There was joy and celebration at the Assahaba Islamic Centre as students and staff gathered to officially welcome back their colleague, Hajj Swaleh Balya, from performing the holy pilgrimage (Hajj) in Mecca.
Hajj Balya’s journey was made possible through a long-standing custom by Direct Aid, an organization known for sponsoring one of its staff members annually to perform the sacred journey.
The initial announcement was made during the holy month of Ramadan, when the Country Director Nourelhuda Ala’agab Abdalla pronounced Hajj Balya as the chosen candidate for this year’s fully sponsored pilgrimage.
Addressing the staff members who had converged to welcome him back from fulfilling the fifth pillar of Islam, a visibly moved Hajj Balya testified that the promise made during Ramadan had indeed become a reality.
Reflecting on his spiritual journey, he reminded his colleagues that being able to undertake the pilgrimage is ultimately a divine invitation, rather than a mere human arrangement.
“Hajj is granted by Allah,” Hajj Balya told the gathering. “No one deserves to be called a Hajji or a Hajat unless they have truly performed this sacred fifth pillar of Islam.”
Hajj Balya expressed his deep gratitude to the leadership of the Assahaba Islamic Centre, singling out the Director, Mr. Fady Mady, for his exceptional guidance and commitment to staff welfare.
He praised Mr. Mady for being a generous leader who consistently advocates for his team and successfully sources valuable Hajj sponsorships for the workers at the centre.
Management at the centre noted that such initiatives not only uplift the spiritual well-being of the staff but also strengthen the bond and commitment of the workforce toward the community development projects overseen by the institution.