JEDDAH, 3 January 2007 — Pilgrims looking tired but contented started returning to the city at the successful conclusion of Haj. Carloads of pilgrims with their baggage on top were seen driving back along the Makkah Ring Road from late Monday evening and throughout yesterday. Those returning by buses were mainly alighting at downtown Balad.
“The pilgrimage has deepened my faith,” a 30-year-old American, Adil Michel, said at the Balad bus stand. He was on his way back home in California. This was his first Haj and he plans to bring his family next time. “I was very much concerned about the stoning ritual, but everything went off smoothly,” he said.
More than 20,000 Americans took part in this year’s Haj, a higher number than usual because the pilgrimage coincided with New Year’s holidays.
“This was my fourth Haj but my wife’s first,” said Riaz Mulla, general manager of Jeddah-based ATEICO Communications. “Arrangements were fantastic and not once we had any problem throughout the pilgrimage,” the middle-aged Indian returning by bus said.
“Praise be to God, we have had a safe Haj this year. I bring my sons with me normally, but this year I chose not to bring them,” said Mustafa Darwish from Egypt. This was the 62-year-old Cairo carpenter’s eighth pilgrimage.
“The organization has been great,” said Pakistani pilgrim Sayed Yousuf, returning with his family at Bani Malek. “I was here two years ago, but this time there was less hassle.”
Muhammad, a young Bangladeshi pilgrim, said it was interesting to see pilgrims assembled at one place and speaking a variety of languages — Arabic, English, Turkish, Malay, Urdu and Hindi.
“There were fewer problems compared to last year,” said 40-year-old Nigerian pilgrim Umer Ozoya. “This was my sixth Haj and I came alone.”
He said he saw an old man dropping down while performing tawaf. Security personnel rushed him for medical aid within seconds, the Nigerian added.
An Indonesian pilgrim, Tajuddien Winardi from Jakarta, recounted how their tour bus was clipped by another vehicle as they arrived in Mina two nights earlier. “We had to abandon the bus and walk to our tent camp.”
“The Haj is an awesome adventure for people like us who come from far off,” said 46-year-old Canadian Muhammad Hashim alighting from a bus at Balad.
“The pilgrimage has not only deepened my faith but given me an opportunity to interact with a wide range of pilgrims coming from different parts of the world,” said the automobile technician who was Sam Graig before coverting to Islam four years ago.
