AYV News, July 25, 2023
Chairman of the Presidential Hajj Taskforce, Alhaji Mutada Sesay has confirmed to AYV that all 649 Sierra Leonean Pilgrims have safely arrived in Freetown after performing the fifth pillar of Islam, Hajj 2023.
He said unfortunately, 2 pilgrims are yet to return but are hospitalised at the Saudi Hospital responding to some common ailments and that one Sierra Leonean pilgrim who lost his life as a result of Cardiac arrest has already been buried in Saudi Arabia.
The pilgrims were accompanied by 12 officials including 2 medical doctors, 1 pharmacist, 2 nurses and 7 government officials. Last evening, the final batch arrived at the Freetown International Airport and were conveyed to Freetown where they enjoyed a warm welcome from their family members and relatives at the Government Warf ferry port.
Saudi Arabia’s General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) reports that the total number of pilgrims performing this year’s Hajj is One Million Eight Hundred and Forty-five thousand and forty-five (1,845,045).
The Hajj Pilgrimage is considered one of the Five Pillars of Islam and holds great spiritual and cultural importance for Muslims globally.
Many Sierra Leonean Muslims who are financially able eagerly Participate in this annual event to cleanse their sins and fulfill the commandment of Allah (God).
In the Holy Qur’an, Allah (SWT) commands Muslims to visit Makkah and complete it as part of their faith at least once in their lifetime – in fact, there’s a whole Surah (chapter) in the Qur’an named after it!
Qur’an |22:26-30 says: “We designated for Abraham the site of the House, (saying), ‘Do not associate anything with Me and purify My House for those who perform Tawaf and those who stand (in prayer) and those who bow and prostrate. And proclaim to the people the Hajj (pilgrimage); they will come to you on foot and on every lean camel; they will come from every distant pass – That they may witness benefits for themselves and mention the name of Allah on known days over what He has provided for them of (sacrificial) animals… Then let them… fulfil their vows and perform Tawaf around the ancient House. That (has been commanded), and whoever honours the sacred ordinances of Allah – it is best for him in the sight of his Lord…”
The origins of Hajj actually date much further back than the time of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). The rituals of Hajj in fact go back to 2000 BCE.
