7,500 Filipino Muslims travel to Saudi Arabia for hajj

An estimated 7,500 Filipino Muslims traveled to Saudi Arabia to take part within the hajj in Mecca, Vonne Aquino reported on “24 Oras Weekend” on Saturday.

The National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) mentioned the final batch of pilgrims had been despatched off on the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1 on Friday.

“Walang isang naiwan at wala ni isang nagkaroon ng stranded or aberya doon sa kanilang paglalakbay,” said NCMF Commissioner Yusoph Mando.

He also welcomed the initiative of the airport to put up hajj lanes or express lanes for Filipino Muslims, as well as direct flights from Mindanao to Saudi Arabia.

According to the NCMF, hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam and involves walking in a circle around the Kaaba, the sacred building at the center of Mecca’s Grand Mosque.

“Pupunta po kami dyan para manalangin. At itong mga pangyayari, itong mga kasalanan na nagawa po namin, pati mga magulang namin, lahat ay sana po ay mawala na at pagbigyan nyo po kami sa pagbabagong life. Kaya kapag umuuwi na yan, ang tingin sa kanila ay purified particular person,” mentioned Dr. Abdul Hannan Tago of the NCMF Office of the Secretary.

The NCMF requested all khatibs, imams, and spiritual leaders to unfold the message of peace, forgiveness, persistence, love of nation, and poverty discount of their weekly sermons. —Sherylin Untalan/VBL, GMA Integrated News