16-year Dream Fulfilled As Five Siblings Perform Haj Together

From Nurliyana Farhah Ruslan

MAKKAH, May 23 (Bernama) -- Five siblings from Terengganu expressed their gratitude after fulfilling their 16-year dream of performing the haj pilgrimage together with their spouses.

United by faith and love, the family gathered in the Holy Land to embrace a lifelong dream and answer the divine call.

“I am deeply grateful to Allah SWT. It is not easy to plan such a journey for a large family, but with Allah’s will and the support of Tabung Haji, we were honoured to be His guests,” said their eldest brother, Hashim Awang, 69, holding back tears when met by the media here.

Performing the haj with his family had been a dream since 2009 for Hashim Awang, a retired staff member of the Kuala Terengganu City Council, who held onto it with steadfast faith and hope.

“We want to unite the family not only in this world, but also through this sacred act of worship so that our love will be everlasting,” he added.

Despite losing their father in 1987, the bond among the siblings remained strong, with Hashim taking on the role of guardian to his seven younger siblings.

“I’ll always remember what my father told me to never miss my solat, to look after my siblings, and to keep the family together. I’ve carried that with me to this day,” he said.

Meanwhile, Ismail Awang, 61, recalled the moment his sister-in-law, Ruhani Kassim, 65, checked their Haj application status through the THiJARI application.

“We saw an offer on the THiJARI app and then everyone began checking. It felt even sweeter knowing we all had the same departure date, same flight, same accommodation, and return,” he said.

Ismail said their only hope was that every step, every prostration, and every prayer would be accepted and that they would come back as purified servants granted a mabrur haj.

--BERNAMA