“This is the first time I have performed Haj or visited Makkah and Madinah, or physically seen the Holy Kaaba,” said Dr. Arif Kidwai, a radiologist from Florida. “Even after finishing the rituals, I am still not fully aware of the experience as it was an overwhelming goal that I had been waiting to fulfill my whole life,” he said, adding that he has still not emotionally grasped all that he spiritually experienced.
Kidwai performed Haj along with his 70-year-old father, and said he has been left impressed by the Kingdom’s security measures and organization of Haj.
“I am especially impressed with the concept of logistics in putting together such a massive number of people that have to be moved from place to place; it is truly an incredible event,” he said.
Kidwai said the most memorable aspect of his Haj was the opportunity to perform it with his father.
Agreeing that performing the first Haj will always be a lasting memory, Yousra Elgohary, from New Jersey, said having to leave her two babies behind with her mother in the US was difficult but well worth it.
“It is truly a great feeling to see the Kaaba and visit the two holy cities,” she said, adding that the only aspect she did not enjoy was the massive construction taking place so close to the Grand Mosque in Makkah.
“Building large commercial buildings such as hotels and shops to provide convenience to pilgrims is commendable, but most of these buildings are located right at the edge of the courtyard of the Grand Mosque causing congestion and uncleanly conditions near the sites of worship,” she said, adding that building should be restricted by setting up construction zones further away from the Grand Mosque and pilgrims should be provided transportation.
Other than these issues, Elgohary said she will not forget the excellent time she had with her tour group, the friends she made, the spirit of forgiveness that she saw and the newly strengthened relationship she had forged with Allah.
“Because of this year’s Haj trip, I have a new plan for my life and for what I would like for my kids and family to be,” she said.
Giving her opinions concerning Haj, Sarah Alam, a 20-year-old from Houston, said she had a brilliant experience and that the Kingdom is doing a good job in facilitating Haj for so many worshippers.
“They (Saudi authorities) are doing the best they can for so many pilgrims. I just don’t like that we have to constantly guard our possessions from thieves and be confronted by beggars while we try to concentrate on worship. I feel these aspects distract us from our religious duties,” Alam said.
The Americans honored at the Haj dinner came from all parts of the US and traveled to the Kingdom in a tour group belonging to Dar El Salam Tours and Travel. The company has been in operation for 25 years and has offices in New York, Los Angeles, Houston and Toronto.
“Dar El Salam is the largest Haj service provider in North America and offers Haj services promoted through local mosques with the company offering various packages and organizing subgroups of pilgrims from across the continent,” said Sheik I. Sahib, project manager.
Sahib said this is the seventeenth Haj he has been on and added that the Kingdom’s recent upgrade of the Jamrat Bridge, as well as other recent construction projects, has made performing Haj this year one of the best ever.
