Umrah

[Pac Man]

and zanjeer.... what was the point behind your post?

[zanjeer]

and zanjeer.... what was the point behind your post?

The point of my post was to highlight that it is practically impossible for even 10% of the current Muslim ummah to go Hajj and fulfil the 5th pillar of Islam, let alone 100%.

[Rab C Nesbit]

I was fortunate enough to go on Umrah a few years ago.
It marked the beginning of my personal spiritual journey.

...Going to Saudi helped me see the positives of such a huge religion, and also the negatives.

Seeing people of different races, backgrounds doing exactly the same things as you was a humbling experience. Being able to pray in the same way to the same God.
It was immense.
The community feel really affected me, and to this day I am looking to and working towards creating the feeling again.

However, as mentioned by other members, the divide between the rich and poor is so apparent and in your face.
I could not stand that although everyone had gone to the same place to experience the same things, you could buy preferential treatment.
In fact, whilst others cried that they were so close to the places that they had spent their lives hearing about, I cried over the treatment of some pilgrims.
Also, it was the first proper instance in which I realised that huge institutions are open to different interpretations and a religion that has been around for so long will have been adapted, changed etc...

If you have the fortune to go to Makkah and Medina, take the time to be aware of your surroundings and take a step back.
...and observe.

Places of pilgrimage are always beautiful.

[Pac Man]

The point of my post was to highlight that it is practically impossible for even 10% of the current Muslim ummah to go Hajj and fulfil the 5th pillar of Islam, let alone 100%.

okay so lets see you are saying that there are 1 billion Muslims and not even 10% of the Ummah can go Hajj...

You have included children in that large number I'm assuming. Children are not obliged to perform Hajj as their deeds are not recorded until they reach puberty. However if the parents do take him or her to hajj with them then their hajj is valid.

Hajj is not obligatory for slaves. (yes there are Muslim slaves in the world)

Hajj is not obligatory for those who are not fit - both physically and financially. One does not have to perform Hajj if their body is not sound and won't be able to bear the hardships of perform Hajj. Financially, I don't have to explain as it speaks for itself. If they have the funds to get to Saudi to perform Hajj AND return home then so be it. This money should be surplus though!

Also women who do not have a mahram are not obliged to perform Hajj either.





But I'm sure you took all these things into consideration when you came up with your statistical analysis

[Pac Man]

p.s. "baaligh" means mature right? How can scholars put a number on when a child reaches maturity? I don't know where you got that figure from. Baaligh - maturity would mean reaching puberty in this instance. In reality, you figures would be nowhere near accurate

[Maya]

I've been Umrah 3 times now and it was an amazing experience. Being surrounded by people from all walks of life. The one thing you do notice thought is the huge gap between the rich and poor.
Makkah is very different to Medina. The environment is alot cleaner and the people are friendlier in Medina than in Makkah. The weather is good, just as long as you dont end up reading Jumma namaz outside under the sun
I've learned more and taken more in each time I've gone, most likely because I've matured as the years went by.

I've went with guys who have completely changed their lives after coming back, and others who admitted it made no difference and wasn't really anything "special" for them. Fair play I guess.
You will definitely enjoy it Maya

p.s. Lots of beggers, some genuine...others are not. Don't get conned like I did INSIDE the mosque

Thanks for that Pac Man. It's really nice to hear that you have had the opportunity to perform it more than once.

[Guji-Ji]

p.s. "baaligh" means mature right? How can scholars put a number on when a child reaches maturity? I don't know where you got that figure from. Baaligh - maturity would mean reaching puberty in this instance. In reality, you figures would be nowhere near accurate

14 years, 6 months and 10 days (or 15 Islamic years) is the age where even if the kid isn't physically mature, Islamically he's considered a 'man'. That is according to my cousin, old Ustaad and uncle who are all Aalims.

[Zero]

But if you are not physically mature will you still be accountable for your actions? Considering the mental state is still in-tact? Humma. Probably yes.

So basically when you're conscious of your actions and the outcomes then you are considered accountable.

[Tariq2009]

ahh.. the Hajj Industry

LOL