Radio Islam and Agencies | 25 August 2016

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In one of the thousands of poignant human stories that emanate annually from the Hajj, a deaf-mute couple from Malaysia say they consider themselves fortunate and blessed being able to step foot on the holy land to perform the haj pilgrimage.

Ismail Mod Dom, 65, said he had been saving with Tabung Haji (TH) for 10 years to finally being informed that he and his wife, Rosni Ismail, 65, would get to perform the haj pilgrimage this year.

“Despite our handicap, we still get to perform the pilgrimage, Insya Allah and Alhamdulillah, many people are willing to help us, especially my wife, who is wheel-chair bound, as her right leg had to be amputated due to diabetes,” he said through a translator when met at Al Bisyarah Mawadah Hotel here today.

A Tabung Haji worker, Ab Manas Mohammad Yusoff, has been entrusted to take care of the couple since they arrived here last week.

Ismail said he would take turn with Ab Manas to push Rosni on the wheel chair to perform the “tawaf” and “saei” at Masjidil Haram (Grand Mosque), about 800 metres from their hotel.

Ismail, the caretaker of a mosque in Kampung Teluk Kumbar, Penang, said he was grateful to be given a room with his wife, who also had poor vision.

“She needs to be attended to at all times. When I go out to the mosque, other pilgrims help her,” he said.

The couple has five children, aged between 23 and 40.

“My children always ask about our condition here and we communicate through the short messaging service,”‘ he added.

A well organised Hajj outfit, Tabung Haji has almost 300 support staff on standby in the Holy Lands to assist Hujaaj with daily logistics.