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Send my salaam to the king of Medina. May he rest in peace. The most beautiful human being. How I miss him a lot. And his words like pearls, they light up the dark of the entire universe. As the blessed season of Hajj approaches, Saudi Arabia prepares to welcome millions of pilgrims from every corner of the world. In a powerful display of unity, readiness, and service, the kingdom's annual Hajj parade begins, marking the start of a comprehensive plan to ensure a safe and seamless pilgrimage. Organized by the Ministry of Interior and supported by the Ministry of Defense, the parade represents far more than the ceremony. It showcases a nationwide operation effort, bringing together military, security, medical, and technical forces working as one to
protect the and guide the guests of God. At the forefront are the land forces, highly trained, precisely coordinated, they play a vital role in managing the vast movement of pilgrims across Mecca, Medina, and the holy sites. With advanced systems for crowd control and hazardous materials detection, the units ensure that every step taken by pilgrims is safe, organized, and secure. Alongside them is the police and security forces from the form the backbone on ground operations. Visible, approachable, and alert, they guide pilgrims, manage flow, and maintain calm across one of the largest annual gatherings in the world. Behind them, advanced command centers monitor movement in real time, ensuring rapid
response and precise coordination of every movement. Above them, the Royal Saudi Air Force takes control of the skies. Aircraft patrol overhead and manages airspace, supporting surveillance missions. From helicopters to sophisticated drones, a network of aerial monitoring provides real-time intelligence, enhancing situational awareness and enabling swift emergency response when needed. Drone units in particular represent the cutting edge of modern Hajj operations. They assist in crowd monitoring, mapping movement patterns, and supporting search and rescue efforts, adding a critical layer of position and safety to entire systems. At sea, along key entry points, naval forces extend protection beyond the holy
cities. Their mission includes securing seaports, conducting explosive detection, and deploying search and rescue teams. Their efforts ensure that every pilgrim arriving by any route is met with the same high level of safety and care. Prepared for every scenario, civil defense and firefighter units are standing ready. Their teams are equipped with advanced technology and undergo rigorous training to respond instantly to emergencies. Whether preventing a risk or managing instances, they remain a constant safeguard throughout the pilgrimage. Equally essential is the kingdom's extensive healthcare network across more than 40 locations. Hospitals and clinics operate with over 1,000 beds and thousands of medical professionals. The
teams provide immediate and comprehensive care, ensuring the well-being of the pilgrims at every stage of their journey. Supporting them are medical evacuation units operating around the clock. Fully equipped aircraft stand ready to support patients quickly, safely, and delivering life support care when every second matters. But beyond the system and structure lies something deeper. Human commitment. Every soldier, every officer, every medical professional is united by a shared purpose to serve, protect, and honor the pilgrims who have traveled so far to fulfill their spiritual journey. The annual prayer
parade is a reflection of that promise, a promise of preparedness, a promise of protection, and above all, a promise of care. From land to air to sea, through technology, coordination, and unwavering dedication, Saudi Arabia stands ready. Ready for safeguarding millions, ready to serve with excellence, and ready for the Hajj. Alhamdulillah, I attended the Hajj symposium 50 years celebrating coordination of all the logistics across Mecca between the engineers, the police, the ministry, and 60 different purposes coming together to ensure that 2 million Hajj people every single year are able to have a successful, safe, and less strenuous Hajj. Alhamdulillah, absolutely amazing work that the Saudi
people are putting together to ensure that all the people who are the guests of Allah from all over the world are being looked after to the utmost. Alhamdulillah. As-salamu alaykum wa rahmatullah. Look at the middle and the middle Saudi Jana in and if the middle Looking up at the sky, searching for Allah most high. He the way of worshipping gods of clay. Prophet Ibrahim knew that Allah was near. And that the heart of a Muslim is sincere.
Under the hot burning sun, he declared God is one. Though with stones on his chest, his iman would not rest. The more I think knew that right will conquer all. And the heart of a Muslim must be strong. It's the heart of a Muslim through the guidance of Islam. It makes you fair and kind and helpful to your fellow men. So living as a Muslim means that you must play your part. Allah looks not at how you look, but what is in your heart. In a poor, meager state, little food on our plate. Mother said she was glad, always sharing what we had. When I asked how can we share what's not enough?
She said the heart of a Muslim's filled with love. He said it's time you should know, you will learn as you grow, that some people around will do what's bad to bring you down. Father said to be a star that's shining bright. For the heart of a Muslim does what's read. It's the heart of a Muslim through the guidance of Islam that makes you fair and kind and helpful to your fellow man. So yes, so we just completed the khutbah of the Jumu'ah. This is the Jumu'ah before the big occasion of the Hajj, masha Allah. It's starting to feel very real now, masha Allah. And um uh not only that, I think it's it's also like putting things in perspective that this is the only Jumu'ah prayer in the first 10 days of Dhu al-Hijjah.
So there's an argument here, and I don't think many would counter argue that this is what we just performed now uh here in Mecca is the greatest Jumu'ah in the entire year in the and the best of locations. You've got the Jumu'ah prayer in Mecca before the Hajj in the first 10 days of Dhul Hijjah. So, it's a bit overwhelming. And you know what the scholars say? And I'm taking my own medicine, you know, the scholars talk about emotions on Hajj come to you in waves. So, I had a bit of a moment during the Jummah, I've to be honest with you. But there was a guy behind me, he was literally sobbing.
This is it. And people with their hands up. So, it's it's a definitely a warm up for the day of Arafah. It really feels that way. And this is the 5th of Dhul Hijjah. We're we're fast approaching it. And uh yeah, it was beautiful to scroll through the people and listen Yeah, we can, absolutely. Yeah, we walked through. And you can see the sights and sounds of the what is after the Jummah prayer. the Imam say for the khutbah? Cuz I got some parts of it. Yeah, I think you know, it was beautiful. It's it's often things that we were talking about on the live shows as well. I mean, the grounding of the call to the Hajj itself.
Those who doing tawaf, praying in the masjid, doing Sajdah and Rukoo, all these emphasizing that he was praying for the safety and security for all the Hujjaj that are here, that they return home safely and securely with a Hajj Mabrur, a Hajj which is accepted, which has nothing short of Jannah as its reward. And we all pray for that, inshallah. Yeah. He was making duas and rightly so for the those who are facilitating this. Praise be to Allah. Indeed, the Lord of all creations.
Bless to his servants with the seasons that are full of blessings with the so many few days that are so special and distinct. I bear witness that there is no one worthy to be worshipped except Allah has no partners. And I also bear witness that indeed our master and prophet Muhammad is a messenger and servant of Allah Subhana Wa Ta'ala. And peace and blessing be upon him and members of his family and his and the wives. May Allah accept from them and grant them lasting blessings. And after that, to you all, my dear brothers in faith, I counsel you to be dutiful to Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala and obey him with
obedience to Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. Indeed, you were bound to do acceptable deeds and sins will be forgiven. And you prepare yourself with the best way of worshipping and being pious piety pious to Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. Obey Allah subhanahu people of reflection. Oh Muslims, we enjoy these days we the days of the first 10 days of the month of Ramadan. These are very well-known days about which Allah subhanahu made an oath and made them distinct over the rest of other days. I think what was nice to hear as well today is that the Imam of the Jumu'ah today he singled out of all locations Palestine for specific duas. Of course, we can pray for all parts of the ummah, and he did, but he singled out Palestine, and that was
really heartwarming because that's something we're also singling out a lot during our live shows. And on top of that, he prayed specifically from this Haram for another Haram, Masjid al-Aqsa al-Mubarak, praying for that to be essentially protected, divinely protected by Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. And I think that's really appropriate since we're in Mecca al-Mukarramah, which is the original Qibla, which was then moved to Masjid al-Aqsa and then returned back here in Mecca al-Mukarramah, but the two are of course precisely linked and face one another as well. To the north where the Yemeni side, but to the north in that direction is Masjid al-Aqsa, so that was beautiful to see.
We find in these days so many indeed manifestations of Islamic acts of worship. There is a day of sacrifice, with the great day of Hajj, which is the best day before Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala in terms of the deeds of the day of Eid. But also in these days there is a day of Arafah during which Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala descends the nearest to heaven to us in a manner that befits majesty and nobility. And then he makes a statement before the angels, and it's the greatest day during which Allah frees his slaves from hellfire. Those might have whether they are people those who have come in Arafat, or those who are unable to be in this place of Arafat within the rest of the lands of this world. And fasting the day of Arafat for those who
want to perform a Hajj Allah subhanahu forgives with all the sins of the previous and the forthcoming year. And one of the greatest act of worship is to visit the house of Allah subhanahu for those who have got the means to do so. And a Hajj that is considered to be mabroor has no reward except indeed be granted the paradise of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. And Hajj will not be accepted and be mabroor except unless the person performing it is the one who practices monotheism and follows the guidance of the Prophet sallallahu alaihi wasallam. So, to see for Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala one of the most important manifestation obligation benefits or the virtues of Hajj.
Hajj is an entity is about unifying the oneness of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala in terms of the actions and what remembered from the moment the person adorns the ihram to the moment when someone bids farewell to Masjid [clears throat] al-Haram. So, there is nothing in terms of Hajj that is better and greater than singling Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala and remembering establish his oneness in the book of Ahmad the Prophet sallallahu alaihi wasallam had recorded have said indeed tawaf was meant to offer on the Kaaba and moving to Safa Marwah and so on in the great standing pulpits of Jamarat for the purposes indeed maintain the oneness of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala.
Therefore, take advantage of this moment to establish the oneness of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala and have resort with him. And nothing should indeed contaminate these days in a way that brings the dissent among the Muslims. Our Lord is one and the Quran is one and our messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, is one. Yeah, the Imam was also going over the rights of Hajjis saying it was going over the like Yeah, yeah, what's coming next? Yeah, of course It's kind of It's preparing. It is. I hope it's not like a last-minute preparation or cramming. But it is a preparation because we're only a few days away from actually when we will leave for Mecca Mukarramah and then head to Mina and then onto the mighty day of Arafah
and of course the day of Eid itself, the 10th of Dhul-Hijjah. So, there's a lot of preparation going on and you can see now Muslims from around the world that are gathered here. Those who I mean, the vast majority of the Hujjaj Yeah. who are performing the Hajj this year most likely now in the city of Mecca Mukarramah. I think even those who started their journey in Medina Munawwarah, most of them have headed south. Most likely to try to be here for the Jummah prayer right before Yeah. But obviously depends on your Hajj group, obviously. But you can see that the Masjid is full. There's lots of Muslims preparing. We're expecting any number between 1.5 to 2 million Hujjaj this year. And there's lots of measures. We've seen
every time, right? Every year there's improved measures from the local authorities to protect the Hujjaj and keep everybody safe. But one of them is actually this actually. I mean, we're all walking around with the Nusuk tags which is very important. We've all got Yeah, yeah, it's being checked. So, people coming in and out. Oh, that was actually that was funny. He did say that. He mentioned that. In the Yeah, he just reminded me. Yeah, he said that obviously in previous years where sadly sometimes people stay overstay and then they perform the Hajj when actually they didn't have the what? Tasreeh, the permission Yeah. to perform the Hajj. He said and it was interesting. He used quoted a Hadith la darara wa la dirara.
He said the Prophet said don't don't harm yourself and harm others. So, he was essentially saying that if you've come here and obviously the numbers have not really this year, but if you're coming here when you didn't have permission to perform the Hajj, that is a form of harming those who are legitimately here to perform the Hajj. So, he was kind of making quite that but it's all about the safety and security just to make sure the Hajj is done because we know suddenly we know that if if people come here without a group, can you imagine? They don't have food, they don't have water, they don't have accommodation, they don't have transport. And the temperature here over 40°. That really is, you know, they're going to harm themselves. That's
why he quoted the Hadith they're going to harm themselves and harm others. Yeah. So, Allah will protect everybody here. But you've seen this beautiful mix of the Ummah gathering from all four corners of the earth. And that was the other thing he was saying in line with the initial call of the Prophet Ibrahim Alaihis Salam where he was told to call the Adhan for the Hajj. And then Allah said promise that people will come on every emaciated camel from all walks of life, all deep ravines, right? Yeah. Allah is greater than everything that I fear. Everything that I try to control. There's no one greater cuz he's the one in whose hands holds all our souls. Though we forget who we are and where we came from.
Cuz this world is but illusion meant to break us down. But we remember our promise of surrender that we once all made to Allah. Allah is waiting with eternal mercy, love, and forgiveness for this desperate sinner to guide me back home. And if turn back, Allah is always constant. He sees me in an instant. Takes away my worries to find my way back home. Nothing turns away or toward guidance. Nothing moves except by Allah's will. So, don't despair and think you're out of chances.
Labbayk Allahumma Labbayk. Innal hamda wanni'mata laka wal mulk la sharika lak. Labbayk Allahumma Labbayk.
