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IIID Umrah Trip 2009 - Application Form
Duration: July 1st - 13th, 2009
Application Deadline: May 10th 2009
Please right click
HERE then
"Save As" and rename the file with your
last name...
Completed applications must be attached to an E-mail and sent to:
umrahtrip@hotmail.com... All Parts of this application must be completed. Incomplete applications will
not be accepted... IIID, the organizers of this trip reserve
the right to refuse any applications...
Fees are initially estimated at about $3,500 (different sponsors are
being contacted to cover part of the costs if possible).
Dr Munir's Letter to
the Voyagers
April 05, 2009
Dear son,
daughter, sister and brother
Asalamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuhu
All praise is due to Allah (S.W.T.)
who furnished us with an invitation to visit His House in Makkah. This unique
opportunity is a real gift from the All-Loving, All-Caring God. We should strive
to make the best use of this gift. We need to prepare for receiving this gift
and be worthy of this invitation. The best preparation is through purifying our
intentions and pledging to make this trip a turning point in our lives.
Umrah, like Hajj is an obligation on all mature Muslims. Allah says in Surat Al-Baqara:
"And fulfill your obligation in performing Hajj and Umrah for the sake of
Allah." Therefore we should feel privileged that we are presented with an
opportunity to do this Ibadah and keep ascending closer to Allah (S.W.T).
Imagine that the mere act of just looking at the Ka'ba will be considered an act
of worship. Moreover, a single prayer next to the Ka'ba is equivalent to 100,000
prayers performed elsewhere. Also, since the Salat will be done inshallah in
congregation one would expect the reward of 27 multiplied by 100,000 deeds for
each obligatory prayer performed in Makkah, and that does not even include the
extra multitude of reward for voluntary prayers, Zikr, Du'a, Quranic recitation,
and the list goes on and on.
Please remember there is nothing wrong in getting excited. As we start the
countdown until we lay our eyes on the Ka'ba, let us make lists of resolutions
we want to make, deeds we want to reinforce, actions we want to abolish and let
there be an intensive mental and spiritual rekindling feeling. Let us be certain
that upon returning inshallah everyone would be able to recognize that we got
rejuvenated. Please remember that even though we will be organized into groups
to facilitate our movement, we are embarking on this trip as ONE family. We need
to respect one another and help each other with the true spirit of Islam. Let us
believe that we can emulate the example of the Prophet's companions as we canvas
their terrain and enjoy the environment that housed them.
Before we leave on our trip we should make sure that we have returned all trusts
to their rightful owners and settled individual debts. We should ask forgiveness
from those whom we have wronged and forgive those who have wronged us. Read
instructions on how to perform Umrah from any book or website that you may find.
You may also want to get together with other members of your group to get to
know one another. Don't forget to memorize Ju'zu Amma (30th Ju'zu of the Qur'an)
Until we do Tawaaf and Sa'ii together inshallah, may the All-Mighty help us
purify our intentions and grant us a memorable and safe trip.
Dr. Munir El-Kassem
President of the Islamic Institute for Interfaith Dialogue
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