MAKKAH: Many Malaysian haj pilgrims, especially the young and able, go out of their way to help make things easier and more comfortable for others in need here.
They do so without a second thought, rushing to the aid of fellow pilgrims encountering difficulties, without expecting any reward.
But those whose selflessness are noticed by Tabung Haji (TH) are given the recognition and made Sahabat Maktab to help other pilgrims meet their day to day needs and fulfil their religious obligations.
Volunteers are needed as it is not an easy task for TH officers to look after the comfort, safety, welfare and health of 30,200 haj pilgrims.
Haslina Samsuddin, 31, an English teacher at Sekolah Menengah Sains Setiu in Terengganu said she was honoured to be selected as Sahabat Maktab together with her husband Wan Mohd Fadhli Wan Saipuddin, 30.
"I was supposed to perform the haj in 2015 but it was postponed to this year as I was pregnant then. I am glad to come this year and be given the opportunity to be a volunteer.
"Not long after we arrived, we managed to help a Turkish pilgrim who succumbed to heatstroke within the grounds of the Grand Mosque. Perhaps this was why TH offered us this role," she said, after receiving her Sahabat Maktab vest and cap at TH headquarters Abraj Al-Janadriyah. Volunteers from Maktab 74 were feted at an official appointment ceremony.
Haslina and Wan Mohd Fadhli have been here for the umrah or minor haj before and are familiar with the surroundings.
Haslina, who is active in the National Union of Teaching Profession and other non governmental organisations, said they would give this programme their all and help pilgrims who need assistance especially around the Grand Mosque or Masjidil Haram.
Nor Azian Sulaiman, from Bota, Perak said she helped pilgrims in Madinah especially the elderly enter Rawdah.
Rawdah within the Prophet's Mosque is a special area extending from the Prophet's tomb to his pulpit. It is said that prayers uttered within the confines of the Rawdah are never rejected.
As it is only a small area, gaining access especially for women is not as easy feat. It is only open to women during specific hours and there is strict crowd control to ensure everyone waiting has a chance to enter.
"I have done my umrah before so I used my experience to help others enter Rawdah. My husband helped the men."
The Sahabat Maktab programme, introduced in 2006, also saw encouraging response from pilgrims who sent in applications to help manage the welfare of their fellow pilgrims.
Most of the 300 men and women who make up this year’s Sahabat Maktab squad volunteered their services with no expectation of payment or reward, other than Allah’s blessings.
Siblings Ahmad Syazali Ahmad Nizam, 25, Erra Izati, 23, Ahmad Izzul Fikri, 20, and Nurul Athirah, 19, decided to volunteer as they wanted to follow in the footsteps of other Sahabat Maktab in the past who helped their grandmother perform her haj in 2009.
Their grandmother Tipah Mahpol, 62, had come here on her own.
Nurul Athirah said the siblings had often wondered how their grandmother made it on her own. "We found out Sahabat Maktab helped her and we decided to pay it forward."
She said although the task would be challenging, she would try her best.
Maktab 74 manager Mustafa Kamal Abdul Latif said several criteria were taken into account in selecting Sahabat Maktab.
"They must have a keen spirit of voluntarism, been a member of a uniformed unit before, performed their umrah, are in good health, and preferably husband and wife.
"They will help newly arrived pilgrims perform their umrah, and assist the elderly and disabled at the Grand Mosque and during the Masyair period."
Masyair refers to the massive movement of pilgrims from Makkah to Arafah for wukuf, Muzdalifah, and Mina for the stoning ritual.