Hajj 1432 – November 2011
Last updated on: September 5, 2011
Important Links: Hajj Visa Application | Hajj Registration Form
September 5, 2011
This is to let you know that after having sold out 300 seats, today, September 5, 2011, we are releasing 50 more spots.
The Packages we are releasing are the following: Packages 1, 2, 5 and 6. (Packages 1 and 2 have VERY limited seats; about 10 each)
You need to make sure that ALL documents make it in to our New York office ASAP. (See address below)
Here is the checklist of the documents that need to be sent. We understand that you may not have the Meningitis Vaccination, but EVERYTHING else, including FULL PAYMENT must be sent immediately.
1) Hajj Visa Application
2) Passport (original – please make sure it’s valid until June 2012)
3) 4 photos each
4) Meningitis vaccination
5) Marriage certificate for married couples
6) Full Payment plus the Hajj Fee ($300) and Dhabiha ($130)
- If you are traveling from SFO on Package 2 or 6 into Madinah and you want to fly on Emirates, e-mail me. We may have a few seats (You will then pay us for the Land Package only and the airfare is around $2600)
- If you are traveling from anywhere on Package 2 or 6 (Madinah First), there are no more direct tickets to Madinah. You will need to fly to Jeddah and we will arrange a one-way ticket to Madinah
- The hotel in Madinah will not be Al Haram Hotel, but it will be of comparable standard and within 6-7 minutes walking from the Masjid an Nabawi
Our mailing address:
EL MADINA TRAVEL CORP.
Emad Gabr
145 Ocean Ave.
Staten Island, NY 10305
917.217.6908
You can reach me directly at imamtahir@imamtahir.com
As many of you know, for the last 11 years we have been organizing to go for Hajj with El Madina Travel of New York, and I have joined them every other year. Once again this year, we are making arrangements to go with them, insha Allah. Many people from the Bay Area have joined them, and last year there were over 150 people from the Bay Area. Due to high demand, we have begun making our arrangements and reservations.
Regardless of your final choice, it is imperative that you investigate the group you plan to go with thoroughly and make your arrangements now, so that you can get the package and travel dates you need. I have written an article on what you need to look for in a Hajj tour operator, titled ‘Do you plan to go for Hajj?’ Please click here to read it.
If you have any questions about El Madina Travel, or just in general about the Hajj, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Packages & Details
We have a total of 4 Deluxe and 3 Economy Packages. Please see our flier to see all our packages.
Cost
The cost of each package is listed with the package. If you wish, you can purchase your own airline ticket, or use your miles, and as long as you are arriving and departing on the exact dates of the packages you’ve chosen, you can simply purchase the land package from us. Please note that all packages are priced from JFK, and there will be add-on charges from the city of your departure.
There are 2 methods of purchasing your airfare:
1. Royal Jordanian or Egypt Air from JFK. This airfare is included in the package price.
2. Emirates from SFO or LAX to Dubai (non-stop), and Dubai to Jeddah. This airfare will be released in August/September 2011 and will be around $2400.00 (which includes tax). – For this option, you will pay El Madina Travel for the land package, and purchase your ticket from Tri City Travel in Fremont. (Br. Zaki at TriCity Travel in Fremont. 510.494.9444, or tctravel@pacbell.net – Give him the reference for El Madina Travel, and he will book your tickets for you.)
What You Need To Do (now)
- If interested, fill out the Hajj Registration Form, one form per person, and mail it back to me at 325 N. Third St. San Jose , Ca. 95112
- Send a photocopy of your passport (first page) and a copy of your green card also, if you are not a citizen.
- Send a deposit of $2000.00 per person. Check payable to El Madina Travel.
- You can choose to register directly with El Madina Travel, but if I don’t have your email, you will not be able to receive the periodic updates that I personally send out. This not only helps with urgent matters, but also is great for us to communicate on a daily basis when the visas are issued (towards the end). Registering with me would make this possible, and I would be able to mail all checks, and forms to El Madina Travel.
What You Need To Do (in the meantime)
- Make sure your passports are valid for 6 months from travel begin date.
- Marriage Certificate – If you don’t have one, I can give you a letter saying you are married.
- Shahadah Certificate – If you are a new Muslim, and have a non Arabic name, a letter of Shahadah, which I can provide for you.
- Four passport photos with white background. (Costco is the cheapest place to get them)
- Meningitis vaccination proof. You can get this now, as it is valid for 4 years.
- Fill out the Hajj Visa Application.
Mail all of this to me, or drop it off at: 325 North 3rd Street, San Jose, CA 95112
You can choose to register directly with El Madina Travel, but if I don’t have your email, you will not be able to receive the periodic updates that I personally send out. This not only helps with urgent matters, but also is great for us to communicate on a daily basis when the visas are issued (towards the end). Registering with me would make this possible, and I would be able to mail all checks, and forms to El Madina Travel.
Hajj Workshops
There will be 2 workshops held by Imam Tahir Anwar before the Hajj in San Jose, and 1 Southern California. They are each a complete workshop and only one needs to be attended. Registrations will open after Ramadan, so please register yourself to receive notification e-mails at the bottom of the page. The workshops are open to all.
The tentative dates for the Northern California workshops are:
- Saturday, October 1, 2011 (10AM to 3PM)
- Sunday, October 9, 2011 (3PM to 8PM)
Tentative date for the Southern California workshop:
- Saturday, October 8, 2011 (9AM to 1PM)
Register by emailing hajj@sbia.info
Preparations for Hajj
Please purchase your DVD and CD on the preparations for Hajj at falahproductions.com.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many years have you been operating?
We have been operating under our name, El Madina & El Safa Travel for over 11 years with Ismail ElChaieb as President and Emad Gabr as Vice President. |
Where is the hotel in Makkah?
It is the first one as you walk out of the Masjid al Haraam (Baab Malik Abdul Aziz), the newly constructed Zamzam Towers. |
Where is the hotel in Madinah?
It is Hotel Al Haram, right behind the Madinah Oberoi, 5 minutes walk from the Haram. |
Are the meals included?
Open buffet breakfast and dinner are included in Makkah and Madinah in the hotels. During the days of Hajj, all 3 meals will be provided in Mina and Arafat. |
Do we have to purchase the entire package from you?
No, in fact, if you are flying from the west coast, we encourage you to purchase just the land package from El Madina. We have made arrangements with TriCity Travel in Fremont to book your tickets directly from your airports to Jeddah. |
What is the Hajj Fee?
This is a fee that the Hajj Ministry charges for their costs, and must be paid with cashier’s checks of certain specific banks. All we ask you to do is give us the money, and we will have them prepared for you. |
Will you give us the exact hotels as your promise, or will you change your hotels on us?
We have already signed contracts with them and given them deposits. We have not changed our hotels on our customers in the 10+ years we’ve been in business. |
Once we pay you the money, will there be any other costs?
Our 10+ years of experience has proven that we have never asked for more money than that which is advertised, unless you specifically ask for an extra service, for which we will tell you up front if there will be a cost or not. |
Who are the Imams that have joined you in the past?
1) Dr. Umar Farooq AbdAllah, Nawawi Foundation, Chicago 2) Shaykh Mumtaz ul Haq Nazir, Milpitas, CA 3) Mufti Mudassir Owais, Fremont 4) Imam Minhajuddin Ahmed, St. Louis, MO 5) Imam Sohel Mangera, Detroit, MI 6) Shaykh Mehmood A. Hafez, Sacramento, CA 7) Shaykh Sa’eed, Egypt 8 ) Shayh Hasan Abu Naar, CT. 9) Imam Abdurrahman Anwar, Belmont, CA 10) Imam Hamdi, Denver, CO 11) Imam Ilyas Anwar, San Jose, CA |
Who is the main point of contact for any questions or issues during the Hajj?
We attempt to have at least 1 scholar and 1 administrative person with a cell phone and walkie talkie in each bus of 48-50 people, and we have 5-6 buses in total. |
What is the cancellation process if we are unable to travel?
You will get a full refund until the visa is issued, which happens after Ramadan. |
Do you have dhabiha arrangements?
Each year we make dhabiha arrangements for the entire group. In case you plan to follow the sequence on the day of the sacrifice, we will give a specific 2 hour window where your sacrifice will be taken care of.
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Do we have any special arrangement to perform Ziyarah in Madinah?
Yes, insha Allah, we do this every year for the entire group. |
For the rituals in Makkah during the days of Hajj (Tawaf al Ifaadah), do you provide any arrangements/ shuttle facility to Makkah from Mina?
Yes we do.
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What is the difference between the Deluxe Package and Economy Package?
The tents in the Deluxe Package are 10 minutes from the Jamarat (Bridge of Stoning, where we will go for 3 days) and 10 minutes from the Resident Building. The tents in the Economy Package are 45 minutes (each way) from the Jamarat and 55 minutes from the Resident Building. Also, in Makkah, the hotel in the Deluxe Package is 3-4 minutes away and Economy Package is about 10 minutes away. |
What is the Resident Building?
All Hajjis must leave Madinah 2 days before Hajj to come to Makkah. At that time, hotels in Makkah (withing walking distance of the Haram) are very expensive, so we choose to keep our Hajjis in a building, all of which is leased by us. This building is in an area called Shisha, which is 10 minutes walking distance from our tents, and you will have access to these during Hajj. (Showers, bathrooms, etc.) – And it is a 10-30 minute car ride from the Haram, depending on the traffic. Other tour operators must do the same, but they keep you in an area called Aziziyah, which is 30-40 minutes walk from the tents and the same from the Haram. – Although ALL tour operators MUST provide residence to everyone, El Madina chooses to pay more and have a building within 10 minutes from our tents. – Talk to other Hajjis, so you understand what a great convenience this is! |
