Since Haj is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for most people, the importance of early and adequate preparation cannot be stressed enough. A considerable amount of time, physical effort, and money are needed to perform the pilgrimage. Haj is a unique journey, devoted purely and sincerely for Allah. For over 1400 years, Muslims from around the world had been traveling to Makkah to perform Haj. It is imperative that Haj is performed sincerely and correctly. Preparation and planning should include spiritual, financial, physical, and mental readiness. In this article, I will shed light on a few points to help in your preparations for Haj. These preparations will help the pilgrim perform Haj with peace of heart and mind. It is essential to be as ready as possible and to get started in the right direction of Haj and its spiritual enlightenment. The Haj rites require a great deal of strength and endurance, as pilgrims exert considerable physical effort during Haj. The constant crush of hundreds of thousands of pilgrims, each trying to perform the same rites at the same time in limited spaces and hot weather, compounds the physical demands on the pilgrim. Pilgrims should be sure to carry along their regular medications for any condition they have. Avoid unnecessary hardships and take adequate precautions to avoid problems. For example, even though it is Sunnah to throw the pebbles at noon (rami al-jamarat), due to overcrowding, you can go later on in the afternoon or the evening. The journey of Haj involves a great deal of walking and thus you must be fully prepared to face this physical challenge. Health experts recommend that people who intend to perform Haj must initiate a walking routine one or two months prior to the journey. This will increase physical stamina and help you to keep up with the long walks and standing for long hours. General medications always come as one of the top priorities when preparing for Haj. It could be a good idea to start taking and also to bring with you extra supplements of Vitamin C and cough drops. Getting and staying in good physical shape by regular exercise prior to departure is a required step. Secondly, clothing; pilgrims should take enough clean changes of clothes to make sure they stay comfortable for the whole trip. But at the same time, moderation is key, you should be careful not to overburden yourself with unnecessary clothes and heavy luggage. Light snacks are another item on your list of things to bring with you for Haj. Whole grain cookies and crackers provide a good snack. Carry with you dried fruits, such as dates, prunes, figs, and dried apricots. Fruits that need peeling are recommended to minimize exposure to infection from insanitary handling; bring oranges, bananas, tangerines. Milk, yogurt, and buttermilk are advised to supplement the pilgrim's diet. Spiritual Preparation is another important aspect, but it tends to be ignored since many people focus on the external actions of Haj and on trying to survive the trip and how to cope with its physical and logistic difficulties. One should take the time to read about the blessings and rewards that a pilgrim gains when going on the Haj. Self-evaluation is necessary before going on the Haj, in order to make a sincere repentance and to return home after the pilgrimage, with a clean slate; with no sins inshallah. Speaking to pilgrims who were blessed to have performed the Haj last year, the pilgrim Manal Hassan said, “Mothers who have no choice but to go with their little children should carry a bottle of water and some fruits for their children who might feel exhausted at any point. I had bananas and dates because they are rich in nutrition especially potassium and fructose so they give the body instant energy that is always needed especially with the physical efforts.” Najlaa Ali, who performed the pilgrimage with her family two years ago, said, “I went with my husband and my two daughters who are 15 and 17 years old; we always carried with us juices and some cookies.” An engineer, Mohammad Sayed, came from Riyadh with his wife and two daughters to perform the Haj. He said, “My wife was keen to have extra clothing for the girls to change whenever they would need. I always had a bottle of buttermilk for the kids to refresh. I was also keen to carry water with me though water was always available and of course we drank Zamzam water when we were in the Grand Mosque.” Alia Hamed said that the psychological preparation comes first; one should go with a pure heart and be prepared to tolerate any complications. Haj is a true test for patience and good manners, so prepare yourself from now in order to pass the test.
