Money cannot be taken to the grave

Money cannot be taken to the grave - Esah Long

MAKKAH – 'Then which of the favours of your Lord will ye deny?' The translated verse from the Ar-Rahman chapter illustrates the sincerity and determination of a visually-challenged couple who are among those invited by Allah (the most glorified the most high) (SWT) to the holy land for the pilgrimage this time.

Although not perfect like other human beings, the spirit and patience of Abdul Aziz Yusof, 73, and his wife Esah Long, 72, to save money bit by bit was an example that anyone, irrespective of physical condition and financial situation, would be able to become a guest of Allah SWT in the holy land.

Residing in Jalan Klang Lama, Kuala Lumpur, this blind couple harboured an ambition to perform the haj from a young age and started saving money before registering in March 2009.

After making preparations on knowledge and information related to the pilgrimage using the braille writing system, Esah said she and her husband received offer letters to the holy land in March this year.

"Thanks to our savings, we can finally perform the haj, people say blind people like us are not obliged to go to Makkah. But to me, if we have the money, then it is obligatory. What else do we want to do with that money (savings), it cannot be taken to the grave," she said when met by the media here, Bernama reported.

The couple obtained the help of an acquaintance for all registration related matters and account management at Pilgrims Fund Board (TH) as well accompanying them to and from the TH office.

The couple had also performed the minor haj (umrah) in 2003 under the Malaysian Association for the Blind Association (MAB), together with about 30 other pilgrims, comprising members of the association and an escort for each member for a fee of RM3,000 each.

According to Abdul Aziz, while in Makkah he had no chance to go to Masjidil Haram besides fulfilling the obligatory umrah upon arriving from Medina, due to health factors and fatigue, as well as the hilly path to the mosque and place of accommodation.

"Thank god, when near here (holy land), many people (other pilgrims) and the TH personnel who assisted us. Our roommates are most helpful, if I want to go to surau and so on," he said.

Born perfect, Abdul Aziz, from Terengganu, lost his sight when he was three years old due to a high fever while Esah, from Penang, at age seven, for the same reason.

The couple who met in secondary school, were married in December 1974 and were blessed with two children and two grandchildren so far.

According to Esah, she saw pictures of the Kaabah (or cube, and most holy site in Islam), Great Mosque of Makkah and The Prophet’s Mosque before she lost her sight and could only imagine the pictures while in the holy land.

In addition to the hope of achieving an accepted haj, the couple also prayed for good health and the strength to perform their worship in the holy land.

Meanwhile, Maktab 77 manager Azhar Noraffendi, where the couple stayed said, the names of Abdul Aziz and Esah had been proposed for inclusion in the Senior Citizen programme during the masyair operation.

"We have been informed early by the TH team in Madinah regarding the condition of the couple. Upon their arrival here, we have provided wheelchair facilities which were pushed by the TH personnel for them to perform the obligatory umrah.

“Under the programme, selected pilgrims would be stationed at the Makkah TH headquarters a day before the masyair operation began and would be handled by TH personnel, one personnel for each pilgrim, "he said.

The appointed personnel would take care and assist the pilgrims to carry out all the acts of worship during the pilgrimage such as wukuf (standing before god) in Arafah, Mabid in Muzdalifah (pass the night in Muzdalifah), stoning the devil in Mina, performing the tawaf (circumambulations of the Kaaba) and performing the saie (walking to and fro between Safa Hill and Marwah).

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