is also a Pilgrims Rest Service area where one can stop to find all necessary facilities therein. In the bus if you have companions who are troublesome, you are stuck with them but if you can avoid walking with troublesome people. However, if you are not well, weak, incapacitated, then don’t walk. It is not permissible for the husband to walk and send his wife with the bus or visa versa.

Take all that has been stipulated under section for walking but one may use a small bag and not necessarily a backpack. Travel lightly.

Some agents arrange private transport at a further cost. In all cases, note and be informed from where and at what time your bus is leaving. Make sure you are at the correct spot and right time to travel. This applies for all journeys, whether from Makkah to Mina, Mina to Arafaat, Arafaat to Muzdalifah, Muzdalifah to Mina.

Generally the bus has difficulty in reaching Muzdalifah. Make sure and be certain that the bus leaves you in Muzdalifah and not on the out skirts. Also many times the bus leaves you in Muzdalifah not to return. So you must walk from Muzdalifah to Mina. Know the road to your tent/ camp in Mina. In most cases you will have to make you own arrangements from Mina to Makkah and after Tawaaf e Ziyaarat find your own transport back to Mina. Try to excess the Saptco Public Transport or take a taxi +- SR 10 per passenger.

If your agent has arranged private transport from Makkah to Mina, be on time. Try not to use the transport back to Makkah or Azzizia on the 5th Day of Hajj. It is absolutely chaotic and everyone is rushing back to Makkah. The roads are jam packed and this short trip can take hours. Take a slow walk back to Makkah, make many stops, rest a lot, do not rush, there is enough food, water, toilet amenities available on the road path.

We have explained the basic requirements to be taken. The lighter the better, more Talbiyyah the easier. This applies both to walking and bus. You should have a vague idea of the route. This will aid if you get misplaced. You will not get lost. When over 50% of the Hujjaj are walking in one direction, how can you get lost.

There is enough food/ fruit/ drinks on the walking road. You will not Insha Allaah die of starvation as some agents tell you. I do not think that up to date, one Haji died on the walking road out of starvation. You should know when you are walking and have a rough idea of where you are stopping, walk slowly. You are doing the walking Hajj not the running Hajj. You should walk at a normal pace, so that the slower ones are catered for. You should serve others and not want to be served.

The most difficult walks are from Masjid e Namira to the tents. This is because you now walk for +-3 kilometres on road that has every type of vehicle on it. Lately the government is trying to devise a system whereby all busses etc will stop at the outer ring road and the inner roads will be free from vehicles. They have succeeded to a great extent.

Wheelchairs are available outside the Haram, At times it is better to use the wheelchair, than to go by bus. Weigh the pros and cons and make the decision. We have walked with elderly people on wheelchairs and babies in prams, 79 year old men, 69 year old women, 6 year old children and those who have the last ailment. No one dies, all survived. Most of them are still alive as I write. When a person makes Umrah 7 times around the Ka’abah it is about 0.5

kilometres. Between Safa and Marwah is about 375 metres, thus 7

rounds is equal to 2.6 kilometres. Thus in Umrah you walked 0.5 + 2.6 + 0.5 = 3.6 Kilometres. You did not faint etc. The distance between Makkah to Mina is 3.9 Kilometres till the tent is around 4.5

Kilometres. It is easy, our suggestion is that you try the first walk, between Makkah and Mina, if you find it easy and comfortable then attempt the next.

The distance between Makkah and Mina is around 4.5 kilometres = about 3 hours The distance between Mina and Arafaat (till the tent) is around 12

kilometres = about 5 hours The distance between Arafaat and Muzdalifah is around 5

kilometres = about 2 ½ hours The distance between Muzdalifah and Mina is around 5 kilometres = about 3 hours The time varies due to pace, number of stops, duration of stops, climate and co-ordination.