MAKKAH: Newlyweds generally choose romantic destinations with stunning vistas for their honeymoon, but not so for Muhammad Rabbani Roslan and Nur Izzati Thaqifah Samsol Bahari.
The couple, who tied the knot in September last year but postponed their honeymoon, chose instead to have theirs in the Holy Land, here and in Madinah.
Nur Izzati, 25, said she and 27-year-old Rabbani had decided to postpone their honeymoon as she was furthering her studies at Universiti Putra Malaysia at the time.
However, when she received her third offer to perform the haj, they jumped at the chance.
"I got my first offer during the Covid-19 pandemic (so I couldn't go for the pilgrimage then). My second offer came in 2022, but I asked for it to be deferred as I was planning our marriage.
"Alhamdulillah, I received the offer again," said the Tabung Haji media officer at the launch of the Sahabat Maktab programme recently.
The programme, a volunteering initiative to assist Malaysian pilgrims during the haj, was launched by Malaysian haj delegation head Datuk Seri Syed Saleh Syed Abdul Rahman.
Nur Izzati said, when she received the offer for the pilgrimage this year, she discussed things with Rabbani and they agreed that he should appeal to also be allowed to perform the haj as her mahram.
"Alhamdulillah, my husband had some savings which he started when he was young, though we had used a large chunk of it when we got married," she said.
Rabbani, an information technology engineer at a government agency, said he was worried that his leftover savings would not be enough to allow him to perform the haj as well.
"But, at the last minute, through the grace of Allah, we managed to get enough money to pay for the pilgrimage," he said.
The couple, who are part of Sahabat Maktab 83, hold their respective mothers as their idols.
This is as both women were members of the Sahabat Maktab when they had their gone on their pilgrimages previously, assisting Malaysian pilgrims wherever they could.
"Mother said, if we were to join Sahabat Maktab, the true challenge will be when it comes to Masyair (the movement of pilgrims from Makkah to Arafah) and then in Musdalifah and Mina. Anything can happen. We need to be very patient and seek forgiveness (where necessary."
Meanwhile, siblings Muhammad Adam Aiman Mohd Amizul Fazley, 21, Muhammad Edrish Ell-Fateh, 17, and 15-year-old Muhammad Nouh Ebdansyakur are grateful that they can become duyufurrahman (guests of Allah) at such young ages.
The three young brothers from Kelantan are here without their parents, but always have cheerful appearances and are capable of looking after themselves, besides being ever-willing to help elderly pilgrims by pushing their wheelchairs.
"(Our parents) told us to always help the elderly when we perform the haj," said Adam, a Universiti Malaysia Pahang student.
He said it was this request from their parents that pushed the siblings to volunteer with Sahabat Maktab.
"It's a norm for the three of us to help people, so when we heard about Sahabat Maktab, we talked about it decided to volunteer, as it will allow us to help even more people. Besides that, it can help us strengthen the bonds of kingship with other pilgrims."