Shaikh Nasroden Ibrahim Alamada during the brief event with an official from the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance reminded his Philippine compatriots of their “niyah” in coming for Umrah, which is to strengthen their “taqwa” (God-consciousness), and seek Allah’s grace and blessings. “If your purpose is to conduct business, then you should not be here but in Hong Kong, Malaysia, or Indonesia.”
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- EDD K. USMAN | Twitter: @edd1819 | Instagram: @bluestar0910 |Facebook: SDN – SciTech & Digital News
Part III of Umrah Journey 2024
CITY OF MADINAH, Saudi Arabia, November 23, 2024 (SDN) — Every year the Royal Kingdom of Saudi Arabia under the auspices of King Salman bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud and his son the Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman (MBS) invite 1,000 pilgrims from 66 countries or more in four batches.
Countries represented are from Asia, Africa, United States, Europe, from Australia, New Zealand, and others.
For 2024, the first batch comprised of 250 warm bodies comes from Asia, including the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia, Mongolia, Hong Kong, and others.
The Philippines has 39 delegates, Indonesia with more 50; Thailand, 40; Mongolia has 12; Taiwan sent three; Hong Kong got one, the total completed by the countries’ representatives.
Privileged invitees as they are, have been taking advantage of their presence here in Madinah, praying the obligatory five-daily prayers at Masjidil an-Nabawi, the second holiest site in Islam.
The Masjidil Haram (Grand Mosque) is the holiest site, and third is the Masjidil al-Aqsa (Al-Aqsa Mosque) in Palestine, of which Gaza is presently the subject of brutal war by Israel’s Zionist regime.
Read: 33 Filipino Umrah pilgrims
Shaikh Nasroden Ibrahim Alamada, the amir or leader of the Philippine delegation said the blessing for a single prayer at Masjidil Nabawi is equal to 1,000 compared to regular mosques.
Al-Jelanie advises the women in the Umrah group to preserve their modesty, decency and be always aware of being of the Islamic Ummah
King Salman’s sponsorship provided the Umrah pilgrims free two-way tickets, hotel accommodation and food, transportation, a free month-long STC Sim Card that comes with data, calls, texts for domestic and international communications and, more importantly, a royal-like welcome for the 250 honored guests. Moreso, the kind of hospitality that may rival the world’s most hospitable and most welcoming countries.
When the Filipinos arrived here in the morning of November 21, a rousing welcome greeted them, with treats of the famous Arabic coffee and the ever-present dates (khorma), the sweet fruit that sustained the Prophet Mohammad (SAW) and his companions when they were being persecuted for introducing Islam to the pagan tribes of Arabia.
The Arabic song “Al-Badro Alyana” was being played as the honored guests of the King Salman, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, entered the lobby of Sofitel Hotel (Al-Shad Al-Madinah). It was the that the Ansars (inhabitants of Madinah) sung when they welcomed the Prophet Mohammad and his few companions when they migrated to the welcoming city to escape the persecution of the pagan Quraish tribe in his native Mecca. It was the same song that Muslims in the Philippines sung for “Barsanggi” events in the days of old.
He said 100,000 blessings await worshipers at Masjidil Haram, and 500 at Al-Aqsa Mosque.
In the evening of Friday, the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance gathered the Asian delegation at the Mezzanine Floor of the Sofitel Hotel for a brief program.
Dr. Ali bin Ahmad Al-Jelanie from the ministry welcomed the Umrah pilgrim guests, telling them to hold on to Islam.
Why you are here from different counties, different races, colors, the only reason, Al-Jelanie emphasizes, is becasuse of Islam.
In his brief message in Arabic, he also urged the women to stay and be conscious always of being a “Muslima” (female Muslim), and follow modest appearance, decent ways, and hold on to Islam, as translated to SDN – SciTech & Digital News by Alamada.
Al-Jelanie, of course, expressed his thanks to King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman. He also thanked the Asian pilgrims for accepting the royal invitation.
The Asian group’s itinerary in Madinah Al-Munawarra includes visits to Mount Uhud, King Fahd Qur’an Complex, and Masjidil Quba (Quba Mosque). But that’s for another chronicle of the Umrah journey. (♡)
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This story is to be updated soon.