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Haj - all systems go [Arab News (Saudi Arabia)]
[September 12, 2014]

Haj - all systems go [Arab News (Saudi Arabia)]


(Arab News (Saudi Arabia) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Editorial As the Haj season approaches, the sense of anticipation and excitement is almost tangible. But as ever, a successful pilgrimage is entirely dependent on a whole raft of preparations that have been under way ever since the last pilgrim left last year. All the immense and detailed planning and organization by the Haj Ministry, local officials and Haj firms is now coming to a head.



Billions of riyals have been poured into expanding and improving infrastructure to give pilgrims the best possible facilities.

Nevertheless a well-organized and efficiently-run Haj is not solely dependent on the authorities. It is incumbent on the guests of Allah to play their part in behaving responsibly by following all the guidelines that have been prepared so carefully to ensure that their Haj is the experience of which they have dreamt.


Thus Makkah Gov. Prince Mishaal bin Abdullah has launched a multi-media campaign entitled "The Right Way is Haj With A Permit." The aim of this drive speaks for itself. Hajis must cooperate to ensure that the world's largest gathering of Muslims is a resounding achievement.

The mass media campaign, backed by telecommunications firm Zain, is designed to make clear to Saudis and expatriates working here that they simply have to obtain the necessary permits before heading to the Holy Places. The authorities have quite enough to do looking after authorized pilgrims without have to worry about would-be pilgrims who arrive on the off-chance, with no hope of finding accommodation and the necessary transport and services. These people can therefore be found loitering hopelessly in the midst of pilgrims who have made the proper arrangements and obtained Haj permits. Such individuals without authorization not only face a wasted journey, but they also open themselves up to wiles of the unscrupulous who will very probably seek to exploit their vulnerable and often helpless situation. Common sense dictates that the highpoint in the lives of every member of the Umrah should be properly organized and conducted.

Haj permits exist simply because of the limitations on space, not only in the Holy places but on transport and accommodation and indeed on the immense catering effort required to sustain pilgrims. As the Haj Minister Bandar Hajjar has made clear, the permits are essential. He explained that the document was not introduced with the idea of banning people from repeatedly performing the pilgrimage. Rather, it is a regulatory step taken because of what has been a three-fold increase in the number of pilgrims. This has put ever-greater demands on the organization of the Haj.

Thus for Saudis and foreigners living and working in the Kingdom, there is now a limit on the number of times that they can perform the pilgrimage. This has been set at once every five years. The significance of this of course is that for people in Saudi Arabia, performing Haj has long been a relatively simple affair, given the excellent internal transport communications. For Muslims living elsewhere in the Umrah the opportunity is not so easily available. The Haj authorities have recognized the importance of there being sufficient space and chance for what for many from beyond the Kingdom, will be a once-in-a-lifetime visit.

Nor is it simply question of space. The issuance of Haj permits does not simply ensure that every holder will enjoy access to the Sacred places. It also means that the pilgrims themselves will understand that they have to comply with the arrangements that have been made to welcome them. And perhaps just as importantly it reinforces the duty of Haj providers to give their clients the exact services for which they have applied and paid. As has been made clear, the existence of illegal Haj firms and the poor performance of a few of those businesses that have actually been authorized have produced intense disappointment and distress to pilgrims. The image of the Haj cannot be tarnished by these activities and the Haj permits are going a long way toward ending them.

The multi-media campaign launched by Prince Mishaal, who is also chairman of the Supreme Haj Committee is a key element in the final preparations. It is involving every ministry and government department that has some role in the Haj. The prince has said that he was confident that his committee, under the direction of the Saudi leadership, was going to be offering pilgrims the best services at the holiest locations on earth.

"All sectors are perfectly ready" he said, "and we'll not spare any effort in the service of the guests of Allah." (c) 2014 Arab News All rights reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).

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