After being accredited for Hajj, it is only natural for mothers (and fathers) to think about the ffg: who will my children stay with how will they manage without me will my baby recognize me when I return how will my child fall asleep without me will my children be OK while I’m away Most of all… – Will I be OK leaving them for so many weeks? Some comments/replies/stories by parents: joomaverachia Aslm, wheny husband and i got accreditedast yeat for haj we werw so overwhelmed alhamdullilah, bt when it came to kids i woild jusy break down n cry, i cried at night, whem i was alone, bt i kept telling myself tht Allah has chosen me and Allah will look after them, and shikr they were fine, dnt kmw hw the 6 weeks went… What i did was i bought gifts for 6 weeks, 1 gift a weeki wrapped it up amd labeled each 1,and every jummah my mummy would give them 1… ❤ I wrote a note for each week, like week 1 was we reached From anon.. Salaams, me and my husband left our baby with grandparents to go hajj. He was three months old. It was incredibly difficult to go and we missed him so much when he was there but we made lots of dua for him and got so busy during hajj that the time just flew. We went for a month and were devastated to leave him but glad we got our hajj done. Makkah and Madinah bring so much peace to our hearts, made it easier. From anon… Leaving children behind is always tough💔 For me the greatest challenge wuz getting accredited days b4 I gave birth n having to make the decision to leave behind my newborn who wuz exactly 3 months old the day I left 😭 To leave behind a child that little n stop breastfeeding wen I fed the others til they were 2 yrs old wuz a heart-wrenching decision that I had to make. It really helps to have loving family members around who went out of their way to make my kids (I have 3) not feel my absence. It is said that u will be tested b4 or during Haj n I jus took this to be my test n alhamdulillah 2day I have absolutely no regrets. Allah gives our children amazing sabr n they r totally fine even though we think the world will collapse if we r not around for them 🤣 so if Allah has invited u to b His Esteemed guest don’t decline for Allah makes a way n now my kids r ever ready to ship me off again😂Insha Allah we r given the opportunity to perform Haj again soon❤️ quicksimpleneasy_cuisine Assalaamualaikum – I left my 3 n half yr old daughter – I didn’t cry until the airport when everything started to feel REAL.. I cried so much which made her cry also.. I pulled myself together and then smiled at her one last time before leaving her for 6 weeks.. I hugged her and kissed her and walked bravely towards the departure gates knowing that I’m only leaving her for the Pleasure of Allah 💕💕💕 I missed her on the plane but sooner or later my heart ache eased alhumdulillah.. For the entire 6 weeks I didnt speak her or video call her.. She stayed with my parents and they kept saying she’s fine.. AlhamdulillahWhat REALLY helped was that my mum did a timeline of events so that mentally she knew what’s gonna happen next and where we were.. So from Madina she knew when we were going to Makkah, when we were in Mina etc.. So on the timeline was also.. Eid day nana is gonna cut the sheep then such and such… From the day we were accredited we told her that abbi and I are going for Hajj bcoz Allah invited us and no children allowed etcBe honest and open with ur kids – explain to them who they will be staying with and what will happen during that time.. So nana was gonna take her to the beach and nani was gonna take her to the park and she’s gonna see her cousins and nani was gonna bath her and make her sleep etcMany people couldn’t believe that I didn’t speak to her for so long but it was better for both of us.. I didn’t want her to kno that she can call to speak to us coz she may have wanted to speak to us while we were unreachable.ease and aafiyah to those leaving their bundles of joy behind 💕 Aameen – Ask any mum who has left their child behind if they would do it again and they will say YES! 😉 Discussion on @journeytohajj Instagram

Perform 2 rakaats Salaatul Shukr thanking Allah for being accredited and Salaatul Istikhara asking Allah for guidance.  Accept your accreditation on the Sahuc website and pay R1500pp fee (make sure that you use your reference no and send proof of payment to Sahuc). Check that you have a valid SA passport, with at least 6 months before expiry from the date of your return. Based on this years Hajj dates, your passport should not be expiring in November 2020. Your vaccinations, you will require a Travel Vaccination card, stamped with a valid vaccine for Menangitis and yellow Fever. Get your passport photos for submission. Start discussing with your spouse/mahram, how long a journey you both are able to go for, and then consider what you both wish to achieve in this @journeytohajj . . Inshallah, the @sahuc_hajj roadshows will be happening soon, where you can get a presentation from @sahuc_hajj on what is going to be the next steps you will go through, and meet the various Hajj Service providers and see what their offers are. Hajj classes run throughout the year in CT, but in JHB and DBN we tend to only leave this things for last minute and rely on Ulema to take care of our guidance on the journey. It is advisable that you find a local hajj class and attend, as this will prepare you mentally and get you into the mindframe. Join Hajj WhatsApp groups. Make your duaa list for Arafaat from now. . (Adapted from WhatsApp group msg by @khidmatulsa assistant) Discussion on @journeytohajj Instagram

For every 1 bag of luggage you take – you need to pack 99 bags of sabr. When your wife is running lateFa Sabrun Jameel When your husband forgot to buy that 1 item you asked him forFa Sabrun Jameel When your travel agent slips up with your special requestFa Sabrun Jameel When the hotel you stayed at isn’t what you expected it to beFa Sabrun Jameel When the 5 minutes procedure at the airport to have your passport stamped takes 3 hoursFa Sabrun Jameel Patience is having something to do in the mean time Occupy yourself with zikr, Quraan tilawah (on your phone also), listen to a lecture on Hajj (from your phone – take earphones with you) Things wont go according to YOUR plan but will go according to Allahs Master Plan Discussion on @journeytohajj Instagram

VERY BENEFICIAL NAFL SALAATS: 1) Tahiyyatul Wudhu;• After Wudhu.• 2 Rakaats.Benefit: Entitled to enter Jannat. 2) Tahiyyatul Masjid;• Upon entering Masjid & before sitting down.• 2 Rakaats.Benefit: To honour ALLAH Ta’ala. 3) Ishraaq;• Performed 15 minutes after sunrise.• 2 or 4 Rakaats.Benefit: Thawaab of one Hajj & Umrah. 4) Salaatul Chaasht;• Some part of day (± 10:00am) has passed until Zawaal.• 2; 4; 6; 8; 10 or 12 Rakaats.Benefit: Counted among the devotees. 5) Awwabeen Salaat;• After Maghrib Salaat.• Minimum 6 and Maximum 20 Rakaats.Benefit: Sins forgiven even as much as the foam on the ocean. 6) Salaatul Taubah;• When the need arises.• 2 Rakaats.Benefit: If certainly truthful and sincere ALLAH Ta’ala forgives. 7) Salaatul Istikhaarah;•may be read at any permissable time• 2 Rakaats.Benefit: asking for the best decision from ALLAH Salaatul Hajaat;• In time of need.• 2 Rakaats.Benefit: When one is in need or in difficulty. 9) Saffar Salaat;• Performed at home before setting out on a journey.• 2 Rakaats.Benefit: A person has not left anything better at home then these 2 Rakaats. 10) Salaatul Tasbeeh; • Any permitted time.• 4 Rakaats.Benefit: A precious gift and valuable present and ALLAH Ta’ala forgives all minor, major, intentional, unintentional and hidden sins. 11) Tahajjud Salaat;• After Esha, latter part of night.• Minimum of 2 Rakaats and Maximum of 12 Rakaats.Benefit: Glorify ALLAH Ta’ala.  Discussion on @journeytohajj Instagram