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             Hajj is the greatest Muslim gathering every year. Muslims come from different parts of the world to testify benefits for themselves and mention the name of Allah in appointed days. The virtues and benefits are the reward of Hajj which is Jannah (paradise).  An accepted Hajj destroys all the previous sins, and the person gets back home, like the first day his mother bore him.  What a reward to enter Paradise and gain the satisfaction of Allah.

There are other world benefits. After or during hajj, pilgrims can make meetings and know one another. They may exchange some ideas, make businesses and open new agreements. Let's hear the story of the businessman Hammed with his sister and her husband.

Hammed Yusuf is a businessman from Bandung, Indonesia. He came to The United States to visit his sister Fatimah and to take her to perform Hajj with him in Mecca. Her husband, Fadil Idrees, a restaurant owner from Casablanca, Morocco, decided to close his restaurant and go with them too. He did not want to go at first, but Fatimah convinced him to do so.

"It's a matter of a week or ten days, and look at the gain or benefit you get from that" Fatimah was prompting him. 

Her husband replied, "I guess you're right Fatimah. Besides, we have enough money to pay for the rent."

Hammed entered and joined them, "Are we all set?"

"Yes brother, Fadil is ready too."

His brother in law gave him a big smile and said, "Is it true that we will be back from Hajj without any sins?"

"As a newly born baby". Said Hammed confidently.

"You mean, clean from all those sins." Repeated Fadil.

 Then Hammed said, " the messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, ((Whoever performs Hajj for the sake of Allah and does not make sex or commit sins, or dispute unjustly during the Hajj, will return home like the first day his mother gave birth to him)). And don't forget about Jannah (paradise)"

"Really?" asked Fadil happily.

Hammed replied, "Yes really, our prophet also said, ((The accepted Hajj does not have any compensation or reward but paradise)).

Fatimah told her husband that her brother had been to Hajj many times, and he had gained experience and knowledge from those journeys. Most of his business was made here after the season of Hajj was over, he made meetings and introduced himself to other businessmen and that was how he became a well known businessman in Bandung.

Hammed gave her sister a smile and said, "You have never been to Hajj sister. That is why I wanted to come here and take both of you to perform Hajj this year".

Fatimah said, "That is very kind of you brother, but we are able to do it, at least financially. Because of my leg, I cannot throw the stones; I will let Fadil do it for me."

"You mean I can represent you?" inquired her husband.

"Of course dear."

Her husband said, "Hey guys wait! I want you to tell me what to do and how to start! We are now on the fourth day of Thulhijjah."

"Very well." Said Hammed.

"Shall we intend our Hajj and put on our ihram and then go to the plane?"

"No no, you make your intention of Hajj and we take the plane, when we are near Migat, (the place where we take off our clothes and put on Ihram), the captain of the aircraft and his crew will notify us. We change our clothes inside the plane and start Talbiyah. It's a supplication which means (Oh Allah here I am at your service, oh Allah here I am. Here I am at your service. You have no partner, here I am. All the Praise and the blessings are yours and all dominion. You have no partner) we continue to say Talbiya from rites to the other until we reach throwing Jamarat, then we stop Talbiyah."

"I see, then what?" Acknowledged Fadil. His brother in law started to explain to him, "At the airport there will be a bus waiting for us and we will go to Makkah and perform the first corner of Hajj, Tawaf al gudum."

"What is this Tawaf al gudum Hammed?" Asked Fadil.

"Tawaf means surrounding Kaaba (house of Allah) seven times." Replied the businessman.

"And then what?" Fadil asked. 

"Then Saai." Replied Hammed.

"Ah! I know that, going between the two mountains of Saffa and Marwa." Said Fadil hastily.

"Benar!" Said Hammed sarcastically.

"That was Indonesian language; it means exactly, my dear." His wife began quickly.

"Oh! I see. Let's assume that we are on the eighth day of Thulhijjah in Mecca and after Saaii, what else?" Asked Fadil.

"Yes, it is called the day of Tarwiyah (irrigation). We will stay the night here and leave after sunrise to mount Arafat." Replied Hammed.

"What do we do there?" Asked the Moroccan innocently. Then his wife looked at him and then her eyes fell again on her brothers' eyes. She wanted to give an excuse for her husband's ignorance by saying, "You know that his father brought him to The States when he was nine. He does not know even Arabic."

 to be continued .....