The Chief Imam of Area 10 Mosque, Abuja, Sheikh Yahya Al-Yolawi, on Friday reportedly advised intending pilgrims to settle their debts and leave their wills behind before travelling to Saudi Arabia.
The Abuja-based Islamic scholar, while delivering Jumma’at sermon titled ‘Essential tips for Hajj Preparations’, said the need to leave a will behind was because the journey to Holy land may be the final journey for some pilgrims.
He explained that it was an invitation from Allah to the most famous acts of worship, adding that hajj was a unique and extra ordinary journey in the life time of all pilgrims.
Al-Yolawi said, “An intending pilgrim should settle his debts and leave behind him a clear record as well as writing all his wills or what he intends to pass to his family.
“Journey to hajj requires high level of patience, because it was always accompanied with difficulties ranging from fatigue to physical and social abnormalities as well as intolerance from other pilgrims.
“One should not allow Shaitan (devil) to hijack him and spoil his hajj out of ignorance or annoyance. This emphasises on the importance of piety as first ingredient of one’s journey to Mecca, which means to maintain good relationship with your Lord by devoting yourself to obey him.”
According to the cleric, the intention behind one’s journey to hajj must be for the sake of Allah alone as, whoever, performs any act of worship in order to please people or gain popularity has done wrong.
While admonishing pilgrims that they should ensure that their sources of income are clean and legitimate as that would please Allah, the cleric said, “Prophets Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: learn your rituals from me, for I do not know whether I would be performing Hajj after this Hajj of mine,” (Muslim Hadith no 1297).”
On taking photographs, Al-Yolawi warned that it was wrong to take photographs for whatever purpose while observing hajj rites, saying that such action could contradict pilgrims’ sincerity of performing hajj for the sake of Allah.
He, however, prayed to Allah to continue to protect Islam and safeguard Nigerian pilgrims as they take off to Saudi Arabia, saying, “May the Lord accept their Hajj, prayers, grant their supplications and bring them back to us in peace and safety.”
