Cii News | 18 October 2012

With temperatures peaking today at 40 degrees Celsius, Inshallah, the atmosphere in Makkah Mukarammah is reaching boiling point as hujjaj enter the last stretch before the actual Hajj begins next week Wednesday.

Despite overcast conditions expected over the next three days, the temperatures will remain in the high 30’s and low 40’s bringing little respite to the anxious pilgrims

The vast majority of the 2500 South Africans attending this year are first time hujjaj and amongst those guiding and assisting them is Moulana Muhammed Vanker.

“This entire land has been encompassed by the mercy of Allah Ta’ala. There is that love that the hujjaj have created within their hearts, coupled with anxiety about what to expect in Mina, Arafah and Muzdalifah. When they go back home they will each have a different observation and every person you speak to will give you their personal experience,” he said in live cross from Makkah on on Thursday morning.

Tweeting Cii from the Holy Lands @mmmoosa wrote: “@channelislam it’s truly an experience here…clearly if you want to meet the world come to Makkah, a city that never sleeps.”

Cii’s hajj correspondent, Imraan Ismail, who is currently in Azizia has been updating followers via the Cii Facebook Fanpage. In his latest entry accompanied by stunning pictures he expressed his gratitude to all those serving the Dhooyoufullah (Guests of Allah).

“May Allah reward all those who service the Hujaaj, with the highest stages in Jannah. Picture this: A 56-year-old Lenasia Hajj volunteer happily carrying steel beds and mattresses up the floors of a hotel in Azizia in the heat of Makkah, striving to make the Hujjaj feel at home. Yet we do not appreciate because, ‘we are South Africans and we are supposed to get this treatment anyways!’ Our sincere duas go out to the Hajj volunteers.”

A street in Azizia: Pic – Imraan Ismail

The new Kiswa or Kaabah covering was handed over by Sheikh Abdurrahman Al-Sudais to senior gatekeeper of the Kaba, Sheikh Abdul Qadir Al-Shaibi.

The exquisite cover will be order on the Kaabah Shareef on the 9th of Dul Hijja (Oct. 25.

Arab News reported that the Shaiba family has been the custodian of the Kaabah key for over 15 centuries. “They are responsible for the maintenance of the Kaabah, including opening and closing its doors, cleaning, the annual draping and the reception of visitors inside the Kaabah…The Kiswa is made of pure natural silk dyed in black. It is fourteen meters high. The Kiswa belt measures, ninety-five centimeters in width and forty-five meters in length. The belt is embroidered with silver threads covered with gold.”