MAKKAH: The Malaysian haj pilgrim who died in Makkah on Friday was pious and diligent in going to the mosque.
"He was a diligent in going to the mosque. He would often go to the mosque not far from our home. I would always accompany him ," said Sadiah Bakar, the wife of the late Abnil Hajar Ismail, 72, who died in Makkah on Friday.
Sadiah, 72, from Kubang Pasu, Kedah, married the deceased at 18, and they were blessed with four children and eight grandchildren.
"The deceased was a quiet person who didn't say much. The representatives from Tabung Haji told me that he was gone.
"When I heard the news, I didn't know what to say. I had to hold on to my friends for support," she said upon receiving the news of her husband's death.
She said her husband was not sick and that he did not have any illness except for hypertension.
"Our first grandchild recently got married. We had a gathering for the wedding and he was happy to see the children and grandchildren together. We organised a thanksgiving prayers and many friends came to see us," she added.
The last time Sadiah saw her husband was at the clinic the day before he died. He had complained of body aches and exhaustion.
He was then taken to the hospital in an ambulance but Saadiah was not allowed to follow him.
Abnil died at the King Fahd Hospital on Friday.
The elderly couple flew to Madinah on flight KT03 before going to Makkah.
Sadiah said she will now live with one of her children, two of whom live in Kuala Lumpur, one each in Perak and Kedah.
Meanwhile, the accommodation hostel manager of Maktab 79, Al-Amin Jaminon, said he was informed by phonecall that a Malaysian pilgrim had been admitted to the hospital and was placed in the red zone.
"In less than five minutes I was informed that a pilgrim had died and I was shocked. Before the Friday prayers I had met him at the clinic, I shook his hand and told him to be strong,".
"The process of identification and management of the body was carried out very quickly by the Saudi Arabian authorities before it was taken to the Grand Mosque for prayers.
"After completion, the body was taken to the Assyaria cemetery accompanied by a TH officer and I asked him to take as many photos and videos as possible for his family members back home," he added.
Al-Amin also thanked those responsible for facilitating the funeral process.