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LONDON: A British Muslim who supposed to carry out Hajj this yr has been utilizing Twitter to encourage pilgrims and assist those that have anxiousness issues.

Layla Begum Ali, a NHS enterprise planning supervisor and coach, began studying about learn how to carry out Hajj in Ramadan this yr in preparation for the pilgrimage that Muslims should carry out at the least as soon as throughout their lifetime if they will. 

Ali informed Arab Information that she began posting sensible Hajj ideas and any new data she had discovered about learn how to carry out rituals and the historical past behind them on Twitter as a method of instructing aspiring pilgrims and sharing her newly gained information. 

The response was overwhelming and he or she gained a big following on Twitter by individuals who discovered her ideas motivational and provoking.

As soon as Saudi Arabia introduced that Hajj could be open to at least one million international pilgrims in April, Ali determined that she would take an “organized, productive and proactive” strategy to making ready for the pilgrimage. 

“I used to be listening to spiritual students or simply Googling YouTube movies about Hajj rituals on daily basis, making ready myself for Hajj.

“I began shopping for my Hajj outfits, booked my (meningitis) vaccination, and adopted the steerage that was issued by Saudi Arabia. And that’s when my Hajj tweets began turning into widespread. 

“I didn’t understand simply how a lot I didn’t know. I spotted then that I wanted to take accountability and study in regards to the various kinds of Hajj, the foundations, and the historical past. I examine how the Prophet Muhammad carried out his Hajj and the extra I discovered, the extra I tweeted. 

“In a short time folks had been tagging me, commenting on my tweets, or complimenting me on my information. That’s the way it began — I used to be simply sharing what I used to be studying as I went alongside,” Ali explains. 

She stated that she condensed the knowledge she had discovered to suit the 280 character restrict for every tweet and used bullet factors to spotlight key factors. 

“I attempted to be as easy and environment friendly as attainable with the bullet factors and made them catchy,” Ali stated. 

Ali stated that she shares recommendations on wide-ranging Hajj associated points — from how British pilgrims can address the stifling warmth within the Kingdom right now of yr (at the least 40 levels) to the significance of shopping for a Saudi sim card on arrival, and the non secular significance of Zamzam water.

“It grew to become a ardour. On daily basis I used to be studying, I used to be tweeting,” Ali stated.

She added that individuals began asking her about points that they had been battling, resembling learn how to take care of claustrophobia and different anxiousness issues throughout Hajj. 

As somebody who has suffered from anxiousness prior to now and has discovered learn how to take care of it, Ali says that she loves serving to folks face their fears.  

She has huge expertise of aiding her area people, having labored within the housing sector, with youth, folks with particular wants, the aged, those that have psychological points, and people in care.  

“I believe I’m very drawn to people who find themselves weak, need assistance, have points, and who should not actually assured. I like teaching and serving to folks. And I believe I used to be managing folks’s anxieties with out realizing it. 

“And when folks would say ‘I’m going to Hajj however I’ve claustrophobia,’ I’d discuss them by way of how they may handle it.

“So I used to be truly teaching folks publicly, with out realizing it. And other people began warming to me and giving me suggestions about how the information had been serving to.

“I discovered myself being of profit to individuals who I used to be instructing or teaching,” Ali stated. 

The supervisor stated that she has discovered a brand new social neighborhood within the individuals who she interacts with on Twitter.

“All of us had a typical purpose to go to Hajj this yr, and fulfil the fifth pillar of Islam. That was a pleasant feeling and I felt like I used to be a part of this pilgrim neighborhood,” Ali stated. 

Though she had utilized to carry out Hajj this yr and was chosen from candidates to a brand new draw system that British pilgrims are utilizing for the primary time, Ali won’t be performing the pilgrimage because the period and the dates of the package deal provided didn’t swimsuit her commitments. 

Nevertheless, she appears to be like ahead to performing Hajj subsequent yr. She stated: “I haven’t stopped fascinated about Hajj, it’s nonetheless on my thoughts. I really feel like I’ve simply began my journey with the intention to go, and studying about all of it. I really feel like I shall be going to Hajj subsequent yr and shall be making use of subsequent yr.”

“I wish to go to Hajj and thank God for the numerous stunning issues that he has given me.”