However, ultimately, that preparation won’t be enough to ensure that they make it home safely.
Aliu Wuri, 71, and Isatu Wuri, 65, were among more than 1,300 people who died this year in extreme heat in Mecca, the birthplace of the Prophet Muhammad. His people say the Maryland-based tourism company he hired has repeatedly failed him.
The Saudi government said a crowd of about 1.8 million this year flocked to the holy city, where the Prophet Muhammad is believed to have received the first revelations of the Quran. Making the trek to the city is one of the pillars of Islam.
However in weather as hot as 110 degrees, proper resources to shield out are important. Saeeda Wuri mentioned the visit of her parents, who were there Part of the group of 80 to 100 people traveling with the tour company was stoned from the beginning. He was not provided Haj certificates, was confined to a resort for several days after retirement and the corporate lacked adequate transport. The couple had paid the company $11,500 per person for an all-inclusive resort, gliding and transportation package.
“I think it was the totality of the circumstances,” said Saida Vuri. “The fact that they didn’t have proper identification, proper transportation, is why they had to walk so long.”
She said she wants to make sure the tourism company is not able to do this to anyone else: “Our family has to grieve like this. In our religion, they believe that if you die in the Holy Land, it’s a beautiful thing, but there are many things that could have been avoided, so I’m just hoping they don’t work out again.
Ehaz and Umrah Excursions, a Silver Spring-based company established in 2022, is not in good standing with the order and has failed to record the required annual experiences in the Maryland area of checks and taxation, as per the information of the crowd.
The tourism company is registered for a deal on a condo complex in Silver Spring. There are also five court cases pending against that condo unit for failure to pay rent since February 2023, with the original complaint filed in May.
The registered agent for the tourism company and defendant in the fare cases, Mohammed Bah, may be listed as the registered agent for another company called Embassy for Hajj and Umrah, which was formed in 2017 and is no longer incorporated. Could. Perfect condition. Bah did not directly respond to inquiries on Monday.
A Facebook page and web page for the tourism company were removed, but a cached version of the web page displays visa processing services launched by the company for customers wishing to visit Saudi Arabia and two in-progress programs for pilgrimages. Is. For spiritual websites in Mecca and Medina.
A climate zone official told The Washington Post: “We offer our heartfelt condolences to the family on their loss. Our team in Saudi Arabia is working around the clock to respond to the concerns of American citizens and provide assistance to the families of those killed.
The couple were pillars of the Prince George’s County community, remembered for their civic commitment, public values, and struggle for social fairness. To his people, he was a simple, calm father and a powerful, vigorous mother who instilled religion and values in their home.
Saeeda Wuri said her parents communicated with her parents through group chats, where they sent photos of their smiling faces. Back in the United States, he said, his people were looking for flights to take the couple back home because of the difficulties, but his parents kept going because of faith.
“They say, ‘No, maybe this is just a struggle that God wants us to go through to make it through,'” she said. “‘Let’s be patient’ is what my father used to say.”
The couple left for the pilgrimage on June 5, and the trip was planned to end on June 23 with visits to Jeddah, Mecca and Medina. Saeeda Wuri said that people learned on June 16 that their parents were probably missing.
For the next two days, people approached the administrative center of the US Consulate General, joined the crowd at the farm, and went to local hospitals. Saida Wuri noted that people heard from the US Embassy, which revealed that the names and passports of Aliu Wuri and Isatu Wuri were on the list of the dead mob. He died on 15 June.
The file reads “natural cause of death”, Saida Wuri noted, and people have been advised through authorities that it could be severe heat stroke or heat exhaustion.
Saeeda Wuri mentioned that at the time her parents died, she had heard from them that they were prepared for three to four hours for transportation to Mount Arafat, marking the successful completion of the Hajj, and finally our Bunny. The minds come out in mountain-sized groups to trade in their prayers.
The final text from her mother read: “Sorry my dear, we’ve been on the go for over 2 hours since you last called!!” SMH.”
Friends and politicians told The Washington Post in interviews that the memories of the spiritually connected couple and their impact on the people of Sierra Leone will never be forgotten.
Vala Blige (D-District 6), one of the three main members of the Prince George’s County Council who is of African immigrant descent, met with Vuri as she was trying to connect with the Sierra Leonean public. Vuri acted as a maternal medium to one of the most emerging populations in Prince George’s County, giving Blege guidance on what to wear in the mosque, when to bow and where to sit among the women. Blege said Isatu Vuri was always eager to find ways to connect some of the African and Islamic diaspora to issues throughout the county.
Imam Taslim Alghali of the Sierra Leone Muslim Jamaat, based in Prince George’s County, said Isatu Wuri and Aliu Wuri both came from prominent families with names associated with stellar achievements in education and business in Sierra Leone.
Alghali said Isatu Wuri believed in diversity and inclusivity and was always willing to combine the two, especially if it meant helping her constituents in Prince George’s County.
Alghali said the religious leader has fond memories of working with him on coronavirus messaging during the pandemic, where they partnered with the county government’s office to figure out the best ways to reach immigrant and Muslim populations.
The void left by the couple will be difficult to fill, though Alghali said there is some solace in understanding that despite the grief many are feeling, they died in the grace of God.
“The most important thing was the intention to say, ‘I want to do this for Allah because He instructed me to do this,'” he said, adding that he believed they would both go to heaven. “They were together for a long time, with a happy family. This is a good example of what happened to them, by the will of Allah. Will continue till.
For as long as Sayeeda Wuri can remember, her parents have been in favor of civic participation, attending local campaign conferences and campaigning during elections. The Sierra Leonean couple met through their mothers, who were best friends. Aliyu Vuri moved to America in the 80s and Isatu Vuri joined him after completing nursing college in London. Each attended universities, and Isatu Vuri retired as a registered nanny and Aliu Vuri owned her own private nursing company. They have three children – Saeeda, who is 33 and a lawyer, and two brothers. The couple also had four granddaughters.
Saida Wuri said people are hopeful they will be able to find her parents’ possessions, the two fanny packs that went with them, and their burial website online. He has a devotional procession at his home in Bowie and may hold a memorial in July.
Razan Nakhlawi contributed to this file.
Improvement
The older version of this text did not come with the full name of Alhaji Aliu Dawsi Wuri. The item has been fixed.
