Uncertainty looms over Haj this year
Saudi govt informs its Indonesian counterpart about final decision on June 1
With a vaccine or a medicine to treat Covid-19 being still some way into the future, the prospect of Haj 2020 taking place is slim. The Saudi Arabian authorities may allow only a delegation of a limited number of people from each country to perform the annual pilgrimage.
Dr Maqsood Ahmed Khan, chief executive officer of the Haj Committee of India, said the Saudi government is yet to take a decision on this. It is learnt that the Saudi government has informed its Indonesian counterpart that a decision will be taken on June 1.
Dr Khan said that it would be impossible to make arrangements for the Haj by the guest countries and Saudi Arabia this year due to the delay in taking a decision.
He said the process starts six months in advance but no activity has taken place so far. It is impossible to complete the arrangements within two months for nearly 25 lakh pilgrims. He said should the Saudi authorities decide to hold the Haj, they will have to take additional precautions such as additional buildings to maintain physical distancing and pool additional manpower in Macca and Madina city, which would be very difficult.
“We also could not complete many things such as the selection of buildings in the holy cities, agreement with airlines and sending of Haj staff and workers to assist the India Haj Mission,” Dr Khan said. If the Saudi government insists on a Covid-19 test for each pilgrim, it will be very difficult to make this arrangement within the limited time available, he added.
Chairman of the Telangana Haj Committee, Masihullah Khan, said there has been no communication from the Centre with regard to the pilgrimage. Asked about the status of Haj applicants who had registered for the pilgrimage, he said they may be allowed to perform Haj next year, but the final decision will be taken by
the Haj Committee of
India.
Habeeb Abdul Quadar of Bismillah Tours and Travels said the Saudi authorities are unwilling to hold Haj until a vaccine is developed. “Most likely it will be open by
2021,” he said.
Mohammed Yaseen Quadri, former labour assistant commissioner, who intended to perform Haj with his family, said, “We believe that Allah knows everything that will happen. Nothing is in
the hands of slaves, what is written in destiny remains the same. If this time Haj will not be conducted, we pray to the Almighty to let us live till the next year’s Haj.”
Shakira Begum of Vattepally said she has not
given up hope yet: “I am not disappointed yet. I am preparing myself for Haj. The absence of Haj is a very sad thing for the faithful, but everything is not in our hands. Our prayer is that the situation comes to normal.”