If you had the means but didn’t make hajj this year, what are you waiting for?
When planning to make hajj, no one knows if that plan will become a reality or remain an unfulfilled dream. Would-be hajjis have always faced difficulties of money, health, distance or other problems. Not “feeling ready” to make hajj is not a reason to delay. In fact, it is probably the best argument for making hajj. After all, there is very little in life–from our births to our deaths–that we ever feel ready for. None of us is guaranteed life for another year, So as you see pictures and video of this years hajjis, make intentions before Allah to go next year.
For those of us who are not faced with great hardship, below is a small list of the problems facing Muslims around the world in their efforts to make hajj:
No Palestinian Muslims will make hajj this year.
Many Iraqi Muslims have to wait for hajj. The ones who can travel have been helped with their overland travels by the Kuwaiti government. Many Iraqis are unemployed or displaced. Some have saved for hajj only to have their money stolen or have had to pay it as ransom.
Some Pakistani Muslims are missing hajj this year as travel group operators and the government accuse each other of being at fault for failing to complete the necessary paperwork.
Hajj for Muslims everywhere has become more expensive. Those who could have made hajj with relative ease a few years ago but didn’t, may now find the prices are not affordable.
For Egyptian Muslims, the price of hajj gotten so high as become almost unattainable for the majority of people.
These examples of the struggles faced by Muslims around the world–difficulties that did not exist in some places a few years ago or even last year–are a reminder to those who have the means and have not yet made hajj. Make intentions to make hajj next year, because Allah can bar the way at any time.
What are you waiting for?
Posted by Umm Umar 
