No more 30 Days.

Saudi Arabia have now restricted Ramadan visa to only fifteen (15) days only. No more thirty (30) days as normal practiced. The reasons is only best known to the Saudis and my best bet – Masjidilharam, Dataran Kaabah is undergoing a major renovation and Hotels in Mekah being demolished to make way for new one. When will the new one coming up? Wallahualam. I cannot answer you, this question.

The Saudi Authority had issued the new ruling perhaps to minimize the overwhelming worshippers at Masjidilharam in Mekah during Ramadan. Couple to that, several Hotels in Mekah had been demolished and hundreds are already in the pipeline to go down. The Misfalah (behind Hilton Hotel) and Giza (near Marwah) is now flattened and now a “praying field”. Hotels that I had stayed before is now history - Aziz Khouger, Hera Palace, Hotel Al Nadj, Zahret Mekah, Hotel Riyadah International, Rawabi Taj, and Zahret Kamel. Walking around in Mekah, make sure always be extra cautious of the dangling cranes or the heavy truck shuttling around evacuating the boulders and rocks from the hills demolition. 

 

Yours truly is suffering a serious dilemma. I wanted to upkeep the continuity of spending whole Ramadan in Mekah as I had done before for the past eight (8) consecutive years since 2005. Alas in 2013, I am truly disappointed.

With no alternatives, I have to opt for the last fifteen (15) days of Ramadan. Due to the constraints by the Saudi, many Travel Agents are also in a dilemma as Hotel’s rooms are in great demand and rates are escalating like nobody business. It is beyond the ordinary Jemaah mean, except to the Malaysian Rich & Famous and of course the Politicians. Currently the cost for fifteen (15) days stay in the Holy Land is equivalent to a month stay as in previous years. Coming Ramadan, only the hard cores will squeeze their pocket to be in the Holy Land. Five (5) star hotels at daily rate of RM 2,500 per room are easily available but definitely beyond my budget. I therefore opted for “no star” and distance to the Grand Mosque. Never mind, the more steps I take to Masjidilharam the more blesses I may get from Allah, wallahwaalam. Staying in a five (5) star Hotel sometimes it’s too comfortable and cozy that make one lazy to walk to Masjidilharam.

I predict the status quo will apply for the next five (5) years at the very least. It would have been a brilliant idea, if the Saudi Authority continues the thirty (30) days visa on the condition that each worshipper only permitted to stay in Mekah for maximum of fifteen (15) days, and the rest of the stay is in Medina. Medina has no infrastructure problem.

Whatever...........through my years of experience with the Saudis, they can be very unpredictable lot. One instant they insist the Passports to be kept by the Muassasah and the very next month they ask the Worshippers to keep.  

If the Saudis wish to control the population in Mekah at any one time, they should be more surveillance at the several entry checkpoints. Each entry into the boundary of Mekah should be meticulously scrutinized and justify the purpose. They should also check on the syndicate beggars whom purposely brought in by the Mafias to beg and enriching the Warlords. It has become a profession. How can the Beggars classify themselves as “miskin”, so they claim when they carry hand phones?  

Insyaalah.........mid Ramadan, yours truly will make the same journey again provided I get an entry visa. I understand the Saudis are also setting a quota for the last ten days of Ramadan. I look forward to be in front of the Kaabah on the night of 27 Ramadan and transform my body and soul e to be humble surrendering to Almighty Allah. If all in order, this will be my third trip in 2013, insyaalah. The last two (2) trips were sponsored by Almukminin Travel. (See posting dated:  07 Feb 2013 and 13 June 2013). Thank you Almighty Allah. I always believe the spiritual magic of the farewell doa at the Kaabah during widaq (farewell tawaf). The sincerity with Allah is prime importance and I never fail to seek Almighty Allah blessing, to summon me to his Bait (House), Baitullah Hirharam until I am summon to His presence.

Labaikallah hu mala baik,

Kabaikallah shari kala kala baik,

In nal hamda,

Walnikmata,

Lakawalmulk,

La shari kala

 A great feeling indeed to pray in front of the Kaabah. Only those who had been there can tell. All the Muslims in the world is facing the Kaabah during prayers and you are there right in front of it. I normally imagine, millions are behind me.

It is only with Allah gracious that one can be invited to the Holy Land. I thank Allah and always believe in Him.