Scores of pilgrims from diverse backgrounds are preparing for the approaching journey of Haj this year from different parts of the world.

Hina Rafi, a Pakistani housewife, is excited and grateful for the invitation from God about going for Haj with her family.

Although this is not her first Haj pilgrimage, she is expecting a different experience since she is taking her three children for the first time. 

“I hope that my children will benefit from performing their spiritual duty to God and pray it will have a lasting influence on them for the rest of their lives,” she said.

Rafi has made arrangements with a Haj group in Riyadh and feels at ease since they are providing all of the facilities and most of the preparations are taken care of.

She said that many people who come for Haj are not spiritually prepared and confused about how to perform the rituals and stressed that groups should exert more efforts to enhance awareness among pilgrims. 

This year, she is focusing on taking more efforts in preparing her children for Haj by educating them through books and lectures about how to fulfill their duty to God and perform the ritual in the method prescribed by the Prophet (peace be upon him).

“My special prayer this Haj is for the Muslim Ummah to become one since we have become divided, the unity felt at Haj should spread throughout the Muslim world,” she added.

Razia Fakrudeen, an Indian businesswoman, is praying that she can perform Haj with ease since she is going for the first time with her husband and six-year-old son.

She is hoping that there will not be extreme temperatures as the heat is intense in the Kingdom and may be difficult to walk with her child as most of the rituals are performed on foot.

Her family is going with a Tamil group based in Jubail who has provided complete arrangements and only demanded vaccinations and blood group certificate from the hospital.

She attended classes with 10 other families who are also going for Haj in order to learn more about the spiritual duties and increase awareness about the rules and regulations.

“My prayer at Haj is for God to bless me with a daughter; since my sister passed away I was raised as the only child and I wish that my son will have siblings,” she said.