Latest news with #Masyair
Barnama
5 days ago
- General
- Barnama
Blind For 38 Years, Retired Teacher Fulfils Dream Of Performing Haj Pilgrimage
From Nurliyana Farhah Ruslan MAKKAH, May 30 (Bernama) -- Amidst the sea of millions of pilgrims gathered in the Holy Land, a woman's heart overflowed with gratitude as she fulfilled a lifelong dream, despite having lost her sight for the past 38 years. Zawiah Mohamad, 62, a former mathematics teacher, has been blind since the age of 24 after battling glaucoma that began affecting her vision at 16. Yet, standing in the sacred precincts of Masjidil Haram, she considers herself immensely blessed. 'Words cannot describe how much Allah loves me. Even though I was tested with the loss of my sight, which was never mine, but loaned by Him, I remain content. As long as I have this breath, and granted the chance to set foot in the Grand Mosque as a Duyufurrahman, I am thankful. Insya Allah, I will proceed with the Masyair in a few days,' she shared with reporters here. Zawiah reflected on a difficult chapter of her life when doctors urged her to terminate her pregnancy and undergo immediate eye surgery to save her vision. But driven by faith and maternal instinct, she refused. 'I got married in December 1986 and found out I was expecting in August 1987. Towards the end of September that year, I developed a high fever, severe headaches, and it felt as if needles were piercing my eyes. I couldn't open them at all. 'Then, on the morning of September 26, the pain subsided. I tried to open my eyes, but everything was dark,' she recounted with a trembling voice. Despite the hardship, Zawiah safely gave birth to her first son on May 6, 1988, a moment she considers one of the greatest blessings of her life. Accompanied by her husband Mohd Isa Yakob, 62, and their two daughters, Nor Salehah Mohd Isa, 36, and Faizah Suaida Mohd Isa, 25, Zawiah also holds on to hope for a miracle — the restoration of her sight.
The Sun
7 days ago
- The Sun
Pilgrims advised to send purchases home via post for smoother worship, hassle-free return journey
MAKKAH: Malaysian pilgrims are advised to plan their purchases and arrange to post items home early while in the Holy Land to ensure a smoother worship experience, especially in preparation for Wukuf Day, and to provide greater comfort during their return journey home. Pilgrims Fund Board (TH) External Services Manager Mohamad Zamry Mohd Noor said in previous Haj seasons, many pilgrims tend to buy souvenirs and gifts at the last minute, when that period should instead be fully devoted to acts of worship, especially during the Masyair phase. 'Pilgrims are encouraged to immediately send purchased items to the mailing counter provided in the accommodation lobby without bringing them up to their rooms. This measure helps avoid room congestion, ensuring greater comfort and preventing fatigue when returning home. 'Imagine if pilgrims have to carry more than 10 like lifting a sack of rice. The journey from the accommodation to the airport, including climbing stairs and handling luggage for check-in and into the aircraft cabin, can be extremely tiring. 'In the end, pilgrims arrive home completely exhausted,' he said when met by the media here recently. He said that as of May 18, more than 85,000 kg of pilgrims' belongings had been posted back to Malaysia since April 29, with an estimated cost of nearly 1.5 million Saudi Riyals. Mohamad Zamry said pilgrims can also send copies of the Quran through the postal service, with each copy properly wrapped and affixed with a special sticker. These items will be handled separately to ensure their safety and proper preservation, he said. He said according to the agreement between Tabung Haji and the shipping company, each package is covered by takaful guarantee and is assured of safe delivery to Malaysia. 'In the event of loss, the shipping company is responsible for paying compensation to the pilgrims. For items worth more than RM1,000, pilgrims can also choose to take out additional insurance coverage by making a payment to the shipping company,' he said. Meanwhile, Mohammad Zamry reminded pilgrims not to post Zamzam water, as it is classified as a prohibited item by the Saudi Arabian government. 'There were a few pilgrims in the previous haj seasons who sent Zamzam water in small bottles via cargo delivery without the knowledge of the operator, and this action ultimately resulted in their goods being detained or not reaching Malaysia,' he said. For this year's haj season, TH approved five logistics companies, including their subsidiaries, to provide postal service for Malaysian pilgrims in the Holy Land. They are TH Travel & Services Sdn Bhd, Post Malaysia Berhad, FGV Transport Services Sdn Bhd, MASkargo and Logistics Sdn. Bhd and KTH Logistics Sdn Bhd. In Madinah, the service is available at Saja Al Madinah Hotel, Emaar Royal Hotel and Anwar Al Madinah Movenpick, while in Makkah, there are at Abraj Al Janadriyah, Qasar Janadriyah, Rehab Janadriyah, Abraj Al Tayseer, Diary Al Saad, Land Premium and Al Fajar Al Badee 5.
The Sun
7 days ago
- The Sun
Pilgrims urged to ship souvenirs early for smoother haj
MAKKAH: Malaysian pilgrims are advised to plan their purchases and arrange to post items home early while in the Holy Land to ensure a smoother worship experience, especially in preparation for Wukuf Day, and to provide greater comfort during their return journey home. Pilgrims Fund Board (TH) External Services Manager Mohamad Zamry Mohd Noor said in previous Haj seasons, many pilgrims tend to buy souvenirs and gifts at the last minute, when that period should instead be fully devoted to acts of worship, especially during the Masyair phase. 'Pilgrims are encouraged to immediately send purchased items to the mailing counter provided in the accommodation lobby without bringing them up to their rooms. This measure helps avoid room congestion, ensuring greater comfort and preventing fatigue when returning home. 'Imagine if pilgrims have to carry more than 10 like lifting a sack of rice. The journey from the accommodation to the airport, including climbing stairs and handling luggage for check-in and into the aircraft cabin, can be extremely tiring. 'In the end, pilgrims arrive home completely exhausted,' he said when met by the media here recently. He said that as of May 18, more than 85,000 kg of pilgrims' belongings had been posted back to Malaysia since April 29, with an estimated cost of nearly 1.5 million Saudi Riyals. Mohamad Zamry said pilgrims can also send copies of the Quran through the postal service, with each copy properly wrapped and affixed with a special sticker. These items will be handled separately to ensure their safety and proper preservation, he said. He said according to the agreement between Tabung Haji and the shipping company, each package is covered by takaful guarantee and is assured of safe delivery to Malaysia. 'In the event of loss, the shipping company is responsible for paying compensation to the pilgrims. For items worth more than RM1,000, pilgrims can also choose to take out additional insurance coverage by making a payment to the shipping company,' he said. Meanwhile, Mohammad Zamry reminded pilgrims not to post Zamzam water, as it is classified as a prohibited item by the Saudi Arabian government. 'There were a few pilgrims in the previous haj seasons who sent Zamzam water in small bottles via cargo delivery without the knowledge of the operator, and this action ultimately resulted in their goods being detained or not reaching Malaysia,' he said. For this year's haj season, TH approved five logistics companies, including their subsidiaries, to provide postal service for Malaysian pilgrims in the Holy Land. They are TH Travel & Services Sdn Bhd, Post Malaysia Berhad, FGV Transport Services Sdn Bhd, MASkargo and Logistics Sdn. Bhd and KTH Logistics Sdn Bhd. In Madinah, the service is available at Saja Al Madinah Hotel, Emaar Royal Hotel and Anwar Al Madinah Movenpick, while in Makkah, there are at Abraj Al Janadriyah, Qasar Janadriyah, Rehab Janadriyah, Abraj Al Tayseer, Diary Al Saad, Land Premium and Al Fajar Al Badee 5.
Barnama
7 days ago
- Barnama
Pilgrims Advised To Send Purchases Home Via Post For Smoother Worship, Hassle-free Return Journey
By Nurliyana Farhah Ruslan MAKKAH, May 28 (Bernama) -- Malaysian pilgrims are advised to plan their purchases and arrange to post items home early while in the Holy Land to ensure a smoother worship experience, especially in preparation for Wukuf Day, and to provide greater comfort during their return journey home. Pilgrims Fund Board (TH) External Services Manager Mohamad Zamry Mohd Noor said in previous Haj seasons, many pilgrims tend to buy souvenirs and gifts at the last minute, when that period should instead be fully devoted to acts of worship, especially during the Masyair phase. "Pilgrims are encouraged to immediately send purchased items to the mailing counter provided in the accommodation lobby without bringing them up to their rooms. This measure helps avoid room congestion, ensuring greater comfort and preventing fatigue when returning home. "Imagine if pilgrims have to carry more than 10 like lifting a sack of rice. The journey from the accommodation to the airport, including climbing stairs and handling luggage for check-in and into the aircraft cabin, can be extremely tiring. 'In the end, pilgrims arrive home completely exhausted,' he said when met by the media here recently. He said that as of May 18, more than 85,000 kg of pilgrims' belongings had been posted back to Malaysia since April 29, with an estimated cost of nearly 1.5 million Saudi Riyals. Mohamad Zamry said pilgrims can also send copies of the Quran through the postal service, with each copy properly wrapped and affixed with a special sticker. These items will be handled separately to ensure their safety and proper preservation, he said.
The Sun
21-05-2025
- The Sun
Masyair: A test of endurance, mental and emotional strength for haj pilgrims
MAKKAH: The peak phase of the Haj pilgrimage, known as Masyair, is not just a physical journey, but also a test of endurance, as well as mental and emotional strength in pursuing a haj mabrur, a pilgrimage that is accepted and blessed by Allah. Manager of the Tabung Haji Counselling Services Unit Azlina Abd Wahid said that although the pilgrims have undergone thorough preparations, since from home, the real pressure will begin to be felt when they enter the important period between the 8th to the 13th of Zulhijjah. 'First and foremost, always be grateful for whatever tests that come our way. Be grateful, insya-Allah, the heaviness in our hearts will gradually ease, and unpleasant feelings will begin to fade. 'Secondly, be patient. Patience is a command from Allah and is not easy to practice, but if we train ourselves to continue being patient even though it is difficult at first, over time it will become a part of us and patience will eventually become a peaceful routine,' she told reporters here. Azlina said that when in Arafah, pilgrims will follow a special programme until the time for wukuf, but the situation is different in Mina when pilgrims need to fill their time with useful activities. 'In Mina, pilgrims should wisely manage their free time by engaging in meaningful acts of self-fulfilment, such as dhikr, reading the Quran, performing prayers and ensuring they get enough rest. This is the best time to get closer to Allah without the distraction of the outside world 'If that time is left idle, that's when feelings of stress and unease can begin to creep in,' she said. Meanwhile, Azlina said the unit anticipates the highest demand for emotional support during the Masyair period, as the number of pilgrims increases, the weather becomes hotter, and social pressure intensifies. This, she added, will likely lead to a rise in counselling cases. 'In this regard, we at the counselling unit are on standby 24 hours a day with trained, registered counsellors, not only to listen to pilgrims' concerns, but also to provide guidance and support to help them stay focused on their ultimate goal of achieving a mabrur Haj,' she said. Azlina said that with the support of a strong counseling system, careful management and the spirit of brotherhood among pilgrims, Tabung Haji is optimistic that Malaysian pilgrims will be able to face the challenges of Masyair with high spiritual and mental strength. The Malaysian pilgrims are scheduled to travel to Arafah on June 4, in preparation for the day of wukuf, which is expected to be on Thursday, June 5, corresponding to the 9th of Zulhijjah.
