Newspaper Article

Pilgrims Depart For Haj After Tearful Goodbyes

Written by Khairi Razak Friday, 06 November 2009 09:18 

 

Be Brave, Little One: A Haj Pilgrim Comforts His Son At The Brunei International Airport As He Departs For The Holy City Of Mekah On Thursday. Some 199 Pilgrims Left For Mekah Along With Four Medical Officers Assigned By The Ministry Of Religious Affairs.

Bandar Seri Begawan - Yusri Hj Md Ali Hj Othman Looks Forward To Performing The Haj But He Leaves Behind Six Children, Making Preparations For The Pilgrimage An Emotional One."The absence of a father is what saddens my children but the Haj should be performed conscientiously and with sincerity and commitment," he said before departing for the holy city of Mekah yesterday.

"These are some of the emotional struggles that I face before my departure."

He was among Brunei's third batch of Haj pilgrims who embarked on their journey to the holy city of Mekah yesterday, turning the Brunei International Airport heavy with emotional farewell.While pilgrims are prepared to meet their mental and emotional challenges upon their absence while performing their fifth and final pillar of Islam, the Brunei International Airport yet again became the scene of tearful goodbyes yesterday.

Speaking to The Brunei Times, Yusri Hj Md Ali said that mental and emotional preparation was what he had to endure before bidding farewell to his wife and children.All we (pilgrims) can do now is to pray for our safety and to leave the rest to Allah (SWT) who will guide us in our journey to the holy city of Mekah and Insyallah return," said a Haj pilgrim yesterday at the airport.A medical officer on duty and Haj pilgrim, Hjh Masni Hj Yusof, had to temporarily leave her duties as a mother in the arms of her relatives as she had to focus on the welfare of Haj pilgrims, who will be under her care.

"I will be leaving my children behind as I perform the Haj, but once I reach the holy land of Mekah, I then have a new responsibility, that is to supervise the Bruneian pilgrims at the holy land," she said.

Meanwhile, pilgrim Azhar Hj Ahmed was not at all concerned about his departure to the holy land as he will be travelling along with the comfort of his wife and children.As a result of early preparations and advice from the authorities on arrangements to travel as a household, the father-of-two was given advice on family planning by religious officers from the Haj Management Department.

"It has been the family's dream to perform the Haj together," he said, adding that the Haj fare was granted by the Haj Management Department under the Ministry of Religious Affairs (MoRa).These individuals, consisting of converts and senior citizens were those granted Haj fares by His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam Kurnia under the Ministry of Religious affairs and those who had saved enough money to pay for their Haj fare.-- Courtesy of The Brunei Times