SEASONED HAJ OFFICER CONCLUDES 40 YEARS OF SERVICE WITH TH

From Nurliyana Farhah Ruslan

MAKKAH, May 8 (Bernama) -- Serving as Haj personnel is far more than a routine assignment - it demands unwavering dedication, immense patience, and a heart full of sincerity to serve the millions of guests of Allah who gather in the Holy Land each season.

This has been the lifelong journey of Tabung Haji (TH) field services manager, Mohamad Zamry Mohd Noor, 60, who has taken part in over 30 Haj operations throughout more than four decades of service.

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To him, the blessings of this sacred duty extend beyond effort and responsibility - they lie in the heartfelt prayers of the Duyufurrahman (guests of Allah) offered after completing the fifth pillar of Islam.

“Whenever pilgrims are preparing to return home, I would board the bus and deliver a short speech on behalf of all TH staff - to thank them for their cooperation, apologise for any shortcomings, and offer a shared prayer that we may be chosen again as Allah’s guests the following year.

“It may sound like a simple farewell, but I truly believe those words carry powerful, sincere prayers,” he said when met recently.

For Mohamad Zamry, the true measure of a Haj officer’s success lies not just in getting the job done, but in how sincerely and compassionately they care for the pilgrims.

“We must be honest, trustworthy and approachable. These pilgrims are guests of Allah. When we serve them with genuine sincerity, they pray for us, often without us even realising. I believe those prayers are what have brought me back to the Holy Land year after year,” he shared.

During the 1445H/2024M Haj season, Mohamad Zamry served as Masyair Operations director, overseeing the critical phases in Arafah, Muzdalifah and Mina. Over the years, his service has been marked by many unforgettable events.

Among them were the tragic Mina tunnel incident in 1990, the Mina tent fire in 1997, and the crane collapse at Masjidil Haram in 2015, all of which he experienced first-hand.

“I still remember my very first posting during the 1407H Haj season, when I was only 20. I didn’t speak Arabic then, but with determination and the eagerness to learn, I eventually mastered the Meccan dialect and gained a deep understanding of Arab culture. That has helped me tremendously in managing pilgrims effectively,” he said.

Now approaching the end of his service, this year’s Haj marks Mohamad Zamry’s final duty with TH. As he prepares to step away, he hopes the next generation will carry forward the trust with dedication, and continue to strengthen the bond between Haj officers and pilgrims to ensure smooth and meaningful pilgrimages in the years to come.

--BERNAMA