Performing The Haj: Visually Impaired Pilgrims Overcome Challenges With Help Of TH Staff

For Muslims, seeing the Kaaba for the first time while performing the fifth pillar of Islam is a profoundly meaningful moment and one that remains etched in memory for a lifetime.

For the visually impaired, however, the experience takes a different form.

They do not see with their eyes, but with their hearts, feeling the presence of Allah SWT through prayers recited throughout the haj pilgrimage.

Despite the many limitations and challenges they face, these pilgrims prove that the loss of sight is not a barrier to fulfilling the sacred obligation of performing the haj. Their journey to the Holy Land is far from easy as every step is marked by challenges that require patience and steadfast faith to overcome. Yet with the support of family members, fellow pilgrims and guidance from Lembaga Tabung Haji (TH), dreams that were once considered impossible can be realised.

EARLY TEST

For Siti Aidah Mustafa, 55, and her husband Muhammad Bukhari Zakaria, the offer from TH to perform the haj during the 2023 haj season completed their journey as Muslims.

“It was my husband who first received the offer to perform the haj. But I never expected that the door for me to set foot in the Holy Land would open as well,” she told Bernama.

Her husband received the offer letter in October 2022. Unfamiliar with the procedures and preparations required, they visited the TH office at KL Sentral here for guidance.

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“At the initial stage, we faced a test because my husband’s Tabung Haji savings were insufficient. A deposit of RM12,000 was required to qualify for the offer,” she said.

Determined to realise her husband’s dream of performing the haj, Siti Aidah, a former customer service centre operator, decided to use part of her savings to top up his account. Her husband used to work at Telekom Melaka.

Over several weeks, they travelled repeatedly by Grab from their home in Loke Yew here to KL Sentral to complete the documentation.

“At that time, my husband had about RM7,000 in his Tabung Haji account, while I had around RM20,000. When the counter officer informed us that his savings were insufficient, I immediately transferred funds from my account to his. At the same time, Tabung Haji opened an application for a companion for my husband, and I seized the opportunity,” she said.

Born visually impaired, Siti Aidah lost her sight at birth, while her husband became fully blind about two years ago due to diabetes. Yet their condition did not deter them from performing the haj together.

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“Initially, we were worried about the cost, which was around RM24,000 per person at the time. Although my three step-children from my husband’s first marriage offered financial help, we wanted to use our own pocket money and rely on our own efforts to perform the haj. 

“At that time, my husband was in the process of selling his old house in Melaka. Unexpectedly, one month before our departure to the Holy Land, the house was sold and half of the proceeds were used to cover our haj expenses,” she said.

CANE SECOND PAIR OF EYES

Recounting her experience in Makkah, Siti Aidah said although she had to depend entirely on her white cane, she did not encounter any major difficulty in completing the haj rituals, adding that her cane served as her “second pair of eyes”.

“It was my first time in the Holy Land. My husband had performed the umrah in 2019. Despite the massive crowds, we managed. From our accommodation at Maktab Tabung Haji to the Kaaba (Masjidil Haram), we had to walk about 750 metres.

“At that time, my husband could still see partially and tried to rely on his remaining vision to walk. Even though I could not see the Kaaba, my heart was filled with immense gratitude because my dream of reaching the Holy Land had finally come true,” she said.

In Malaysia, haj affairs are managed by TH, which arranges the arrival and departure schedules for pilgrims to ensure they have sufficient time to adapt before and after the main rituals are performed. Generally, pilgrims remain in the Holy Land for between 40 and 45 days.

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“My husband and I spent about 45 days there, gradually adjusting to the travel demands, climate and daily routine,” Siti Aidah said.

She expressed deep gratitude for the assistance she and her husband received at Masjidil Haram, adding that TH staff and fellow pilgrims were always ready to help them. 

“While carrying out the haj rituals, including the stoning ritual at Jamrah, TH staff always came forward to help us. They not only explained what we needed to do but also gave us words of encouragement, reassuring us that we were capable of completing all the rituals.

“There was no doubt that all the pilgrims were racing to do good (deeds)… for me, this is how we can multiply our rewards, especially in the Holy Land,” she added.

BLINDNESS NOT AN EXCUSE TO DECLINE HAJ

Siti Aidah urged others in similar circumstances as her not to turn down the opportunity to visit Masjidil Haram, describing it as the greatest blessing of her life.

Persons with disabilities should not allow their limitations to become reasons for despair, she said, but instead believe that their situation will be eased.

“As a person who has been blind since birth, my fear of being in a foreign area or a place I am not familiar with is less than those who lost their sight as adults,” she said.

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She encouraged those who lack confidence or skills in using their cane in unfamiliar environments to seek assistance from relevant bodies such as the Malaysian Association for the Blind (MAB). 

She said apart from support provided by the haj management agency, mobility training also plays an important role in helping visually impaired pilgrims prepare for the Holy Land. 

According to her, MAB offers specialised training in the use of canes for the blind to enable them to build confidence and improve their navigation skills in various environments. Participants are taught basic techniques such as how to hold a cane correctly, detect obstacles, identify road surfaces and determine direction based on sound and touch.

“These skills are crucial for visually impaired pilgrims preparing for the haj or umrah. At the very least, we become more confident moving independently without relying entirely on others,” she said.

Ani Shahrani Jemiran, 53, who has been visually impaired since birth and performed the haj with her husband in 2024, shared a similar view. She said the haj offered a markedly different experience from the umrah, which she had performed in 2019 with her family.

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“Umrah is shorter and the mutawif (guide) is present to guide us throughout our stay in the Holy Land.

“Haj, however, lasts about 44 days, and we must refer to Tabung Haji staff if we have doubts to ensure every ritual is performed properly and in an orderly manner,” she said.

SELF-CONFIDENCE

She said even though there were times when she faced difficulties while performing the haj, she was able to overcome them by drawing on her confidence in fulfilling this pillar of Islam.

“Even though I am used to using a cane, there were times I felt anxious because the grounds of Masjidil Haram are so expansive.

“But when we surrender fully to Allah SWT with sincere intention, the challenges feel lighter. Many Malaysian pilgrims came forward to help, and we became so close that it seemed as if we had known each other for years,” said Ani Shahrani, who registered for the haj in 2009.

She also recalled how her husband, who is also visually impaired, was often assisted by a fellow pilgrim with a physical disability but who readily extended his hand and accompanied him during certain rituals in Makkah.

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The experience, she said, reflected the powerful spirit of brotherhood among pilgrims, each complementing the other’s shortcomings.

Among her most unforgettable moments in the Holy Land was performing the stoning ritual at Ula, Wusta and Aqabah.

She said the ritual was physically exhausting and TH staff sprayed water on the pilgrims to cool them down, giving them renewed strength to continue their worship.

“I am grateful that I was able to complete the stoning at all three jamrah perfectly despite not being able to see. There were railings in the area that guided us, and the (TH) staff instructed us to hold onto them to ease our movement and perform the ritual.

“For me, this may be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. What matters most is strengthening our faith and having confidence in ourselves. God willing, everything will be made easier for us,” said Ani Shahrani, an administrative assistant at a hospital here.

-- BERNAMA