It is a small village in the kecamatan of Tambusai, Kabupaten Rokan Hulu in the Province of Riau, Sumatra. During the Padri Wars of 1830's , Tuanku Tambusai (aka known as Fakeh Hj Muhammad Salleh ) fought the Dutch forces together with Imam Bonjol and Tuanku Rao in West Sumatra and in Northern Sumatra .The last defence was in Benteng 7 Lapis,Daludalu which fell in 1838. He escaped capture and came to Malaya. He was buried in Rasah in 1882.
Monday, October 25, 2010
The Hajj, Journey of the Heart.
I am prompted to update my blog when I read the comment from Pak Cik Al-Manar in Hank's blog " Birdhouse". Frankly speaking I have been attending so many weddings and going to and fro my hometown Seremban for the past several weeks to help my sister in keeping appointments with the doctors on behalf of my father left me quite little time to reflect on what to write in my blog. Incidentally I met someone at the car wash which I frequented every week, lamenting on the late notifications by Tabung Haji even though the would be pilgrims have been confirmed of their turn this Hajj season. Whenever I pass by Tabung Haji complex in Kelana Jaya and seeing the tents sprouting around the complex and reading the complaints from all quarters about the way the Mecca bound pilgrims are being handled from the point of reporting at the departure hall in the complex, left me wondering whether these people realise that the Hajj journey is first and foremost begins in the heart. Notwithstanding all the quirks and discomforts that these people are experiencing from the stage of preparing to take off for the journey to Mecca, they should be thankful that their life long ambition of performing the last Pillar of Islam is coming to fruition. That is the most fulfilling journey of the heart which should not be confused with any other journey that one normally goes through. As a journey of the heart, all concentration is focused on thing, that is to perform all the mandatory rituals of the Hajj to the best of one's ability and whether it is a Hajj Mabrur or not is not of prime consideration. If it could be achieved, than it is a bonus, but the basics of the 'niat' Ihram and Hajj is just for the sake of ALLAH and none other. The ustaz of the morning TV program mentioned a funny episode where a question was posed to a would be pilgrim before departure what Hajj is he going to do, and the answer was " Haji Mabrur", whereas what was intended was to find out whether he was going to do " Haji Tamattu'" or " Haji Ifrad " since he was going on the last few flights direct to Mecca. One of the many complaints in the past was the pilgrims who were allowed to perform their Hajj many many times, whereas there are those who have not been even once are still awaiting their turn. Apart from those with valid reason for going more than once, such as accompanying their ageing parents or whose spouse is going for the first time to be accompanied by the husband, others should not be allowed as they are depriving those who are patiently waiting for their turn to perform the Hajj for the first time. If Hajj is the performance of one's obligation, then priority should be given to first timers. After all, going to Hajj more than once is not obligatory or mandatory. May ALLAH be the final arbiter on those whose turn is yet to come and more than ready to go to Mecca to perform the Hajj.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
4 comments:
Dear Hal,
As in all matters and manners relating to the Haj, Tabong Haji( TH) is the only common factor, only the players ( the would-be pilgrims ) are different each time. As such to the pilgrims every little episode is a new experience ( except for some)
As such they come with myriads of problems which are major ones to them but routine to TH.
It is a pity that TH knowing common problems would recur should anticipate them better. Maybe they do but for the 'new players' that make things appear monstrous.
Dear Hal,
Such a relief I feel seeing you back.
When I was living in KL years back I found myself busy shuttling between Damansara Heights and Kelana Jaya seeing people off on Haj. Then all those from East Coast left for Haj from here. So being in KL I got messages of people going and of course I felt obliged to see them off. Now living In KT I miss that oart of the annual ritual.
Nice to see you back.
Dear Pakcik and Hank,
It is high time this dinosaur be replaced with a new creature, because after almost half a century, things become rusty and it had a bad record of managing depositor's fund. By now it should have it'sown Complex situated near KLIA because the site had long been identified, and depositor's fund should have been invested in the right sector for better yield. TH had lost money in its investments in Indonesia and focus should have been to give better service to Pilgrims. Instead of investing into the long lease of the Hotels near the Al-Haram, it secured those nearly a kilometre away. It would not be long when Pilgrims have to take buses just to get to Al-Haram.
Pakcik, TH should discourage people sending off pilgrims at the Kelana Jaya Complex because the place is now too congested and the sprouting tents being set up for the Pilgrims for departure is almost taken by people sending them off. TH just had no control over the crowded limited space in Kelana Jaya. It had become a nightmare even for would be Pilgrims to check in at TH Complex in KJ.
Somehow, Akhi, I've missed this and your later entry on your stint in RTM. On the subject of Tabung Haji, your comments are all relevant and well-said. I couldn't add anything more, nor will that do any good since TH had grown into such a giant organization that what others say means nothing to it anymore. The experts there are already beyond criticism. Even Prof Ungku Aziz could not tell them anything anymore.
Investing in Hotels in Mecca will lead to a new conflict. We want the accommodation charges in Mecca to be reduced but when TH own some of the hortels, TH itself will want the rate to be increased to accommodate rising costs. In any case the Hajis are happy with all the arrangements made by TH for them and other countries are full of praise. So,
I shall keep my peace on the matter.
Post a Comment