A plane with Ukrainian pilgrims on board landed in Borispol on the night of October 23. All 158 believers, glad of having fulfilled this religious duty, returned to Ukraine long awaited by relatives and friends. Wat was the Hajj like this year? The pilgrims say that it differed from the previous years.
Hajj probations are now behind and all the rituals are performed. Ukrainian Muslims feel joy and hope that the God Almighty will accept their worshiping. The programme of attending the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia started with attending the city of Prophet. Medina. They visited the Ukhud Mountain, the Quba mosque and the Mosque of the Two Qiblas, and, of course, the Mosque of Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him. After that, they went to Makkah, where they attended the Al-Haram Mosque, performed Umrah, and then started their rituals of Hajj. Loving memory of the places of sentimental value for every Muslim will remain with everyone who once attended the House of Allah. Ukrainian pilgrims shared their impressions of Hajj.
Mr. Enver Mamutov, Bakhchisaray:
All the praise to Allah! I was lucky to have performed Hajj this year. I not only performed the pilgrimage, but also accompanied my beloved mother in this trip. It was the help of Allah that let me live out my long-term dream and attend the House of Allah. I thank all the facilitators who did their best to make the trip of a maximum joy and comfort.
Ms. Sevilya Abileva, city of Sevastopol, town of Shtormovoe:
I have the most pleasant impressions of this trip, I haven’t quite regained my senses yet, frankly speaking… It’s amazing how people in Hajj stand aside from the everyday life: they don’t care about the cars, the money, the clothes they’re wearing (if these are cheap or expensive). They care about what awaits for them after death, what is the balance of their good and bad deeds. Pilgrims make a thousand apologies is they accidentally pushed someone, moreover, if this “somebody” is a woman… I remember one man who accidentally ran into a woman - he was so horrified, so apologising… My husband told me that the Hajj was accepted by Allah if it changed the person’s behaviour.
As for me. I think Hajj not only changed me, it turned my world upside down, and now I have a different point of view on some values in this life. Pilgrimage became another - and very important - step for me in learning Islam.
Ms. Lenura Abluamitova, village of Kalinovka, Crimea:
It’s a great success to have been to Makkah and Medina, and going there on Hajj is the best thing that could happen in my life. For me it was a fairytale where I met the most noble people, where people’s attitudes and intentions towards one another are pure, and the communication is great.
And, of course, it was a great feeling to get to the Mosque of the Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) and pray there. Some people speak about the heat and lack of provision while sharing their impressions of Hajj, but I didn’t notice all that at all. On the contrary - Allah made my trip easy for me, i felt high, happy and wonderful. Let’s pray to Allah Almighty that that every Muslim could visit the Holy land. And, of course, I’d like to go there once again as well.
Ms. Zamira Abileva, town of Nizhnegorsk, Crimea:
Our whole family went to Hajj, thank God: my sons accompanied me and my daughter-in-law. I’ve been dreaming to perform the pilgrimage for a long time, but I couldn’t even imagine how the pilgrimage will change me, my perception of other people and the world around us. I’ve heard that the impressions were strong there from people who’ve been there before, but it appeared that all the senses sharpen there and the faith grows stronger. I understood that Islam is the true religion, and if I couldn’t come to covering up earlier - now I don’t want to take off my headscarf even at home. My piety increased.
Mr. Rustem Abilev, city of Sevastopol:
My brother and I managed to bring our mother and my wife to Hajj this year. We’re very happy that the trip itself did take place, and I can’t even express all my joy and my feelings about the pilgrimage itself. The Imams who led the prayers were crying because of emotions, and that was impressive as well. We felt unity with our brothers in faith, felt their support, prayed in the same mosque our beloved Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) did… If that’s not happiness - what is, then? Hajj increased our faith in God and made us think about what balance of our deeds we’ll have on the Day of Judgement.
Ms. Ruslana Martsynishina, Kyiv:
This was the first time my husband and I went to perform Hajj. Of course every Muslim expects a lot when planning this trip, but what you see and feel there is beyond all expectations. This is inerasable, when you feel yourself a guest of Allah almighty and realize the opportunity to try your faith, your sincerity and your will to worship Him. Feeling unity of millions of Muslims is dazzling; it seems that every man is for himself, but at the same time you feel yourself as an integral part of the Ummah where everybody is willing to extend a helping hand and to support you.
Of course it depends on how much you are prepared… Some people obviously tried to “spy out the land” and, at first, made their obligatory prayers shorter and left the sunnah prayers, as if they were on an ordinary trip. But then they realised that the very reason they came there was worshipping the Creator, and from that time on they tried harder and did their best.
Some women put the soft and comfortable mattresses aside and slept right on the ground on a simple blanket, in order not to relax too much and save maximum concentration during their Hajj…
Mr. Volodymyr Fryndak, Kyiv:
There were notably less people this year, and this made performing Hajj much easier. They do a lot of construction works for making the territory of Al-Haram larger and more comfortable for the pilgrims’ needs, and some parts were already open for pilgrims to attend. The whole project huge poster is hanging there, too, so that everybody can see it.
I liked how they took care of the physically disabled and old people this year by settling a special Tawaf bridge for them and some elevators near the Jamarat, too.
Mr. Tariq Sarhan, Kyiv:
About 2 million of pilgrims came to the valley of Mina this year — in contrary to 5 million last year. Second, the Saudi Arabia not only reduced the quota, but also fenced in the territory in order to minimize the flow of “illegal” pilgrims. People caught while trying to get to the Holy Places of Islam beyond quota were fined if citizens of Saudi Arabia and deported with ban for entering the country for 10 years if foreigners.
And, of course, they did a great deal of work to maintain the Pilgrims’ Camp in order. They arranged regular rubbish removal instead of cleaning the territory after the Hajj is over and the pilgrims lefs as it was earlier, with garbage collecting near the pilgrims’ tents. It was collected in special places this year, pressed and removed, leaving the Tent camp neat and clean.
