MAKKAH — Despite the hardships and sacrifices made by pilgrims, the journey to the Holy Kaaba and the Holy Sites in Makkah remains one that every believer yearns for. As for those. who swung into action to serve the guests of God at the Holy Sites, they share moments of joy and self- realization for having an opportunity to render a great altruist service in their lifetime. This pilgrimage, with its various stages, is a journey where one's heart longs to visit the House of God, see the Holy Kaaba, and witness the places where Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) spent his youth and early life. It is an experience that engraves an indelible mark on the soul. To achieve this noble goal, the Kingdom has implemented several measures. As highlighted by Minister of Hajj and Umrah Dr. Tawfiq Al-Rabiah, there are now 35 companies competing to provide services to the pilgrims, which has significantly enhanced quality of services and increased pilgrims' satisfaction. Additionally, the establishment of the Hajj Project Management Office, which coordinates between more than 50 governmental entities to serve the pilgrims, has been a milestone. The 'Makkah Route Initiative' was also launched and expanded to include seven countries and 11 airports. This year, over 316,000 pilgrims completed their entry procedures at their home country airports and were transported directly to their accommodations in Makkah and Madinah with ease immediately after their arrival in the airports of Jeddah and Madinah. Maryam Muhammad Munir, an Indonesian pilgrim, shared her memories with the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) at the Makkah Route lounge in Surabaya Airport, Indonesia. She recounted her first pilgrimage 60 years ago with her family on primitive ships that took 5 to 8 months to reach Jeddah Islamic Port, passing through India, the Arabian Sea, and the Red Sea. The journey was fraught with dangers, challenges, and high financial costs. Nowadays, the journey for Hajj and Umrah has been reduced to just a few days. Maryam noted that the Saudi government has spared no effort to make the pilgrimage easier, safer, and more fulfilling, providing pilgrims with a sense of security, satisfaction, and happiness. Jamil Al-Hassan, a Syrian journalist from northwestern Syria, expressed his gratitude to the Kingdom. He shared how the quota allocated by the Saudi Ministry of Hajj enabled him to perform Hajj, a dream his father couldn't fulfill before passing away after battling with cancer. Once Jamil had thought that Hajj would be never possible for him. Another pilgrim from Morocco described his indescribable feelings while performing Hajj with his elderly mother and aunt, who shed tears of joy during this journey of a lifetime. He emphasized that nothing compares to performing Hajj with one's mother and hearing her prayers at the Holy Sites. In contrast, a Saudi soldier assigned to care for and organize pilgrims said, "It is enough that they pray for us, even if we don't understand their language." Saudi volunteer Fawziya Al-Bakheet from Hail, along with her friend Latifa Al-Rashidi, came to Makkah to work at the Health Volunteer Center. They both expressed their pride and joy in serving the pilgrims, considering it a celebration for them and their families. The exceptional efforts and high-quality services provided by the Kingdom to the pilgrims are continuously improving year after year. This is evidenced by the testimonies of heads of pilgrims' affairs offices, such as Sheikh Sami Al-Masoudi, the Head of the Higher Committee for Hajj and Umrah in Iraq. He stated that "no country other than the Kingdom can undertake such a massive effort due to its experience and capability in organizing millions of people." Now, having completed their Hajj and hoping for their sins to be washed away like a white garment cleansed of stains, all the hardships and challenges of the journey have faded away, leaving behind an indelible, spiritual mark, the pilgrims observed.
