Background
Haj is the annual opportunity for muslims worldwide to leave all their normal responsibilities and even family ties behind them for one main goal – to answer Allah’s call and submit to Him Alone.
It merges the pilgrims and the hosts in one event at one time, following Allah’s command to Ibrahim (عليه السلام) to proclaim of the arrival of the prime time for this event annually, with Allah’s promise to Ibrahim (عليه السلام) that his call will reach even the furthest corner of the earth and the people will respond by attending. (see Qur’an, S. Al-Haj, 22:27).
More Stories Than We Will Ever Know
This year, 2026, there were a reported 1.7 million in attendance for the annual haj.
Whenever you travel anywhere, you will have more than one story to return with. The same applies to the pilgrims, they will return to their homelands and their families and their work or schools with more than one story each. But if you count for only one story per haji, that means there will be at least 1.7 million stories to be told out of this year’s haj alone.
Not to mention the additional countless stories of those present to ensure the smooth progression of the haj – cleaners, drivers, guides, hospitality workers, security guards and agents, medical attendees and doctors, and so many other professions and occupations that are necessary to ensure that this passage of religious rites proceeds in proficient manner to ensure the smoothest experience for the pilgrims.
It is impossible for me personally, or any other individual in this world, to actually know of or hear the stories of all those who were present and participated – both pilgrims as well as servers of the haj process.
Out of all the stories that reached my ears and took my notice this year, there were three stories that stood out with particular importance to me, which made a special impression on my heart.
They made strong impression on me not because of any special notability of “sensational news-worthy” story sense.
It was their human impact that affected me to the point where I felt I need to bring to your notice as well.
These stories only served to reinforce for me the lessons that were revealed to us through the stories of Ibrahim (عليه السلام), and Hajar and Ismail and the whole family and their entire journey through their lives.
Reflection One:
A Journey Completed in a Different Way
As I was watching local (KSA) news broadcasting of events as they evolved prior and during the haj this year, one story quicly flashed on the screen and then died out as soon as the initial story was reported by the news reporter, never to be heard again.
I keep a keen eye on live news reports every year at the time of haj, out of curiosity to the events as they happen, as well as giving me a sense of participation, if only by watching their updates and listening to their calls of submission and remembrances.
Sometimes, in the past, there have sadly been isolated incidents of accidents where there were untimely deaths or injuries. Other times, more often than the accidents of the past, there were reports of annual developments of increasing provisions that have resulted in safer and easier passage for the pilgrims and the workers of the haj combined.
Some of the stories are truly inspiring spiritually as much as they are news-worthy.
So it was this one particular woman’s story, which of course immediately affected her husband as well, but not him alone.
Her story has affected me in a way that no other stories of the past have. And I know that there are many other similar stories – it is just that those other stories have not reached my ears to report.
She was an elderly woman from Indonesia, approximately 88 years as the reporter stated, and her husband of most likely same age was with her on the journey. They came from a small village on the island of Java, and they were traveling on their haj journey (most likely their first and only haj journey) – by airplane from Jakarta to their destination in Medinah.
It was most likely their plan to pray at the Prophet’s Mosque in Medinah, to visit his grave and those of his companions, and eventually on to Makkah and the religious sites to complete their haj, as is the tradition of many of the local and international professionally guided haj tours.
They had plans. We have our plans. But Allah had other plans they had no idea about ahead of time.
Allah’s plan is always the one that evolves – regardless of how careful or intentive we may plan.
Sometime during their flight, perhaps early after take-off, mid-flight, or near landing in Medinah – it was reported that she complained of feeling dizzy. Shortly after that, she passed out. Unconscious.
When her husband tried to wake her, she didn't respond. Members of the flight crew checked on her as well.
But she never regained consciousness. She was not destined to arrive alive.
The image from the news report showed her resting upon a fully reclining first-class seat, covered with the traditional green sheet used for deceased Muslim women before the funeral prayer and burial.
Allah’s mercy prevails over all things.
We are taught by the Prophet’s ﷺ sayings (Sahih Bukhari & Muslim) that, (meanings translated) if one falls ill or travels, then the rewards of good deeds he used to do while in good health or at home are written for him/her as if he had actually performed them. In addition, the Prophet ﷺ also taught that if one intends to do a good deed and for any reason does not go through with it, it is still written down for him as if he had done it.
Allah ﷻ also reassures us that no good deeds are lost – all is recorded and due reward granted (see Qur’an, S. Al-Kahf, 18:30).
Therefore, we gain reassurance, as should the woman’s husband who is left a widower as he is about to embark upon his haj - now alone without her at his side, that her time was indeed measured and calculated.
It was Allah’s plan that she would embark on the haj will full intention, but she would not have to suffer through the strain and struggles of the passage of the rites. She was mercifully taken back to Him before she even reached the land of the Haj.
She was escorted from the plane to the Prophet’s Mosque where the imam and hundreds of thousands of worshippers and fellow pilgrims prayed for her.
Finally, she was taken on the last step of her life’s journey to be buried in the Baqi’ cemetary along side so many of the prophet’s own companions, wives, and early prominent and faithful muslims.
I can just imagine the agony her husband must have felt, and still feels, to have come on this journey with his life companion accompanying him, only to arrive at their destination to begin their life-long dream of performing the haj, to be left alone without her.
Perhaps he went on to complete his haj. Perhaps he could not manage it emotionally.
If he didn’t, certainly he is not to blame for discontinuing due to emotional inability to cope. And if he did, then I pray that he will be rewarded greatly by Allah for persevering in the face of such a fate and sad event in his life.
I am certain that the local authorities and haj guides, along with his own haj group guide, would have consoled him and kept by his side throughout to help him cope with his loss as well as to navigate the steps of the haj without his beloved companion at his side.
Reflection Two:
Those Who Left Seeing More Than Before
This story is yet another “news” story that just happened to catch my attention one day as I was watching the haj evolve before my eyes, live on the various news channels reporting as the haj proceeded.
A tradition of the inhabitants of the region since the time of Ibrahim (عليه السلام) and his family is still live and well today – that of exerting all efforts to assist the incoming pilgrims in any way possible, providing whatever assistance may be needed.
I have long heard official reports of the efforts of cardiology teams providing open heart surgery for those needing it while they are in attendance of their haj. They do this to the extent where the surgery teams will ensure that the patient is escorted even by ambulance if so needed, and accompanying medical team throughout the pilgrim’s procession of the haj.
These medical teams ensure that the haji’s medical attention and emergency care has not come between the pilgrim and his performance of the haj rituals.
However, this year the news of medical assistance and provisions hit me even harder and with much more leverage on my heart.
Many pilgrims came to the haj with only the intention of completing their fifth pillar of the religion – performing the haj.
This year, a number of pilgrims came to Haj unable to see, yet returned home with their sight restored in addition to having performed their religious duty of the haj.
It didn’t matter where these pilgrims came from. And it didn’t matter what the cause of their sight loss was.
All the mattered was that these pilgrims were present for the haj this year, 2026, and that they walked into the opthometry clinic blind. Most of them (those for whom the procedure was possible and with promised outcome) walked out with their sight returned in addition to having performed the haj.
No extra fees charged. No detours to other clinics. Simply on-site treatment for the walk-ins for whom the procedure would benefit.
The left the haj seeing, while they arrived initially blind.
Reflection Three:
The Hands That Help the Pilgrims
There are so many helping hands reaching out to the pilgrims with assistance, guiding them in more ways than most of us realize.
My husband was once among those serving the pilgrims, for several years, as he was a member of the Ministry of Health, in the capacity of administrative services.
This was long prior to the time when the numbers of pilgrims reached the 1m+ levels. It was a time, as he has described, quite moving and emotional, albeit he was not a pilgrim himself.
Just the fact that he was able or requested to serve in any position to help the pilgrims, was an honor and a blessing itself.
The schools in the region also promote notices to the public encouraging high-school aged and college students to volunteer in many capacities.
These services vary - some greet pilgrims at the ports of entry with traditional Arabic coffee, dates, pastries, water, and flowers—all accompanied by genuine smiles and, at times, warm embraces of welcome.
Others spend long hours under the hot sun, serving as security personnel and guides to help pilgrims navigate safely and prevent the dangerous crowd congestion that can sometimes occur.
Together, these efforts represent only a small glimpse of the countless people working behind the scenes to serve the guests of Allah.
My own grandson once participated in a volunteer security division that helped guide and protect the pilgrims during Haj.
It was a ten-day service program that allowed young people to be present during the pilgrimage without actually performing Haj themselves. Instead, they contributed in a different way—helping facilitate the safety, ease, and smooth movement of the pilgrims.
Serving travelers and pilgrims has long been part of the heritage of Makkah. As news of Zamzam spread, travelers and caravans began stopping there for water, rest, trade, and nourishment before continuing their journeys.
Each year new technology and procedures enhance the process of the haj in general.
One of these great enhancements that came to my notice in particular this year, for the haj 2026, was the addition of AI services to not only assist and support the immigration and customs officers at the borders (namely the airports), but as a genuine relief and most likely welcome trend to the incoming pilgrims.
Basically, it cancels the need for live translators at the immigration and customs entry points.
It offers the convenience to both the incoming pilgrim and the attending immigration or customs officer to communicate live and direct with one another without anyone stumbling with language barriers.
The whole process is efficiently enabling pilgrims in the counts of hundreds of thousands, or millions, as it is nowadays, to answer Allah’s call that Ibrahim (عليه السلام) proclaimed ages ago – calling to the muslims of the world for a five day procession of performing the various acts of worship in seeking Allah’s forgiveness and entrance to His mercy and blessings.
Conclusion:
The People of Haj 2026
The haj of 2026 witnessed, as reports have revealed, more than 1.7 million pilgrims from all corners of the globe.
Millions more served both on the scene and behind the scenes to help ensure that the pilgrimage proceeded safely and smoothly.
They protected, supported, guided, and assisted the pilgrims as they completed their rites of worship and fulfilled the fifth pillar of Islam.
Each story is as individual as the people who lived it.
And for each person, there is more than one story.
So many. So different. Yet, in some ways, all the same.
Each pilgrim answers a deeply personal call to Allah. They come in response to His invitation, submitting their wills to His command and seeking His forgiveness, His mercy, and His reward in the everlasting life to come.
What is the haj?
It is the procession of humanity answering His call, together with the countless people who quietly serve those making the journey.
The call of Ibrahim (عليه السلام) continues – and Allah’s promise is fulfilled annually by the response of the muslims worldwide.
Every year new people answer that call—whether by making the journey themselves or by helping others accomplish it.
And every year some of the same people repeatedly answer that call – by facilitating and ensuring the ease and security of the pilgrims answering the call to perform the haj.
The rites end.
The pilgrims return home.
But the lessons remain. And we all benefit from those lessons.
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