TEN (10) GOLDEN ADVICE TO NIGERIAN PILGRIMS IN SAUDI ARABIA

1. Pilgrims should dedicate the journey for the sake of Allaah alone. They must purify their intentions and have ikhlaas (sincerity).

2. Pilgrim should try to shun all sort of ikhtilaat (mixing with the opposite sex) except in some special circumstances where it is unavoidable. And even in this case, everyone should lower his or her gaze.

3. Pilgrims should avoid riyaa' (show-off) as much as possible. Some people would start taking pictures, posting them on social media right from Nigeria and throughout the hajj exercise. Take it cool. This is not a mere tourism, it is a serious religious exercise, a pillar of Islam for that matter. One of the scholars says: "hide your good deeds as you hide your sins". If you have something important to share with us, you can write it without necessarily snapping yourselves or animate pictures. You can take pictures of educative and memorable sites and share with us. May Allah bless you all and grant you hitch free hajj exercise.

4. The act of making golden or silver teeth could also lead to riyaa' if care is not taken. It has no purpose to serve as far as matters of hajj and umrah are concerned. A lot of people do it for show off. Don't waste your money on frivolous things. Someone once said told me that if someone goes to hajj and doesn't make "makkan teeth", it is as if he didn't wait to collect the receipt of his hajj. Lol.. Riyaa' (show off) is a light shirk as indicated in several hadiths.

5. Nigerian pilgrims must shun actions that could put the country to shame or disrepute. Eg. Carrying of drugs, human trafficking, theft and several other crimes.

6. Pilgrims should avoid bid'ah acts throughout the hajj exercise, and use the opportunity to imbibe the spirit of Sunnah of the Prophet صلىالله عليه وسلم throughout their stay in Saudi Arabia and in their future religious endeavours. Pilgrims should be careful of bid'ah du'a gatherings which is very common in almost all Nigerian tents on the Day of Arafah. Some people would organize unsunnatic du'a and poor pilgrims would be dropping money for them. Keep your money for future challenges. A lot of people give their riyals out to fake Mallams and then face hunger later before they return home. Instead, sit alone somewhere and make du'a on your own. If you don't know anything to say, recite: 

ربَّنَا آتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِي الْآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ

"Robbanaa aatinaa fid dunya hasanah wa fil aakhirati hasanah wa qinaa 'adhaaban naar"

7. Pilgrims should avoid entering Saudi Arabia with sihr (magic) items, as anyone found with them are often prosecuted and given severe punishments. 

8. As female pilgrims enter their flights with hijab, they should understand the fact that hijab is not only meant for praying and hajj exercise alone, it is part of the proper dressing of an ideal muslimah. Hence, the use of hijab should continue after hajj. It is unfortunate that if you see the same woman you see in haram makkah and madeenah after hajj, you will cry for the ummah. You will not even recognize her because of the excessive make-up and her extent of the tabarruj (going out without proper hijab).

9. Pilgrims should try to get manuals of hajj (also translated in english and every other languages) to know what to do at different stages of the hajj exercise or look for people with sound knowledge in accordance with the sunnah to guide them. There are a lot of so called Mallams who would offer to help, but they are into several acts of bid'ah. Be careful, so that you wouldn't destroy your hajj with acts of innovations. If anyone says you should do something at a particular site, ask for daleel (evidences).

10. Pilgrims should endeavour to observe obligatory prayers as much as possible in the Haramain (Makkah and Madeenah Masaajid). The rewards are in multiples. They should also not forget to offer du'a for the country, and the generality of the Muslims Ummah.

May Allaah make the journey easy for our brothers and sisters across the globe and accept it as an act of ibaadah.