Last year\u2019s Eid al-Fitr marked the final celebration for Dona Putra,\n32, and his two siblings alongside their parents. They lost both role\nmodels within the same year; shortly after the passing of their father,\ntheir mother passed away only two months later. In a short period, Dona\nand his siblings lost the two figures who had always been their\nsanctuary.<\/p>\n
Amidst this grief, an obligation emerged that they never imagined\nwould arrive so soon. Dona Putra and his elder brother, Doni, were\ndestined to be part of the 14th Hajj group from the Padang embarkation,\noriginating from Limapuluh Kota Regency. Their parents had been on the\nHajj waiting list since 201 . However, fate had other plans, and both\npassed away before their departure date arrived.<\/p>\n
\u201cInitially, there was sadness. We are departing to replace our\nparents who are no longer with us. But the two of us have strengthened\nour intention, hoping that the Hajj we perform will bring goodness to\nthe late deceased,\u201d he said on Saturday (20\/6).<\/p>\n
At 32, Dona never imagined he would depart for Hajj so soon.\nAlongside his brother, he received the transfer of their parents\u2019 Hajj\nquotas. However, accepting this responsibility did not mean all problems\nwere resolved. Once the transfer process began, they faced another\nreality: the need to prepare the final payment costs immediately. At\nthat time, Dona and his family had no idea where the funds for the final\npayment would come from.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe initially thought perhaps only one of us could go because the\nsource of the final payment was unclear. But we continued to strive and\npray,\u201d he recalled.<\/p>\n
That hope eventually grew from the orchard that had long been the\nfamily\u2019s livelihood. Since their parents\u2019 passing, the elder brother\nchose to continue the family business by managing citrus orchards and\nrice fields in their hometown in Bukit Barisan District, Limapuluh Kota\nRegency. No one expected that, approaching the Hajj payment period, the\nharvest would exceed all expectations. Initially, the family estimated a\nharvest of around 500 kilograms, but when harvest season arrived, the\nyield reached two to three times the original estimate.<\/p>\n
For this family, the harvest was more than just an agricultural\nresult; it was the path that provided the opportunity for the two\nsiblings to settle the Hajj costs and depart together in place of their\nparents.<\/p>\n
\u201cAlhamdulillah, we have been blessed by Allah. It was from the\norchard\u2019s proceeds that the final payment could be made,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
While his brother remained to manage the family orchard, Dona had to\nmake a different decision. To fulfil this obligation, he chose to resign\nfrom his position as an employee at an application company in\nDharmasraya. He noted that the length of the Hajj pilgrimage made it\ndifficult to obtain leave from his employer.<\/p>\n
\u201cAfter the recent Eid, I decided to resign. Because the Hajj period\nis quite long, it was not possible to take such extended leave,\u201d he\nsaid.<\/p>\n
This decision was not easy. However, for him, the opportunity to\nreplace his parents in performing the Hajj pilgrimage was a\nresponsibility that would not come twice. Now, having finally arrived in\nthe Holy Land with his brother, his emotions remain mixed. There is\ngratitude for being able to answer the call of Allah, but also a longing\nfor his parents, who had long desired this journey. His mother, during\nher lifetime, often asked when their Hajj departure schedule would\nbe.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy feelings are mixed. There is sadness because we are replacing our\nparents. Especially since my mother often asked when we would depart for\nHajj. But Alhamdulillah, we were finally able to fulfil this mandate,\u201d\nhe remarked.<\/p>\n
Among the millions of pilgrims who visit the Holy Land every year,\nthe journey of Dona and his brother may be just one of many stories.\nHowever, for them, this year\u2019s Hajj is not merely a spiritual journey;\nit is a journey to complete the unfulfilled hopes of their late father\nand mother.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/two-siblings-replace-parents-on-hajj-pilgrimage-1782129052", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }