Al-Qibla Pilgrims Receive Final Hajj Briefing Ahead of Saudi Departure

Professor Imam Olaofe Musa Adeyemi and Islamic clerics deliver detailed guidance on rituals, history and travel preparations ahead of Hajj 2026

By Abdullahi Yusuf

Al-Qibla pilgrims preparing for the 2026 Hajj were taken through a detailed practical and spiritual orientation during a sensitisation programme organised by Al-Qibla Travels and Tours at the Ansar-ud-Deen Mosque in Wuse, Abuja.

The session, facilitated by the Managing Director of the company, Alhaja Risikat Adebayo, featured lectures and demonstrations on the step-by-step conduct of the pilgrimage, from departure procedures in Nigeria to the completion of rites in Saudi Arabia.

The guest speaker, Professor Imam Olaofe Musa Adeyemi, addressed worshippers at the mosque, with a complete walkthrough of the Hajj exercise, explaining each stage of the pilgrimage from Makkah to Mina, Arafat and Muzdalifah through to the final stoning rites.

He also advised intending pilgrims to undertake physical preparation before travelling while stressing the importance of discipline, patience and sincerity during the pilgrimage.

During the practical sessions, pilgrims were shown how to properly wear the Ihram as Imam Olaofe explained the rules governing the sacred state entered before Hajj rites begin.

Professor Olaofe also explained the spiritual significance of key Hajj sites, including Arafat, which in Islamic tradition is associated with the reunion of Prophet Adam and Hauwa. He also referenced Madinah, including the burial place of Caliph Umar ibn al-Khattab and other historic sites visited during Ziyarah.

He described the experience of pilgrims sleeping on bare ground in Muzdalifah, saying the rite reflects equality before Allah regardless of wealth or status. Alongside the religious teachings, organisers used the programme to brief pilgrims on travel coordination and safety arrangements ahead of departure.

Alhaja Risikat disclosed that pilgrims under the company’s arrangement would leave for Saudi Arabia from Abuja on 18 May aboard Ethiopian Airlines.

She urged pilgrims to safeguard hotel keys issued upon arrival in Madinah and Makkah to avoid confusion during the crowded Hajj period and stressed the importance of properly tagged luggage for easier sorting and hotel delivery. She also called on pilgrims to remain focused on worship throughout the pilgrimage and to conduct themselves in a manner that reflects positively on Nigeria while in Saudi Arabia.

The sensitisation programme forms a part of the departure formalities for Al-Qibla pilgrims ahead of the 2026 pilgrimage season, as thousands of intending pilgrims continue preparations for what is regarded as one of the most significant spiritual journeys in Islam.

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