"write your will and prepare to die if you are planning to go to Mecca" - Muslim cleric

The Chief Imam of Area 10 Mosque, Abuja,
Sheikh Yahya Al-Yolawi, on Friday reportedly
advised intending pilgrims to settle their debts
and leave their wills behind before travelling to
Saudi Arabia.
The Abuja-based Islamic scholar, while
delivering Jumma’at sermon titled ‘Essential tips
for Hajj Preparations’, said the need to leave a
will behind was because the journey to Holy
land may be the final journey for some pilgrims.
He explained that it was an invitation from Allah
to the most famous acts of worship, adding that
hajj was a unique and extra ordinary journey in
the life time of all pilgrims.
Al-Yolawi said, “An intending pilgrim should
settle his debts and leave behind him a clear
record as well as writing all his wills or what he
intends to pass to his family.
“Journey to hajj requires high level of patience,
because it was always accompanied with
difficulties ranging from fatigue to physical and
social abnormalities as well as intolerance from
other pilgrims.
“One should not allow Shaitan (devil) to hijack
him and spoil his hajj out of ignorance or
annoyance. This emphasises on the importance
of piety as first ingredient of one’s journey to
Mecca, which means to maintain good
relationship with your Lord by devoting yourself
to obey him.”
According to the cleric, the intention behind
one’s journey to hajj must be for the sake of
Allah alone as, whoever, performs any act of
worship in order to please people or gain
popularity has done wrong.
While admonishing pilgrims that they should
ensure that their sources of income are clean
and legitimate as that would please Allah, the
cleric said, “Prophets Muhammad (peace be
upon him) said: learn your rituals from me, for I
do not know whether I would be performing Hajj
after this Hajj of mine,” (Muslim Hadith no
1297).”
On taking photographs, Al-Yolawi warned that it
was wrong to take photographs for whatever
purpose while observing hajj rites, saying that
such action could contradict pilgrims’ sincerity
of performing hajj for the sake of Allah.
He, however, prayed to Allah to continue to
protect Islam and safeguard Nigerian pilgrims as
they take off to Saudi Arabia, saying, “May the
Lord accept their Hajj, prayers, grant their
supplications and bring them back to us in
peace and safety.”