Wednesday, May 29, 2024 Manchester Airport serves as a vital hub in the North, linking residents to destinations far beyond mere vacations or business journeys. As the only airport in the region offering direct flights to Jeddah, it becomes a key departure point for over a thousand Hajj pilgrims each year, embarking on what is often a transformative spiritual journey to Islam’s most sacred site. This year, the Hajj pilgrimage is scheduled from Friday, June 14, to Wednesday, June 19.
Pilgrims’ tours typically range from 10 to 21 days, with some beginning their journey to Saudi Arabia as early as this week. Muslim chaplains at Manchester Airport, Shurma Chowdhury and Faruk Ali, emphasize the profound significance of Hajj in the Islamic faith and offer essential advice for this year’s travelers. What does Hajj mean for the pilgrims participating? SC : Hajj represents one of Islam’s five pillars, an essential pilgrimage that all financially and physically able Muslims are expected to perform at least once in their lifetime.
It is both a divine call to draw closer to God and a chance for self-improvement. While pilgrims can undertake the Umrah pilgrimage any time of the year, Hajj occurs on specific dates of the Islamic lunar calendar’s last month. The experience is often singular and transformative.
Given the ongoing restrictions from the Covid pandemic, places are limited and costs can soar up to £10,000, making it a significant investment for many. My own family has .
