Umrah Plus to be launched soon

DAMMAM: The Umrah Plus program would be launched soon to allow foreign pilgrims .To visit some of the Kingdom’s most attractive cultural and religious landmarks.The Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage (SCTNH) announced recently.
Abdul Aziz Al-Hussain, the SCTNH’s director general in Riyadh, said preparations are almost complete. Umrah companies are currently tying up partnerships with tour companies in the Kingdom.
Meanwhile, the Travel and Tourism Pioneers Forum was launched recently in Riyadh with 35 companies from around the world participating.
Nasser Al-Hamdi, Egypt’s ambassador to the Kingdom, said the country is prepared to receive Saudi tourists. About 430,000 tourists visited Egypt in 2013 and 2014, he said.
Prince Saif Al-Islam bin Abdul Aziz said the travel and tourism sector in the Kingdom has grown significantly.Now made up 5 percent of the country’s gross domestic product. The plan is to ensure annual growth of 10 percent over the next five years, compared to 6 percent last year and 4 percent in 2014.

Article by: arabnews.com

Hajis saved from baggage check-in formalities

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JEDDAH — Companies in charge of accommodation of pilgrims will also be made responsible for shipping their luggage to their destinations. Haj Minister Bandar Al-Hajjar has said:
“This is a new mechanism which has been initiated to facilitate swift and smooth departure of pilgrims,”. He said.
Under this mechanism pilgrims will go to the airport without any luggage. They will no longer have to wait at the counters to check-in their baggage.
The minister said the licensed accommodation companies in Makkah and Madinah will transport the luggage to the airport and complete the shipping procedures.
Concerning Zamzam water, which pilgrims are keen to take back home, the minister said it will be shipped onboard the aircraft flying back home after dropping pilgrims.
“Pilgrims will receive their quotas of the blessed water on their arrival in their home countries. They will no longer have to take Zamzam water with them as accompanying luggage when leaving the Kingdom after Haj,” he said.

Article by: saudigazette.com.sa

Purpose of life: Reason and revelation

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What is the meaning and purpose of life?’ Throughout the ages, philosophers have considered it to be the most fundamental question. Scientists, historians, philosophers, writers, psychologists and the common man all wrestle with the question at some point in their lives.
Is the reason a sufficient guide?
Why do we eat? Why do we sleep? Why do we work? The answers we would get to these questions would be similar. I eat to live. I sleep to rest. I work to support myself and my family. But when it comes to what the purpose of life is, people are confused. We see their confusion by the type of answers we receive. Youths may say, “I live for fun and frolics.”
The middle-aged professional might say, “I live to save enough for a comfortable retirement.” The old man would probably say, “I’ve been asking why I’m here most of my life. If there’s a purpose, I don’t care anymore.” And perhaps the most common answer will be, “I really don’t know!”
How, then, do you discover the purpose of life? We basically have two options.
The first is to let ‘human reason’ — the celebrated achievement of the Enlightenment — guide us. After all, the Enlightenment gave us modern science based on careful observation of the natural world. But have post-Enlightenment philosophers figured it out? Camus described life as “absurd”; Sartre spoke of “anguish, abandonment, and despair.”
To these Existentialists, life has no meaning. Darwinians thought the meaning of life was to reproduce. Will Durant, capturing the predicament of postmodern man, wrote, “Faith and hope disappear; doubt and despair are the order of the day… it is not our homes and our treasuries that are empty, it is our ‘hearts’.”
When it comes to the meaning of life, even the wisest philosophers are just guessing. Will Durant, the most noted philosopher of the last century, and Dr. Hugh Moorhead, a philosophy professor at Northeastern Illinois University, both wrote separate books titled ‘The Meaning of Life.’ They wrote to the best-known philosophers, scientists, writers, politicians, and intellectuals of their time in the world, asking them, “What is the meaning of life?”
Then they published their responses. Some offered their best guesses, some admitted that they just made up a purpose for life, and others were honest enough to say they were clueless. In fact, a number of famous intellectuals asked the authors to write back and tell them if the purpose of life was discovered!
If the philosopher has no definitive answer, perhaps the answer can be found within the heart and mind that we ourselves possess. Have you ever looked at the open sky on a clear night?
You will see an incalculable number of stars. Look through a telescope and you will see gigantic spiral galaxies, beautiful nebula where new stars are being formed, the remnants of ancient supernova explosion created in a star’s final death throes, the magnificent rings of Saturn and the moons of Jupiter. Is it possible not to be moved by the sight of these countless stars in the night sky shining like diamond dust on a bed of black velvet? Multitudes of stars beyond stars, stretching back; becoming so dense that they appear to merge into delicate wisps of sparkling mist.
The grandeur humbles us, thrills us, inspires a craving for investigation, and calls for our contemplation. How did it come into being? How are we related to it, and what is our place in it? Can we hear the heavens “speak” to us?
“In the creation of the heavens and the earth and the alternation of the night and the day, there are sure signs for all who are endowed with insight, who remember God when they stand, and when they sit, and when they lie down to sleep, and reflect on the creation of the heavens and the earth: ‘O our Lord, You have not created this without meaning and purpose. Limitless art You in Your glory’.” (Qur’an, 3:190-191)
When we read a book, we accept that an author exists. When we see a house, we accept that a builder exists. Both of these things were made with a purpose by those who made them. The design, order, and complexity of the universe, as well as the world around us, are evidence of the existence of supreme intelligence, a perfect designer. All the heavenly bodies are controlled by precise laws of physics.
Can there be laws without a lawmaker? Rocket scientist Dr. von Braun said: “The natural laws of the universe are so precise that we have no difficulty building a spaceship to fly to the moon and can time the flight with the precision of a fraction of a second. These laws must have been set by somebody.” Paul Davies, a professor of physics, concludes that man’s existence is not a mere quirk of fate. He states: “We are truly meant to be here.” And he says regarding the universe: “Through my scientific work, I have come to believe more and more strongly that the physical universe is put together with an ingenuity so astonishing that I cannot accept it merely as a brute fact. There must, it seems to me, be a deeper level of explanation.” The universe, the earth, and living things on the earth all give silent testimony to an intelligent, powerful Creator.
If we were made by a Creator, then surely that Creator must have had a reason, a purpose, in creating us. Thus, it is important that we seek to know God’s purpose for our existence.
After coming to the realization of this purpose, we can choose whether we want to live in harmony with it. But is it possible to know what is expected from our left to our own devices without any communication from the Creator? It is natural that God Himself would inform us of this purpose, especially if we are expected to fulfill it.
This brings us to the second option: The alternative to speculation about the meaning and purpose of life is a revelation. The easiest way to discover the purpose of an invention is to ask the inventor. To discover the purpose of your life, ask God.

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Article by: arabnews.com

Pilgrim quota cut temporary, says minister

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JEDDAH: Minister of Haj Bandar Hajjar said Tuesday that the reduction in the number of pilgrims is a temporary measure for the safety of Hajis until the completion of the expansion projects at the two holy mosques.
He said the number of domestic pilgrims will be reduced by 50 percent, while the number of foreign pilgrims will be reduced by 20 percent.
He used this announcement to stress the importance of obtaining prior approval from the Ministry of Culture and Information before any country announces media activities for Haj events.
He also noted that the ministry recently changed the name of the “Haj Mission” to “The Office of Pilgrims Affairs”, while the Haj Medical Mission’s name has been changed to the “Medical Office” to avoid any confusion on the part of Haj Missions concerning the job description and the tasks it assumes.
“Some missions think that they acquire a diplomatic or consulate status in this regard and demand the granting of special privileges or immunities similar to those enjoyed by embassies and the general consulate”, said the minister. He added: “The fact is that the tasks of these missions are only administrative, and are aimed at helping their pilgrims and supervise their organizations.”
Hajjar noted that the ministry received the heads of the 53 Pilgrims’ Affairs Offices in the Kingdom recently. They were all hosted by the ministry at its own expense. The meetings are to remain ongoing at various times for three months to discuss the Haj arrangements for each Muslim country.

Article by: arabnews.com

Why send greetings to our Prophet

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What a joyous month it is on the Islamic calendar, the month of Rabi’ul Awwal. It is the month that Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was born. The Prophet (peace be upon him) brought light and guidance to the people of Arabia, and to the world .Leading them to the worship of one God, after they had been worshipping idols.
Muhammad (peace be upon him) put an end to the ignorant practices that existed in the Arabian Peninsula at the time. Such as:

rampant prostitution, treating women as a commodity, tribal pride, revenge, infanticide (burying newborn baby girls alive), and alcoholism.
This indeed is a happy month. All Muslims worldwide should commemorate the Prophet’s birth and his life by reviving the tradition that many Muslims have neglected, and that is sending peace and blessings upon our Prophet every day ten times, a hundred times, two hundred times. We have become too preoccupied with our day-to-day affairs that we have forgotten this important act of worship.
Muslims should incorporate this practice in their daily habits and routines.
The well known scholar, Al-Albani, wrote in his prologue to the book Merits of Sending Blessings Upon the Prophet by Ismail bin Ishaq Al-Qadi:
“Multiply the number of times that you say, ‘May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon Muhammad.’ Say this at all times of the day. Each time you say it, in return Allah will send blessings upon you, raise your status, increase your good deeds, erase some of your bad deeds, and lighten the burden of the worries that you carry, regarding this world and the Hereafter.”
Imagine this; your greetings of peace and blessings reach the Prophet. Although the Prophet (peace be upon him) cannot hear us in the physical sense, the angels inform him of our greetings and prayers.
Make a special effort on Fridays to increase the number of times that you say, “May the peace and blessings of Allah descend upon Muhammad.”
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said to his companions, “On Fridays recite the salawat (peace and blessings) for me repeatedly! The salawat will be conveyed to me.” When it was asked whether it would be conveyed to him after his death, the Prophet answered,
“Soil does not rot Prophets’ bodies. Whenever a Muslim says the salawat for me, an angel informs me of it and says, “So-and-so’s son, so-and-so of your ummah sent his salaam and prayed for you.’” (Abu Dawood)
After performing each of the five daily prayers, remain seated on your prayer rug just for a couple of minutes, before rushing off to the never-ending tasks of your day, and repeat it ten times: peace and blessings be upon Muhammad.
If you are with a group of friends, talking together, when you part remind one another to say this prayer. When you enter the mosque and when you leave it, mention the peace and blessings upon Muhammad. Over the dinner table with your family and children, mention this prayer upon the Prophet.
Whoever hears the mention of the Prophet and does not say ‘peace be upon him’ is miserly.
As for the benefits that you will gain by mentioning peace and blessings upon the Prophet, there are plenty.
So, what are the merits that we gain and why is it so important to say, “May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon you, O Muhammad,”?
One of the companions of the Prophet (peace be upon him), Abu Talha, noticed that the Prophet’s face was lit, and he appeared very happy. Abu Talha said to the Prophet (peace be upon him), “O Messenger of Allah! I see joy and delight in your countenance!”
The Prophet  (peace be upon him) said, “Yes, for Gabriel has just come to me saying: O Muhammad, whoever among your ummah invokes blessings upon you once, Allah records for him ten good deeds, erases from his account ten evil deeds, and raises him ten degrees because of it.” (Al-Sakhawi)
Simply by mentioning the Prophet’s name and wishing him peace and blessings, we can earn so many good deeds.
A close companion of the Prophet, Abdur Rahman ibn Awf said that he had once asked the Prophet (peace be upon him), “O Messenger of Allah! You made a prostration so long that I was afraid that Allah has taken your soul during it. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “Gabriel came to me and gave me the glad tiding that Allah, the Praised and Exalted, says: “He who sends salat on you, I will send salat on him, and he who greets you I will greet him”, so I made a long prostration out of gratitude to Allah. (Ahmad)
The Prophet (peace be upon him) has said, “The closest people to me on the Day of Resurrection will be those who invoked the most blessings upon me.” (At-Tirmidhi)
Muslims wish that they could have seen the Prophet’s face, heard him speak, and stood behind him in prayer. We wish that we will see the Prophet (peace be upon him) and be close to him in the Hereafter. By invoking peace and blessings upon the Prophet, we can earn his companionship.

Article by: saudigazette.com.sa

Visa procedure and tips if your mahram is in a different country

It has frequently been observed that Muslim ladies travel from other parts of the world to come for education or work and then settle here. At some point in their life, they feel the need to perform umrah. At this point in time, (until unless, they are 45 years of age), they face major problems. One of which is the Mahram rules for women performing umrah by Kingdom of Saudi Arabia government. These ladies (often young and under 45), feel that they are being deprived of a religious duty and if they were living with families back home, it would have been a lot easier to perform umrah. They sometimes drop the idea of umrah altogether due to conflicting advice, they get from agents and others around them. And this is true as well, to an extent, specially if you don’t know the modus operandi in such cases. This situation is worsened, when your mahram is in a different country, like India, Pakistan or elsewhere in the world.
Following is a step by step procedure, if followed to the letter carefully, can result in getting you going on umrah without any trouble.

Main key points:

  1. First of all, make sure that the person travelling is a Mahram for you. A mahram is defined as someone who, you are permanently forbidden to marry, due to blood or foster or marriage relationships. Remember, if you choose the wrong person, the whole procedure will be a waste.
  2. Now book umrah flights  for both of you. These flights should be indirect, making sure that you meet. For example in Dubai or any other airport and then take an onwards flight to enter Saudi together.
  3. Once you have booked the flights, consult your local umrah visa agent. To ask, which company will they be using in Saudi for processing your umrah visa. Write that down with proper pronunciation to avoid confusion with similar names.
  4. Now request your mahram in your home country to apply for an umrah visa, with a local agent, who is using the same company in Saudi Arabia. e.g Ajyaad etc. Ask them to initiate this process at least 1 month before departure date, due to reason explained in the next step.
  5. Once you have secured their visa, ask them to email you a scanned copy of the first page and visa page.
  6. Now give this copy to your local agent, along with your passport and request them to process the visa for you. The agent will apply fresh MOFA for both passports and will charge you for two passports.
  7. You will Insha Allah, receive visa for both you and the Mahram and can travel without problem.
  8. Remember, you also need to keep in mind, that in some countries, there is an age limit for males as well, on going for umrah alone. So, exercise caution and make sure all relevant rules are followed.
  9. Please note that this procedure is described as a guideline only and we are not responsible for results of following or not following this procedure. If you want us to take care of it, please call us at 0203 744 0052 and speak to Hira.

Article by: umrahpackagesuk.co.uk

For the benefit for those intending to perform ‘Umrah or Hajj

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General

  • One of the most important of all advices: Safeguard your eyesight. When travelling and especially in Makkah when men and women tend to mix more.

  • Protect your women; each woman travelling will have a maHram whose responsibility it is to ensure that no harm comes her way. The worst men are the dayyooth (those who lack ghayrah, i.e. do not care if (non-maHram) men approach their wives, mothers, sisters or daughters) and the worst women are those that flirt.

  • Don’t intermingle with the opposite sex (non-maHram), particular those in your group/hotel; this is impermissible under all circumstances… Tour leaders/representatives take note: beware of being over-friendly with the females!

  • Seek some necessary ‘ilm (knowledge) from trustworthy sources before going so you can perform your acts of worship independently and with confidence.

  • Spread Salâm wherever you go; remember: everyone’s a Muslim in the Haramayn, alHamdulillâh! The lack of greetings is a sign of Qiyâmah.

  • Always give precedence to the elderly and help them whenever you can.

  • Agree the price before making any transaction to avoid unnecessary disagreement later; situations where this will apply include shopping, having your luggage trolley pushed by persistent airport workers and getting the laundry done via one of the hotel workers.

  • Musical ringtones are a no-no; it’s beyond me why so many Muslims cannot comprehend this simple fact. This includes the Nokia tune as well. Change your mobile phone ring tone to the basic “ring ring” tone right now. And, whatever you do, do not answer your phone/talk while doing Tawâf; those who do this are showing scant regard for the sanctity of the blessed place they’re in.

  • Don’t take photos; unfortunately, that’s all you see nowadays: Muslims taking pictures/videos of anything or anyone in sight as if they need to prove to the world they were there. My advice: have some sincerity; you are there for Allâh and He doesn’t need you to record anything for He is All-Knowing of everything you do.

  • Be patient; you will meet all sorts of characters! You’re bound to come across situations where your patience will be tested; remain calm and don’t lose your temper. That way you won’t regret it later.

  • Be friendly; you will meet the most pleasant and interesting of Muslims. Don’t shy away from striking up a conversation. At the very least smile, for that in itself is a virtue.

  • Learning a bit of basic Arabic beforehand will prove very handy.

  • If you’re a smoker, please try to quit. If you can’t, please limit it to your hotel (room).

  • If you get into a taxi, don’t be surprised if one of the side mirrors is missing or the windscreen is cracked; just don’t forget to fasten your seatbelts!

  • Some Muslims (more likely in Makkah) might offer you some Naseehah, especially if you make a mistake. Be humble and accept it. If it is within your ability and the situation demands, do not shy away from giving Naseehah but be courteous and respectful.

Flight

  • Don’t miss your Salâh on the plane; it doesn’t become forgiven suddenly just because you’re no longer on land! More often than not on long-haul flights, when a Salâh has to be performed during the flight, there is ample space in the cabin area (where the food is prepared/food tray is kept). Outside of the serving times, most cabin crew will be more than happy to let you perform your prayers there. With minimal inconveniencing and just limiting it to the farâ’idh, perform your Salâh standing up and facing the Qiblah. If this is not possible, you may find space near the emergency doors although this may involve inconveniencing some passengers. If there is absolutely no space whatsoever, in the worst-case scenario, you may end up having to perform your Salâh at your seat. Ensure you are facing the Qiblah. Begin your Salâh standing up and only sit down for the sujood and jalsahs; prostrate on the food tray provided the Qiblah is towards the front of the plane. If you performed your Salâh in this manner, repeat your Salâh once you land to be on the safe side.

  • One issue that can cause a lot of confusion is Salâh time, especially Fajr. Unfortunately, airlines don’t provide Salâh timetables for the countries you are flying over. Use the time and the state of the sky as an indication of what prayer time it is; with a bit of common sense you won’t be far out, Inshâ-Allâh. It’s the effort and desire that counts.

  • Only watch the in-flight movies if you want to ruin the spirit and vigour of Imân you are going with or the state of Imân you are returning with. Recite the Qur-ân, do some Thikr, read Islamic literature or go to sleep instead.

  • Make sure you clean up the toilet (floor) after use; it really gives a bad impression of Muslims to other passengers and the air hostesses if they have to unblock the sink or mop the flooded floor.

  • Ensure you only eat vegetarian/Halâl on the plane; avoid meat.

Makkah al-Mukarramah

  • Perform Tawâf on your own (or, at most, with your wife). You don’t need to go around in a group and chant in unison for your Tawâf to be accepted. Doing so is a sign of ignorance.

  • Do not attempt to kiss the Hajar al-Aswad at peak times (you’ll know when these are) – you’ll simply harm yourself or someone else in the process. It is painful hearing screaming and the sound of scuffles each time one goes past this blessed corner of the Ka’bah. There are certain times (e.g. just before ‘Asr salaah) when one can quite easily line up in an orderly fashion around the Ka’bah and get to kiss the stone.

  • Try to perform your Salâh wherever the Imâm performs his Salâh. You will find that, apart from Zuhr, the Imâm will perform every Salâh in the MaTâf.

  • Getting into the MaTâf for Jumu’ah Salâh is easy because most people want to avoid the sun. If you can hack the heat, you should be able to get pretty close to the (white) Minbar. One trick I’ve seen being used by people coming in late and wanting a ‘good’ position is to bring two cups filled with Zam Zam and to offer it to two Musallees between whom the latecomer sees a potential spot. I’m not recommending it but it does appear to work!

  • You can fill your own Zam Zam water by buying your drum(s) locally (from a shop selling them near your hotel) and going to where the special taps are located near the library/birthplace of Rasoolullâh Sallallâhu ‘alayhi wa sallam; you can get there by going anti-clockwise in the courtyard (left) from the big Zam Zam towers. You will find all the Zam Zam sellers lining up their drums so you may have to wait a while for your turn but apparently they are only allowed to fill 5 drums at a time before being forced to step behind and give others a chance.

  • You will be staying here for at least 1 week; try to complete one Qur-ân.

al-Madeenah al-Munawwarah

  • When coming to perform Salâh, don’t be misled by the number of people lined up towards the entrance of the Masjid at the back. Just move forwards; you’d be surprised how much free space there is towards the front of the Masjid.

  • When offering salaam to the best of all creations, Sallallâhu ‘alayhi wa sallam, you will find that at peak times (usually after each Salâh) the policemen will cordon off the immediate lane every so often so people are forced to take the ‘outer lane’. You can loiter around the Imâm’s position until the coast is clear (policemen move away) and get in the ‘inner lane’. When you get close to the Qabr ash-Shareef, you will notice many people peering into the holes that appear before the actual resting position of Rasoolullâh Sallallâhu ‘alayhi wa sallam. This will allow you to skip past them and get right next to the proper position. But don’t all try at once…!

  • The best time to get a spot in the Rawdhah (green carpet area aka Riyâdh al-Jannah) is just before Tahajjud time and around 10am in the morning. It’s fairly easy to get a spot there after ‘Asr too but remember: you can’t perform Nafl prayer until Maghrib time (although you will see many Muslims performing Salâh even at Makrooh times).

  • Jannah al-Baqee’ (graveyard) is only open (to the public) after Fajr (till about midday) and after ‘Asr (till 6pm) these days. Apart from going there generally, try to go there immediately after one of these two Salâhs if there is a Janâzah and you should be able to join the burial(s) thus doubling the reward.

  • You will be staying here for at least 1 week; try to complete another Qur-ân.

Salâh

  • Get used to using the Miswâk when you’re there; there’s plenty available and a bargain really for so much reward and upholding a great Sunnah.

  • Take a shoe bag to avoid having your slippers/shoes taken by someone else. I’ve seen some splitting their pair of slippers and placing their right one in a separate location to their left one but I’m not sure if this method proves successful.

  • Women must make sure they do not apply any perfume when going to the Masjid; this is strictly forbidden in the Hadeeth.

  • Try to learn the various ad’iyah (du’as) reported in the Hadeeth, especially for the Qawmah and Jalsah postures; you will get ample time to pray these.

  • Make sure you learn how to perform the Janâzah Salaah and the various du’âs (male = ar-rajul; female = al-mar-ah [plural = amwât]; child = Tifl [plural = aTfâl]).

  • Try to avoid walking in front of Musallees performing Salâh, unless it is to fill a gap in front in which case there is no harm even to move slightly while in prayer.

Hotel

  • Don’t get into a situation where you are alone with a woman in the lift; if you are alone in the lift and a woman gets in, you must get out!

  • Don’t ever watch (the wide-screen, spanky-looking) TV in your room; if you know you’ll be tempted, take the plug out as soon as you step in to your room!

Food

  • Don’t touch meat/chicken with a barge pole; most of it comes from non-Muslim countries and is, at the very least, doubtful (see How genuine is Halâl stamp?, for example). Better safe than sorry. This applies to Asian restaurants as well as Saudi fast-food chains. Tâzaj, however, is said to be an exception (their chickens are slaughtered locally, though I cannot confirm this).

  • Don’t ever waste food. If for whatever reason there is some left over, offer it to the needy, e.g. the women selling stuff on the streets, Haram/hotel workers.

Shopping

  • Avoid shopping if you can help it; this may be difficult if you’ve got your Mrs with you (no offence intended) or you’ve got loads of requests from back home. On a more serious note, you will notice the difference in environment and its negative effects when you leave the Haram and enter the shopping malls… the less the better.

  • Don’t let women shop alone; I wouldn’t trust the shopkeepers. At times, there are as many as 5 workers in one tiny shop and if a woman walks in they almost huddle around her. Insist the men talk to you and not your womenfolk. This is what ghayrah demands. If they fail to comply, rebuke them and walk out (along with your women of course) in protest.

  • If you decide to exchange some gold/silver at a jewellery shop, remember that you cannot sell gold for gold or silver for silver except when it is like for like, otherwise it is classed as interest. The solution is to first sell your gold/silver to the shopkeeper in exchange for riyals and then buy the gold/silver you want with riyals.

  • Always leave (each shop) on a happy note; if you are simply browsing let the shopkeeper(s) know first so that if you leave without having bought anything they will not get offended. If you don’t decide to buy anything and the shopkeeper has made an effort to sell you something, apologise to him before leaving. Basic social etiquettes really.

  • Ladies, don’t buy colourful, tight and shiny/flashy jubbahs. Doing so defeats the purpose of wearing jubbahs.

  • Make sure you check with your airline beforehand so you know how much luggage you can take back. Most allow 30kg per passenger but some, like Swiss Air, only allow 20kg (excluding hand luggage). Check you’re covered before buying those dates from the market.

Beggars

  • Never refuse a beggar; only Allâh knows the true state of each person. If what s/he is saying is true and you refuse to give, you could be taken to task in the Hereafter. Refusal can be interpreted as pride or stinginess. If at all possible, try to give them food so you know where your money goes and also because genuine destitutes don’t refuse food. At the very least, give 1 riyâl; on average, that’s only 15-20p! You will be rewarded according to your intentions, Inshâ-Allâh.

Article by: darulihsan.com

Train for pilgrims’ Makkah–Madinah travel by end of 2016

Buses will no longer be used for transporting pilgrims to and fro Makkah and Madinah when the Haramain Highspeed Railway commences operation by December next year, according to an official of the Haramain Railway project.

The official said that a total of 35 trains will be used to transport two million pilgrims, in addition to millions of Umrah pilgrims.

“Works on the railway stations in Madinah and Rabigh have been completed and the works on stations in Makkah and Jeddah are nearing completion,” he said adding that trial run of train on Madinah–Rabigh sector is in progress.

This article first appeared in the Saudi Gazette on Sept. 28, 2015.