Faisal Rashid and his wife jumped out of bed at 3 a.m. in a scramble to secure spots for this year鈥檚 Hajj before packages sold out. Adrenaline was running high as he tried to navigate the digital booking platform from their Pasadena, California, home.
The moment, back in February, when the couple learned they had spots in the annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia was so emotional that recalling it still brings them to tears.
鈥淚t was a very, very joyful experience,鈥� said 35-year-old Rashid, his voice wavering. 鈥淢y wife was already crying, praying. We were very grateful that this happened,鈥� he added, a tear rolling down his face.
A lot has changed since that day 鈥� the erupted and before a was reached. The couple鈥檚 resolve to perform the pilgrimage hasn鈥檛, however.
They are among U.S. Muslims who are joining a sea of pilgrims converging on Saudi Arabia from around the world for a that this year has been approaching against the backdrop of regional and about the conflict. The Hajj will officially start on Monday.
At the Hajj, Muslims unite in religious rituals and acts of worship as they fulfill one of the Five Pillars of Islam. A religious obligation for Muslims who are physically and financially able to do it, Hajj can be the spiritual experience of a lifetime for the pilgrims and a chance to seek God鈥檚 forgiveness and the erasure of past sins.
A deeply spiritual and demanding journey
Some Muslims spend many years to embark on the journey.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not something you just get,鈥� said Rashid, a doctoral candidate and a Los Angeles Police Department reserve officer. 鈥淚t鈥檚 something that if God invites you, then you鈥檙e able to go.鈥�
At one point, his father asked how the war affected their Hajj plans; an aunt wondered if he could get a refund if things escalated.
He figured others had previously endured far worse to make the journey. 鈥淵ou鈥檙e brought up to think about how this is a very physically and emotionally enduring expedition,鈥� he said.
A planner by nature, Rashid began following a flight tracker and registered for a program that sends updates and alerts from U.S. embassies and consulates abroad.
But instead of worrying, he has been leaning on his faith.
鈥淚n Islam we鈥檙e taught that you鈥檙e supposed to do your very best effort but then let go of the things that 鈥� you don鈥檛 have control over,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 need to let go and feel that, 鈥楬ey, you know what, God is the best of planners.鈥� 鈥�
Travel concerns heightened this year
On Friday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said there was 鈥渟light progress鈥� during over a potential peace deal. He spoke days after U.S. President Donald Trump said he was on a military strike against Iran because 鈥渟erious negotiations鈥� were underway. Trump has been threatening for weeks that the ceasefire reached in April could end if Iran does not make a deal.
Following the eruption of the Iran war, the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh in April advised Americans to reconsider participating in this year鈥檚 Hajj, citing then the 鈥渟ecurity situation and intermittent travel disruptions.鈥�
Ahmed Sufyan, a surgeon in Michigan, has been concerned about potential flight disruptions on his way back from the pilgrimage. His round trip includes stops in Gulf countries that had been , which started on Feb. 28 with joint on Iran and drew retaliatory strikes by Iran.
鈥淭here is some uncertainty with the war,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hat does add a level of concern.鈥�
Still, he said, 鈥渢he faith is what drives us.鈥�
If this were for vacation, he couldn鈥檛 have justified it. But Hajj is different, he said.
鈥淚 feel really lucky that I have this opportunity,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 personally know people who have attempted to go for many years, and it鈥檚 not easy to secure a spot.鈥�
鈥淗ajj,鈥� he said, 鈥渢ranscends politics and conflict.鈥�
His goal? To return a better person.
鈥淭o fulfill the Hajj requirements, you have to stop thinking about yourself and start thinking about your creator and putting things into perspective,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t teaches you patience and humility.鈥�
Costs and unpredictability
Hajj brings together large numbers of Muslims of diverse races, ethnicities, languages and economic classes from around the world, leaving many feeling unity and connection.
In India, home to a large Muslim minority, pilgrimage planning has proceeded largely as normal, but high fuel prices have pushed up for this year’s pilgrims from the country.
Back in the U.S., the uncertainty upended Noor-e-ain Shahid鈥檚 plans for her children鈥檚 care while she and her husband go to Hajj.
The Texas neurologist had planned for her children to stay with family in Dubai. Tickets were bought; then the war erupted.
By late April, Shahid decided there was too much unpredictability: What if things flare up in the region? What if flight delays leave her kids stuck in Dubai?
Her in-laws offered to stay with the children in the U.S. while she and her husband are away. She is not worried about her own safety on the journey.
鈥淚f Allah has invited me, then Allah will take care of me,鈥� she said. 鈥淎nd if Allah has decided my end is there in this situation, then, I mean, I accept that.鈥�
She has been overwhelmed by emotions. High among them is feeling fortunate.
鈥淚t鈥檚 considered as rebirth,鈥� she said. 鈥淵ou go there and you have an opportunity to become new when you come back and start over.鈥�
In California, ahead of the Hajj, Rashid and his wife have prepared for the pilgrimage by going to the gym and on walks. New shoes, he said, must be broken in. He has been spiritually preparing and getting guidance.
The couple also collected prayer requests that others would like them to make during Hajj.
鈥淵ou want to go in spiritually with a clean slate, not with any kind of ill hearts or bitterness,鈥� he said. 鈥淵ou don鈥檛 want to feel anxious about worldly things.鈥�
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Associated Press writer Sheikh Saaliq in New Delhi, India, contributed to this report.
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