‘All I think about is Gaza': War weighs heavy on hajj pilgrims
The is an 'the opportunity of a lifetime'
MAKKAH: Away from home in Gaza, Palestinian pilgrim Mohammed Shehade said the rare chance he was given to perform hajj is overshadowed by fears for his family trapped in the war-battered territory. The 38-year-old engineer had been granted a permit to leave as he sought life-saving cancer treatment in Egypt, but Zionist authorities barred his family from accompanying him. He said his departure from the Gaza Strip in February presented him with 'the opportunity of a lifetime' to apply for the annual Muslim pilgrimage, which begins on Wednesday.
But even as he visited the holy sites in the Saudi city of Makkah, his heart was heavy with thoughts of his wife and four children stuck in Gaza under relentless bombardment. 'This is life's greatest suffering, to be far away from your family,' Shehade told AFP on a roadside leading to Makkah's Grand Mosque. He is among hundreds of Gazans set to perform Islam's holiest rites alongside more than a million worshippers from across the globe. As pilgrims robed in white filed by, Shehade said he had been praying day and night for the Gaza war to end and to be reunited with his family. 'You could be in the best place in the world but if you are away from your family, you will never be happy,' he said.
'Between two fires'
Zionist entity has relentlessly attacked Gaza since militant group Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on October 7, 2023, stopping the blistering military offensive only during two short-lived truces. Leaving Gaza has become practically impossible for most inhabitants, but some like Shehade have been evacuated on medical grounds. 'Here I am preparing to perform hajj but there are things I can't speak about. If I do I will cry,' he said as tears began to form in his eyes.
Shehade left Gaza during a truce, but Zionist entity has since renewed its intense bombing campaign and blocked aid deliveries, with the United Nations warning of widespread famine. 'When I left I was caught between two fires,' Shehade said of the choice to travel for an essential surgery and leave his family behind. The health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza said on Sunday that at least 4,149 people have been killed in the territory since Zionist entity resumed its offensive on March 18, taking the war's overall deaths toll to 54,418, mostly civilians.
2023 attack that triggered the war resulted in the deaths of 1,218 people, also mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official figures. US President Donald Trump said Friday that a new ceasefire deal was 'very close', but the negotiations have appeared to hit another dead end. Disillusioned after over a year and a half of failed talks, Shehade said he has 'grown scared of being optimistic and becoming disappointed once more'.
Prayers for peace
About 1,350 Gazans mostly residing in Egypt, in addition to another 500 who have been invited as guests of the Saudi king, are set to perform hajj this year, Palestinian officials said. One Gazan pilgrim, Rajaee Rajeh al-Kahlout, 48, fled the Palestinian territory for Egypt with his four children and his wife seven months after war erupted. His home was destroyed and his import-export business shattered. While hajj is normally a source of joy, Kahlout said it was impossible for him to think of celebrations. 'All my family, my sisters and brothers, are still in Gaza... Every waking moment, we fear for our family,' he told AFP, calling on pilgrims to pray for the war to end and loved ones to be reunited once more. 'I wish I could have come here during better times, without war, death and destruction.'
The hajj, one of the five pillars of Islam, must be completed by all Muslims with the means at least once. Official permits are allocated to countries through a quota system and distributed to individuals via a lottery. In the lobby of the Al-Nuzha Plus hotel in Makkah, where Gazan pilgrims are staying, a widow in her 60s told AFP she had not seen her 10 children since she was evacuated for medical reasons last year. She said she was praying for 'the children of Palestine' suffering from starvation and conflict. 'All I think about is Gaza, my whole life is there: my children, my home... I want to return.' - AFP
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Kuwait Times
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Arab Times
a day ago
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Avoid new shoes and look after your mental health. How to be well at the Hajj
ISLAMABAD, June 5, (AP): Hajj is the annual Islamic pilgrimage to Makkah that is required once in a lifetime of every Muslim who can afford it and is physically able to do it. It is a spiritual highlight for those fortunate enough to go, but it is also grueling and stressful. Pilgrims conduct their rituals outdoors, among huge crowds, walking up to 25 kilometers (15 miles) a day. There is often no privacy or personal space. Languages, routines, and surroundings can feel unfamiliar, and the emotional impact of doing the Hajj can also take its toll. Here are some ways to be well at the Hajj. Pilgrims work on their spiritual readiness to undertake the Hajj, but equally important is their physical preparation. Saudi authorities have published a 45-page safety kit in eight languages. It encourages people to do aerobic exercises for 30 minutes daily and to "make movement activities' like using the stairs instead of the elevator, before they travel to Saudi Arabia. There's a lot of walking at the Hajj, even when pilgrims are not performing rituals. Too much traffic, or not enough transport, means people end up walking up to 25 kilometers (15 miles) every day. All the rituals are on foot. High temperatures, adrenaline, and physical exertion will elevate the heart rate. If pilgrims are not used to working out, they should have at least prepared their bodies for the long periods that will be spent outdoors and upright, as going from an inactive or sedentary lifestyle straight to the Hajj will be a shock to the system. This year, temperatures at the Hajj are expected to reach 45 degrees Celsius (113 degrees Fahrenheit). The body's resting core temperature is typically about 37 degrees Celsius (98.6 degrees Fahrenheit), just 4 degrees Celsius (7 degrees Fahrenheit) away from catastrophe in the form of heatstroke. The bigger killer in the heat is the strain on the heart, especially for people who have cardiovascular disease. Blood rushes to the skin to help shed core heat, causing blood pressure to drop. The heart responds by trying to pump more blood to keep someone from passing out. Avoid going out during the day unless necessary. Seek shade and rest often, despite the temptation to go at top speed. The Hajj is a marathon not a sprint. White or pale-colored clothing and UV umbrellas reflect the sunlight, meaning your body and clothing won't get as hot. Oral rehydration sachets can help replenish electrolytes lost through sweating and physical exertion. There are also hands-free "Hajj' umbrellas that are worn on the head, allowing pilgrims to pray and carry out their rituals unencumbered. Avoid new shoes, says Dr. Hina Shahid, the London-based chair of the Muslim Doctors Association. "If you have new shoes, break them in beforehand. Make sure your footwear is comfortable. You don't want to get blisters.' Well-fitting sandals or sliders are fine for Mecca, which has well-paved roads and sidewalks. It is common to see Muslims streaming into the city by foot. There is smooth tiling on the outer courtyard of the Grand Mosque that is washed by an army of cleaners at regular intervals. But pilgrims go barefoot when circling the Kaaba, where the marble flooring is cool to the skin whatever the weather. But the terrain changes in Muzdalifah, where people collect pebbles to use in the symbolic stoning of pillars representing the devil. They also spend the night in the open air so it's better to wear a sturdier, closed-toe shoe and also at Mount Arafat, where people clamber over rocks to reach the hill's 70-meter-high (230 feet) summit to spend hours in prayer. Cough? Runny nose? Sore throat? Fever? That's "Hajj flu,' a nickname for the respiratory infection that people develop during the crowded conditions of the pilgrimage. It's common to see people wearing face masks during the Hajj, even though face coverings are not a religious requirement, because they are in close proximity to each other, making droplet infections inevitable. Pilgrims are exposed to new germs, new environments, and new routines. These are tough on the immune system when combined. To minimize the chances of developing the Hajj flu or giving it to others, pilgrims should wash their hands well, especially before eating and after sneezing, coughing or using the bathroom. Coughing or sneezing into the arm or elbow can help prevent the spread of germs when a tissue isn't available. It's worth sanitizing frequently touched objects and surfaces in the camps at Mina and opening windows for ventilation. It's important to stay on top of mandatory and recommended vaccinations before traveling to Saudi Arabia. The Hajj can be daunting because of its scale, religious significance, practical difficulties, the expense, the physical exertion, and the pressure to get it right. It is one of the Five Pillars of Islam, the core beliefs and acts of worship that Muslims must practice. It can feel tough to fulfill this obligation when you're away from home comforts. Not following your normal routine, sleep deprivation, vast cultural and linguistic differences, and being surrounded by upward of 1.5 million strangers add to the challenges. You can't even wear your regular clothes. These factors can rattle your calm, kindness, and patience. Prioritizing your health, and resting whenever needed, can alleviate some of the stress. Focusing on what you are doing, rather than comparing yourself to others, can also relieve the pressure. Being grateful for the opportunity to be at the Hajj will help remind you why you are there. Talking to friends and family back home will ground you. Hajj is about endurance, humility, mindfulness, and struggle. A willingness to let go of negative emotions. It's a test of your spiritual connection with God, even when everything around you is testing that connection.
