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- EDD K. USMAN | Twitter: @edd1819 | Instagram: @bluestar0910 |Facebook: SDN – SciTech & Digital News
Part V of Umrah Journey 2024
MECCA, Saudi Arabia, November 25, 2024 (SDN) — Being invited by a monarch, no less than His Majesty the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud, is a rare opportunity.
It’s really rare that thousands have applied across the world for the 1,000 slots for a sponsored free Umrah pilgrimage. In the case of the Philippines, over 300 applied — and only 40 were chosen — for the chance to visit the Masjidil an-Nabawi and perform the minor pilgrimage at the Masjidl Haram here in Mecca.
SDN – SciTech & Digital News has gathered that the names of applicants are forwarded to Riyadh to shift through the long list of people wanting to be part of a privileged few.
In the Philippines as in other countries, it’s the Royal Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia that facilitates the travel of the chosen few. As well as the 40 Filipinos’ journey to the Islamic holy sites.
SDN learned further that 66 countries are participants in this year’s program with four batches totaling 1,000 privileged guests. The first is the Asian batch — November 20 to Dec. 1 — with 250 participants, from the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Japan, Taiwan, Mongolia, Cambodia, Hong Kong, among others.
Next three batches will have participants from Africa, Europe, United States, Australia, New Zealand, and others.
“You are the best, because you are not loud and noisy,” a staff managing the Asian group told SDN.
You see, traveling to the Kingdom from Manila to Jeddah or Madinah, for the Hajj (the Pilgrimage to Mecca), and Umrah, the minor pilgrimage, has a cost that may reach Php300,000 a journey, which is approximately 18,000 Saudi rial, more or less. That’s an amount that not many Muslim Filipinos can raise.
So, it is not surprising that many are applying every year for the opportunity. It is rare, free, indeed!
And what with the perks, the benefits that come with it — free two-way round trip tickets, hotel accommodation, food, transportation, and all the goodwill that comes with the invitation. And, most of all, the opportunity to perform Umrah without worrying about money.
Invited guests for Umrah are well-cared for, there are protocol officers from the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance to fulfill King Salman’s wishes for the guests, so what more one can ask for. The Umrah guests feel the Kingdom’s love for sure.
While there are many changes that continue to emerge in the Arab and Muslim country, new buildings sprouting like mushrooms in the desert, the Saudi people are still the same, kind, generous, friendly, and hospitable.
Traveling from Madinah, the City of the Messenger of Islam, Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him), all some 435 kms. of fine highways, took the seven big buses seven hours to reach the Masjidil Haram, the holiest site in Islam. Masjidil an-Nabawi is the second holiest, and the Masjidil Aqsa (Al-Aqsa Mosque) in Palestine the third holiest.
The buses conveyed first the guests from Asia to their accommodation at the five-star Jabal Omar Hilton Hotel, around a quick 10 to 15 minutes’ walk to the Grand Mosque which houses the Holy Ka’aba, the universal direction on which Muslims across the world face during their prayers.
After getting a few minutes of rest in their respective rooms, the guests took a late dinner, rested a few, then proceeded to Masjidil Haram to perform Umrah, easily the highlight of their journey. The men are in their obligatory unsewn two white cloth wrapped around the body — a symbol of purity and unity of the global Islamic community called Ummah. For the women, they are allowed to wear any color of clothes that cover their body, arms. Simply said, clothes that guard their modesty.
Tens of thousands were already in the Grand Mosque, at the center of the house of worship, performing the seven-round tawaf, the circumambulation of the Ka’aba, and thousands others doing the “sae”, the running between the hills of As-Safa and Al-Marwa, also seven times, which recalls the struggle of Hajar, wife of the Prophet Abraham (Ibrahim in Islam), looking for water for his son Ismael.
With the pilgrims walking shoulder-to-shoulder, and body-to-body, moving in circle, the two rituals take hours to complete because of the myriad number of people. In Umrah, the only rituals are the tawaf and sae, unlike the Hajj that in addition to tawaf and sae, pilgrims have to stay in Arafah, where the paramount ritual is held, down to Muzdalifah where they pick small stones for the throwing against three pillars – Jammarats — that symbolized Satan, then too Mina (the great Tent City), for the throwing of stones, and observance of Eid’l Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice).
The Filipino group included some of the Philippines’ Moro communities — Maguindanaon, Tausug, Maranao, Yakan, Jama Mapun (Palaweno), Sama, Balik Islam (Reverts to Islam), among others, there are professionals, government workers (including from the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao or BARMM), women sector, religious leaders, journalists, judges, and from the poor segment of society. It’s a mixture of the Philippine Muslim society.
Two members of the Philippine group shared a statement to SDN to return the love and show their gratefulness to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman, Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, and the Saudi Ambassador to the Philippines Hisham bin Sultan Al-Qahtani.
“I would like to express my deepest gratitude to His Majesty the King of Saudi Arabia for the honor of this invitation. May Allah grant you continued health, strength, and success in your noble service to the Two Holy Mosques.
I also extend my sincere prayers for the Saudi Ambassador (to the Philippines). May Allah bless you with wisdom, guidance, and protection as you continue to serve with dedication and honor. May your efforts be rewarded with success and may Allah’s blessings be upon you always. Ameen,” says Maryam Nuruddin.
She emphasized that the experience of completing the Umrah as invited guest is something she can’t quite grasp. “It felt like a heavy weight was lifted from my soul, replaced by a sense of peace and calm I’ve never known before.”
Here’s the rest of her message:
“The journey to the Sacred House of Allah brought a flood of emotions: gratitude, humility, and a deep connection to Him. Standing in front of the Kaaba, I felt an overwhelming love and awe. The tawaf, walking around the Kaaba, wasn’t just a ritual; it felt like a prayer with every step, a way to draw closer to Allah. Praying in Masjid al-Haram, hearing the Adhan, and feeling that sense of unity with fellow Muslims from all over the world was a powerful reminder of our shared faith and purpose. Even now, after completing Umrah, there’s a part of me that wants to stay in that pure, peaceful state.
“This journey has been a spiritual cleansing, helping me let go of guilt and regret, and filling me with peace and hope instead. It’s reminded me that faith isn’t just about going through the motions, it’s about striving to be better, kinder, more patient, and, above all, more grateful for Allah’s blessings. I pray that my heart stays humble and that my actions reflect the purity of intention I felt in that sacred space. May Allah accept my Umrah, forgive my shortcomings, and give me the strength to serve Him and others with sincerity. Ameen.”
A male member of the Filipino delegation also made known her feelings he shared with SDN.
“My first Umrah experience is surreal,” BARMM employee Nur-Padzri Sahi Pao says, who works at the Bangsamoro Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (MENRE).
He shouted “Allahu Akbar” three times when told by BARMM Manila Liaison Office Director Gafur Kanain that he is included in the BARMM slot for the free Umrah.
“Today, I’m standing right in front of the Holy Kaaba, performing Tawaf and asking for Forgiveness, I just couldn’t contain the feelings and excitement that finally I’m right in front of the Holy Ka’aba, In shaa Allah, I will visit again to perform Umrah or Hajj with my wife and kid and my mother. I would liketo thank the King of Saudi Arabia for the wonderful and very VIP Umrah experience Jazzak Allahu Khairan,” Pao, an engineer says. (/)