MAKKAH: For Mohd Tarmizi Shuib and his family, the opportunity to perform the haj this year is unexpected.
“We are thankful. After what we had gone through (in New Zealand)… we always pray to Allah to give us strength (to move on in life) and, indeed, we did not expect this invitation to the Holy Land (to perform the haj), ” he said.
Tarmizi, 42, was one of the Malaysian victims of the terrorist attacks in Christchurch, New Zealand, in March.
He had lost his son, Muhammad Haziq, 17, in the massacre.
The attacks on two mosques in Christchurch left 50 people dead and scores of others injured.
Tarmizi, together with his wife, Dr Marina Zahari, and their son Muhammad Hariz, 12, were among the 200 families of the victims of the incident, who
were sponsored by Saudi Arabian king, King Salman Abdulaziz Al Saud, to perform the haj under the 2019 Saudi King’s guests programme.
“We never expected such a gift, an opportunity to perform the haj this year.
He said it was unbelievable as it had only been months since his family was grieving over the tragic incident.
“This is a reward from Allah, having us (his family) as His guest,” he said yesterday.
Tarmizi was seriously injured in the shooting incident.
He said he panicked upon hearing gun shots and fled to the mosque’s front entrance before realising the gunman was
there.
Tarmizi then grabbed his second son (Hariz), exiting through another door and quickly climbing housing fences to escape.
“I did not realise that I was injured until I saw that my leg was soaked in blood.
“I saw a garage nearby and hid there with my son.
“It then dawned on me that Haziq was not with us.
“At that time I fervently prayed for our safety,” Tarmizi recalled.
Tarmizi said he and his family were grieving for months, but they received moral support from New Zealand’s community and government, as well as from the Malaysian government, to overcome the incident.
“Their support showed me that everything we are facing in our lives are tests from Allah, and we should accept them in good faith,” said Tarmizi.
Tarmizi’s family arrived in Makkah on Friday and was scheduled to return to New Zealand on Aug 16.
The annual programme is organised by the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Da’wah and Guidance, and is financed by King Salman.
The cost covers the pilgrims’ accommodation, flight tickets, food and drink, as well as haj rites.