Recorded during the 2013 Hajj as Alhaj Akibu Quasim explained how first-time pilgrims can prepare for the journey of Hajj.
Alhadj Akibu Quasim
Transcript
Insha’Allah, if one is going to Hajj for the first time, we believe that individual is a Muslim who wants to complete his or her faith.
We are talking about the last pillar of Islam, which is Hajj.
The first thing, as we said, is to prepare the soul, making sure your soul is ready to take that journey, because it is a historical journey that has many details and instructions from Allah.
The second thing is to talk to the right people who know Hajj.
Insha’Allah, we make sure that we expose you to everything you need to get prepared for.
The most important thing after that is to get your traveling documents ready.
With that, you can take it from there.
Question:
What does preparing your soul for Hajj mean?
Alhaj Akibu Quasim:
It means one has to be ready, religiously and spiritually.
You have to understand all the pillars of Islam and be a practical Muslim.
One of the most important duties we perform in Makkah or Madinah is prayer.
So we are talking about someone who loves to pray five times a day.
When you already love prayer, it will be easy for you when you get there.
But if someone is not used to praying regularly, after one or two days there, he or she might feel tired or bored because of how often we pray during Hajj.
That’s why preparing the soul before traveling is important.