There are several stories of pilgrims who had gotten lost in Makkah or Madinah. Pilgrims who came to the Holy Land to perform Haj or Umrah for the first time will usually face this situation.
With the large crowd of pilgrims from all over the world and the remarkably huge mosque, one can easily get lost.
In fact, there were some pilgrims who would be separated from their group and couldn't even find their way back to the hotel.
Therefore, in this article, Sinar Islam Plus will share some tips as guidance for pilgrims to avoid getting lost in the Holy Land:
1. Always wear a name card.
The first tip is to always wear the name card the travel agents had prepared. The card contains the pilgrim's name, hotel address and contact number of those who can help pilgrims who get lost.
2. Memorise the name of the hotel, room number and the mutawif's contact number.
Other than memorising the name of the hotel and the room number, pilgrims also need to save the mutawif (person responsible to guide pilgrims during Haj) or the staff's phone number. These three pieces of information are very important when pilgrims get lost but were found by other pilgrims.
3. Memorise the name and the number of the entry gate to Masjid al-Haram.
When entering the Masjid al-Haram, don't forget to look at the name and the number of the gate. For example, King Abdul Aziz (gate number 1), Bab al-Marwah, Bab al-Fatah and so on.
This is because Masjid al-Haram has many gates to enter from which can confuse the pilgrims. Therefore, remember the name of the door pilgrims had entered from to avoid getting lost and losing their shoes.
4. Set a meeting point.
When pilgrims enter any mosque in a group, it is best to set a meeting point or a specific easy-to-spot place to regroup. This way, if pilgrims got separated from the group, they can go to the set place and wait there.
Furthermore, with the advanced technology now, pilgrims can also take pictures and send them to their WhatsApp group or on the travel agents' social media platforms.
5. Set a landmark.
Moreover, to avoid getting lost, pilgrims are reminded to memorise certain buildings acting as landmarks. For example, memorise the buildings at the hotel area such as shopping mall or certain restaurants and so on.
5. Avoid going anywhere alone.
Pilgrims should avoid getting anywhere alone. If they wish to go somewhere, it is best to not travel alone and go in groups with other pilgrims.
Additionally, pilgrims should take advantage of the WhatsApp group created by the travel agents to inform them so mutawif can stay updated on the pilgrims' movement. Pilgrims should always ask for permission and report their whereabouts to the group leader every time they go anywhere.
6. Bring a mobile phone everywhere.
Furthermore, pilgrims should always have their phones with them anywhere they go. In addition to saving the contact number of their roommate and the officers on duty.
If pilgrims got lost then at least they can call them for directions to head back to the hotel.
7. Don't panic
Pilgrims should not panic when they got lost. If pilgrims believe that they had gotten lost, reach out to staffs or other pilgrims for help. Usually, there would be volunteer staff at Masjid al-Haram or Masjid Nabawi who were trained to help pilgrims.
8. Always pray to Allah.
If Allah wants to test His servants then it won't matter who one is.
Therefore, always pray to Allah to avoid these unwanted incidents and ask for His help when in trouble.
In addition to efforts and prayers, pilgrims should also remove the feeling of pride and arrogance while performing the act of worship.
Pilgrims will not get lost during Haj if they follow these eight tips.