Islamic Relief is incredibly proud of our dedicated, generous colleagues, who make possible our vital humanitarian and development interventions around the world. Aware that sometimes even their colleagues may need a helping hand, some of our staff also choose to contribute to a fund to enable struggling co-workers to undertake Hajj (pilgrimage). Here, Khaled Rebhi Tayeh, logistics and services officer for Islamic Relief Palestine, shares his life-changing experience.

Like every Muslim across the world, my wish was to visit the holy land of Mecca to perform Hajj (pilgrimage). Unfortunately, this dream was too remote to be a reality due to the unstable political climate in the Gaza Strip, as well as the expense of undertaking Hajj.

Nominated by my colleagues

In 2019, I was very kindly supported by my colleagues in Islamic Relief Palestine and Islamic Relief USA in a staff led initiative that saw my co-workers pool money to fund my Hajj. No public money or any funds from Islamic Relief were used for this, it was thanks to the kindness of my co-workers. I was informed by Islamic Relief Palestine Country Director, Muneeb Abu Ghazaleh, that my colleagues had done this for me, and I was over the moon; I couldn’t believe it. I didn’t have enough words to express how grateful I was and still am.

Unfortunately, the Hajj season was badly affected by the Covid-19 pandemic with only a limited number of people allowed to enter Saudi Arabia in 2020 and 2021.

I never lost hope however, and I kept praying to visit Mecca. My 8-year-old daughter and some of my colleagues even started calling me Hajj Khaled.

Eventually, the Saudi Authorities announced the Hajj season for this year, and Islamic Relief Palestine contacted the head office to confirm payment of my Hajj expenses: I thankfully received their approval.

Undertaking the pilgrimage

Still, the difficult part had only just started: I was not registered on the list to undertake Hajj in the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs in Gaza. In fact, thousands have been registered on the waiting list for years now.

After a long process, I received a call from the Ministry informing me that I had received approval to perform Hajj and attend Mecca this year. I could not stop my tears; I offered Sajdat Ush Shukur (prostration of thankfulness).

I was proud to be able to perform Hajj, through no might or power on my part. I felt the joy of my parents as well. My mother, May Allah have mercy on her soul, always dreamt that we would perform Hajj and Tawaf (walking round or encircling the Holy Ka’abah 7 times in an anti-clockwise direction as part of Hajj) together. I was filled with joy because of the happiness I could see in my daughter’s eyes as I was able to bring her a Hajj present, such as a mobile phone.

I filled out my travel forms and started the journey which lasted for 24-hours. We put on Ihram clothes (white garments worn to undertake Hajj) and arrived at Masjid al-Haram, the Great Mosque of Mecca, and I saw the Kaaba for the first time in my life. My heart beat so fast, and my tears flowed, the whole scene was overwhelming. I saw people of all races and colours and verse No. 27 in Surah al-Hajj came to my mind: “And proclaim to mankind the Hajj (pilgrimage). They will come to you on foot and on every lean camel, they will come from every deep and distant (wide) mountain highway (to perform Hajj).

We visited Medina and prayed in Al-Masjid Al-Nabawi (the Prophet’s mosque) and I remembered those who were the reason for my visit to the holy place in the first place: the philanthropists and my colleagues from Islamic Relief. I felt that I was chosen by Allah in order to perform Hajj and peformed all the Hajj rituals and Umrahs on behalf of myself, my deceased parents, my brothers and my wife. I prayed for myself, prayed for my colleagues, supporters and contributors from Islamic Relief, I also made dua (prayer) to the founder of Islamic Relief, Dr. Hany Al-Banna.

While I was in Al-Haram, I received a text message from Mr. Muneeb Abu Ghaaleh, saying that a colleague from the Islamic Relief Mauritius office is undergoing surgery and she needs our prayers, so I prayed to Allah that she gets well soon.

A thank you

After returning to the Gaza Strip, I felt more thankful than I can say.

My wish now is to go back to Mecca with my Islamic Relief colleagues and philanthropists from around the world. I hope that they will continue their support to provide the incredible, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for others to perform Hajj every year.

I would like to thank everyone who contributed towards this grant. I will never forget the experience or the kindness of those who contributed. May Allah bless you all.