Kuwait's emir names Sheikh Sabah Khalid Al Sabah as new crown prince    Saudi Chief of General Staff attends EFES 2024 multinational exercise in Turkiye    Saudi anti-corruption authority investigates 446 individuals, detains 112 in May    First direct flight from Dammam to Najaf arrives    Makkah Police arrest two for promoting fraudulent Hajj campaign on social media    ZATCA thwarts attempt to smuggle 6.5 million Captagon pills hidden in plus-size tires    Saudi Arabia provides $129 billion in aid to 169 countries since 1996    Saudi Arabia supports urgent Gaza aid and ceasefire in talks with US    Al Hilal clinches King Cup in intense penalty shootout and dramatic final    Crown Prince awards King's Cup to Al Hilal    Yassine Bounou named Man of the Match after leading Al Hilal to King's Cup victory    Cristiano Ronaldo breaks down in tears after Al Nassr's cup final loss against Al Hilal    Saudi Arabia reports 7.3% rise in total revenue for 2023    Aramco acquires 40% stake in Gas & Oil Pakistan    ROSHN revamps Waterfront walkway in Jeddah    Transport minister opens 2nd Ring Road costing SR660 million in Jeddah    Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale concludes with massive attendance    Man opens ice cream shop in seaside telephone box    Nepali climber sets record for fastest ascent of Mount Everest by a woman    World's rarest album to go on display in Australia    JK Rowling in 'arrest me' challenge over hate crime law    Trump's Bible endorsement raises concern in Christian religious circles    Hollywood icon Will Smith shares his profound admiration for Holy Qur'an    We have celebrated Founding Day for three years - but it has been with us for 300    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



A helping hand at the Haj
By Sabahat F. Siddiqi
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 02 - 12 - 2008

HAYA Bint Yusuf, a Saudi student is going for Haj as a volunteer this year. She says, “I want to guide the people who are very old and not familiar with the area, some people don't know even the nearest places from their tents during Haj time. I have seen many old and aged people lost in the middle of the road, and I would like to help them as I have been to Haj many times and I have some idea about the places and rituals associated with it.”
A number of women from different regions across the Kingdom offer their help to the pilgrims as volunteers during the Haj. They undertake myriad activities -- from providing assistance to lost pilgrims to offering free food for thousands of pilgrims.
Although volunteer work is carried out by several wel- known charitable organizations under the supervision of government or private establishments,
there are many people who opt to act as volunteers considering it their personal duty.
Recently, the General Administration for Volunteerism was established with departments staffed by men and women in Madina, Jeddah, the Eastern Province and Riyadh.
“Volunteer work is highly recommended and we encourage and appreciate the efforts of volunteers in helping pilgrims during the Haj,” said Dr. Inam Raboi, Head Volunteer from the association.
“The concept of charity is a solidly ingrained value in Islam and the qualities of generosity and hospitality to visitors have been an institution in Saudi Arabia since time immemorial,” she said. The associations for volunteers train them in various aspects like managing crowds and help them prepare for and take action in emergency situations.
Gulshan Hameedi, from Siddiqi Haj group said she specifically goes with her Haj group being a volunteer. “It is not easy to manage a crowd of around two million at a time. For that, if volunteers work on a personal level with the pilgrims, many complications can be decreased and the crowd can be directed easily,” she said. Moreover, youngsters in the community and the family will be inspired by the volunteers, and it will serve as an example for them in future.
According to Hameedi, it is important to create awareness about volunteerism and social work among ordinary people, and Haj is the best season to show kindness and hospitality toward the guests of Allah.
“I still remember the fire that broke out at Haj some ten years ago. It all happened very suddenly and no one knew how to manage it,” said Asma Bakr, a Saudi educationist, who is going with a welfare organization as a woman volunteer.
Bakr also recommends that student volunteers and social workers should be given preference during college admissions and awarded scholarships in order to encourage volunteerism on a larger scale.
According to Suha Mohammad, a member of a volunteer association in Riyadh and Jeddah, “We try to direct our women volunteers to help create a concept of volunteer work as early as possible. To train the volunteers is not enough, actually they must be taught to work instinctively to help and guide pilgrims.”
The concept of volunteering is deep-rooted in Islam, and it is time to revive this blessed tradition for the benefit of others, as well as our elves.


Clic here to read the story from its source.