AYV News, July 21, 2023
Deputy Minister of Social Welfare and member of the Presidential Hajj Taskforce, Alhaji Mohamed Haji-Kella has confirmed to AYV newspaper that the first batch of Sierra Leonean pilgrims from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will arrive at the Freetown International Airport at 1:00pm this Sunday 23rd July.
Alhaji Haji-Kella advised relatives and family members not to cross over to Lungi to receive their pilgrims but that they should assemble themselves and wait at the Government Warf Ferry Park in Freetown, where authorities will bring all the pilgrims and hand them over to their relatives.
Sierra Leone’s Press attaché in Saudi Arabia, Abu Bakarr Bah said 652 Pilgrims from Sierra Leone participated in this year’s Hajj in the Muslims’ Holy city of Mecca, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
He confirmed that the first and second batches from Sierra Leone comprise 640 pilgrims and 12 officials, including 2 medical doctors, 1 pharmacist, 2 nurses and 7 government officials.
He said the 12 Officials appointed by the Sierra Leone authorities were charged with the mandate to accompany the Pilgrims, ensuring their welfare and providing necessary support throughout the journey.
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!
