Day 1 of Hajj 2012

Hajj this year starts officially on the 8th day of Dhul-Hijjah, which falls on october 24th on our everyday calendar. Okay so just so we are clear, people have been arriving in Mecca and familiarizing themselves with the city, Masjid and their surroundings, but today is the official day 1. Today the pilgrims travel from Mecca to Mina a small village east of the city chanting, "Labbaik Allahumma Labbaik" ("Here I am, O Allah, here I am"). They then camp in Mina by spending the day and night in tents worshiping Allah, until the next day for their trip to the plains of Arafat.

Mina the city of tents where our fellow Muslims are sleeping tonight. 

We can escort them during this time by fasting and increasing worship.

If the prophet could see this city now, back then people really camped in tents, check out the air conditioning units on these tents. They probably have flushing toilets and real showers, they are basically houses.

I leave you with this Hadith from Bukhari...

Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet of Allah (may the blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: 

"There are no days in which good deeds are more beloved to Allah than the first ten days of Dhul-Hijja." The people asked : "Not even Jihad for the sake of Allah?" The Prophet said: "Not even Jihad for the sake of Allah, except in the case of a man who went out to fight, giving himself and his wealth for the cause, and came back with nothing."