Daily Times

For Muslims around the globe, three months of the Islamic calendar carries special significance and respect, Ramadan, RabiulAwwal and Zil Hajj.

In these three months Muslims from all over the world visit the holiest places in Kingdom Of Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah and Hajj, and Umrah and to visit the Masjeed e Nabvi and the Rozah E Rasool (PBUH) Definitely maximum number of pilgrims visiting Mecca and Medina is the month of ZilHajj , when Muslims visit there to perform Hajj one of the five pillars of Islam. Millions of Muslims from all over the world gather in the Kingdom Of Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj and Ummrah with utmost dedication they recite nothing but LabbakAllahumaLabbak, Labbaik La ShareekaLakaLabbak (O Allah ,here I am answering your call and I bear witness that You have no partner). A unique gathering of pilgrims young and old men and women speaking different languages, but one language is same that is submission to the will of Allah LabbaikAllahumaLabaik.

In 2013, I was one of those privileged and fortunate ones tojoin millions to witness the largest gathering of people at one place, practically an ocean of men in Ahram and women covering themselves from head to toe, with only one wish and that to submit themselves before Allah. An unbelievable sight, a miracle on earth, a wonder, the parallel of which can’t be find anywhere on earth. No chaos , no confusion, no disarray no disorder , every movement every second every , motion of the pilgrims well calculated as if the pilgrims are being controlled by a remote control , and it has become possible only because of the intensive research and sincere efforts of the Saudi Government, keeping in mind the hard ships to be faced by the pilgrims. The government Of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has left no stone unturned to make Haj as comfortable as possible for all the intending pilgrims irrespective of nationality or color or caste, for the Saudi government all pilgrims are the guests of Allah and are treated as equals, king or a beggar, rich or poor, utmost efforts are taken to make feel every pilgrim as a VIP. Managing and controlling such a gathering of human race is humanly impossible, but the Government of Saudi Arabia has proved that impossible is a word which doesn’t exists for them in any dictionary.

Before departing for Hajj, I had many fears in my mind; long delays, chaos, undisciplined staff at airports, but all my fears proved to be wrong the moment I landed at Jeddah International Airport. The basic formalities like immigration, customs, medical etc were completed within no time as countless counters were there to handle the inflow of thousands of pilgrims at a time.At every counter the concerned staff was courteous, polite, civilised and gentle, welcoming every pilgrim,wishing them safe and happy stay in the holy land, sitting arrangements were made with ample space clearly marked for each country and not only country but the cities were also marked in English, Arabic and the native language of that country along with their flags. Eatables and drinks were available in abundance, every Saudi government employee at the airport was more than willing to extend a helping hand to the pilgrims with a broad and genuine and real smile on their faces. With almost no delay we were requested to board the buses for the onward journey to Mecca, while our luggage was taken care by the airport staff. Extremely comfortable coaches/buses were provided and the luggage was loaded with in no time, I didn’t see any one complaining for the loss of luggage which is very normal at all international airports.

On the way to Mecca lunch boxes were provided and once in Mecca, the Moallam in our case Maktab No 07 received us offered prayers welcomed all the pilgrims and every pilgrim was given gifts, soft drinks with utmost respect and dignity, we had virtually started feeling our self as VIPs. The Moallam boarded every coach though it was late in the night with a broad smile, for him too every pilgrim was a guest of Allah so he was feeling proud to receive the guests of Allah.

Before departing for Hajj, I had many fears; long delays, chaos, undisciplined staff at airports, but all my fears proved wrong the moment I landed at Jeddah International Airport. The basic formalities like immigration, customs, medical etc were completed within no time as countless counters were there to handle the inflow of thousands of pilgrims at a time

The Moallam was so accommodating that when in Mina, I, was in need of a wheel chair at late hours, he arranged it though it was almost impossible at such late hours of night. I wonder how it is possible for someone to be so courteous at such late hours. Checking in the hotels was again rapid, speedy and swift as if everything was pre-arranged.

Performing Umra after reaching Mecca was also trouble free though the extensive expansion work of Haram Sharif was in progress. The government of Saudi Arabia had left no stone unturned to make the stay of pilgrims comfortable, decent and satisfactory.

Millions of people from different countries, different cultures and speaking different languages, nowhere in world there is such a gathering of young and old, man and women,rich and poor, educated and illiterate practically from every walk of life gathering at one place and every one every individual irrespective of caste or nationality is treated equally with utmost respect and honor. No worldly words can define such gathering of human beings it is the most astonishing wonder of the world.

The human mind fails to apprehend how the government of Saudi Arabia manages all this.

Hot temperatures and dehydration are two of the most common problems which a pilgrim could encounter, the government of Saudi Arabia taking into consideration this natural problem have installed top class air-conditioning units at very place of worship with water dispensers and heat resistant tiles for the comfort of the pilgrims, while cold water and soft drinks along with ZamZam is always available in abundance free of cost.

Throughout the Haj process even the minute details were taken care, In Mina the tents were kept cleaned and well ventilated with adequate arrangements of cooling, the head of the Muktab himself visited the camps interacting with the pilgrims, listening to their problems if any and instructing the concerned on the spot, the passages for the pedestrians were kept clear all the times, all sorts of soft drinks food available in abundance. At Arfat lunch was from the Khadim e Harman Sharifan, it was a lavish feast but unfortunately our people the people of land of pure behaved in the most uncivilized manner so finally the organizers were left with no option but to close the doors of the tent in which the food tables were spread with most decorative manner with a vast verity of food. People rushed on the food as if they were hungry since centuries not even thinking of elderly or disabled people, even than the Saudi staff assigned the duty of serving the pilgrims behaved in most respectful and decent manner one needs iron nerves to be patient and dutiful at such a disorganized crowd hungry of food.

I witnessed people making Videos at Haram Sharif during Sai and Tawaf and at the mosque of the Prophet at the Roza e Rasool resulting in hurdles for the pilgrims, even than the security staff on duty at these Holy places remained courteous and polite just requesting them not to make videos or photographs , The government of KSA should ban entry of mobile phones, tablets, cameras etc or otherwise at least confiscate such items if anyone is found making videos or photographs, this would greatly make pilgrimage of these Holy places trouble free.

Utilizing the advanced technology, scientific gadgets, and IT the Saudi government has greatly controlled the accidents such as stampeded and fires. The stoning of Satan at Jamrat has been made completely safe and trouble free, millions of people with very high emotions under one roof performing the secret duty of stoning, but no stampede, no chaos cool air circulating, entry and exist points made separate ,for performing the stoning with ease and comfort.

The Mashaer rail network has ensured smooth traffic. Saudi authorities have contracted a security company to organize boarding of pilgrims onto the trains during the Haj season. There are 20 trains, each 300-meter long and with a capacity of 3,500 pilgrim each trip. Security arrangement was excellent and no security laps were seen and no untoward incident took place.

According to the figures available more than two million people from around the globe performed the Hajj that year, and surprisingly every place was kept perfectly clean, according to one report approximately 53,000 tons of garbage was collected from Mina, Arfat and Muzdalfa alone, and this could become possible only because of the will, dedication and sincerity of the Saudi government, which is not less than a miracle and a parallel of which is impossible to find anywhere around the globe. Millions of animals were sacrificed but nowhere one could find any traces of it .Traffic was kept orderly all the times no traffic jams, the pilgrims had the priority everywhere, on roads free soft drinks, eatables were being distributed for the pilgrims and in abundance, in short it was a flaw less arrangement, and the Saudi government deserves applause and congratulations from all the pilgrims in particular and from the Muslims around the globe in general.

Upon reaching Lahore, it was the most disappointing experience of my life when I witnessed people returning from the holy land fighting at the luggage conveyor belt for ZamZam, pushing ladies and old people to collect their baggage and abusing each other once outside the airport building.It was a pathetic scene for which I find no words to explain.

The writer is a former marine engineer. He can be reached at aamiraqil@gmail.com