Hj. Zulheimy Ma'amor: JOURNEY OF FAITH : MINA, MEKKAH (2017)

Tuesday, 30 December 2025

JOURNEY OF FAITH : MINA, MEKKAH (2017)

At Midnight of 1 September 2017, Malaysian Pilgrims moved from Muzdalifah to Mina to perform the stoning (ramy) at Jamrat al-Kubra. The distance from Muzdalifah to Mina is only 6 km.

Staying in Mina (Mabit) is one of the obligatory practices that must be performed by the Hajj Pilgrims.

Mina is a valley 6 km east of the Masjid al-Haram in Makkah, is one of the Masy'ar al-Haram, and is included in the boundaries of the Holy Land. It's where Hajj pilgrims sleep overnight on the 8th, 11th, and 12th (and some even on the 13th) of Dzulhijjah. The valley of Mina contains the Jamarat, the three stone pillars which are pelted by pilgrims as part of the ritual of hajj.

The 12th day is the day of 'Nafar Awal', which means the pilgrims are allowed to leave Mina, and the 13th day is called the day of 'Nafar Thani'. The purpose of Nafar Awal is to reduce the duration of the hajj while Nafar Thani means performing the usual hajj.

During the 2017 Hajj season (1438 Hijrah), approximately 42,200 Malaysian pilgrims performed the Hajj. Their experience at Mina—often described as the most physically demanding phase of the pilgrimage—was marked by a focus on health management, high-tech tracking, and efficient logistical coordination by Tabung Haji (TH).

Here is an overview of the Malaysian experience at Mina in 2017:

1. Living Conditions and Logistics

Malaysian pilgrims were stationed in the "Muassasah" tents in Mina.

Tent Quality: In 2017, the Saudi government and Tabung Haji continued improvements to tent facilities, including better air cooling systems to combat the intense summer heat, which reached upwards of 40°C to 45°C.
Catering: Tabung Haji provided "Ready-to-Eat" (RTE) meals for pilgrims in Mina to ensure hygiene and efficiency during the three days of Tashriq.

2. The "Jamrat" (Stoning) Schedule

One of the most critical aspects of the Mina stay is the stoning of the pillars. To prevent the kind of tragic stampedes seen in previous years (like 2015), Tabung Haji enforced a strict staggered schedule.

Time Slots: Malaysian pilgrims were assigned specific time slots to perform the stoning, usually during "off-peak" hours (avoiding the high-risk midday periods).
Path Monitoring: TH "patrol teams" were stationed along the 3km route from the Malaysian tents to the Jamarat bridge to guide lost pilgrims and monitor for signs of exhaustion.

TH Patrol team (red shirt) and staff always there to help the pilgrims

3. Health and Medical Care

Health was a major priority for the 2017 cohort.

The "Mina Clinic": TH operated a dedicated medical center within the Malaysian tent zone in Mina to treat heatstroke, respiratory infections, and exhaustion.
Statistics: Research into the 2017 cohort highlighted that respiratory tract infections (RTI) were the most common ailment. Tabung Haji introduced more aggressive vaccination and "mask-wearing" campaigns that year to mitigate the spread of illnesses.

4. Key Milestones in 2017

Quota Restoration: 2017 was the year Saudi Arabia restored the Hajj quota for Malaysia to 30,200 (later increased to 42,200), up from the reduced quota of 22,230 used during the Grand Mosque expansion years.
Electronic Tracking: This was an early year for the use of "Hajj Badges" with QR codes, allowing TH officials to quickly scan and identify Malaysian pilgrims if they became lost or required medical attention in the crowded Mina streets.

Mina is one of the biggest challenges of Hajj, the hot weather, cramped space and limited amenities demand the pilgrims to have a great deal of patients and consideration for others.

The biggest challenge in Mina is the long queues for using the toilet and bathroom facilities. When this photo was taken, many pilgrims had not yet arrived, so the area did not look crowded. However, on the actual day, there were many people standing in long lines for each toilet. This atmosphere is something I can't forget after returning to my homeland. Despite the challenges and pressure, it remains a sweet memory for me.

Thanks to TH officials and others for their tireless dedication to serving the pilgrims throughout the pilgrimage, especially when dealing with short tempers and limited patience. Another concern is the hot weather, which is expected to reach temperatures between 45 and 50 degrees Celsius in the afternoons. This will be a challenge for both the pilgrims and the TH officials. Thank you for your valuable services.

When they finish worshiping in Mina for 3 days and 3 nights, or 2 days and 2 nights for those who are Nafar Awal, the pilgrims will return to Mecca to complete 2 more pillars of Hajj, namely Tawaf and Saie, in normal clothing for men. For women, there is no difference between their normal clothes and Ihram clothes.