RELIGIOUS EXPERTS TACKLE NEW ISSUES
Decisions are finalised at annual discussion after haj season
TABUNG Haji’s (TH) panel of religious experts must grapple with new issues that crop up every haj season, and this year is turning out to be no different.
Datuk Wan Mohamad Sheikh Abdul Aziz, who heads the panel, said he and the other experts — Dr Anisah Abdul Ghani, former Fiqh Lecturer from Universiti Malaya and Datuk Noh Gadut, Majlis Agama Islam Johor (Maij) adviser — must study the views of past ulama and current opinions to resolve these cases.
“Whatever is decided here will be finalised at the annual haj discussion organised by Tabung Haji back in Malaysia, once the haj season ends. This will also benefit those responsible for managing and planning courses for the upcoming haj seasons,” he added.
Wan Mohamad, former director-general of Jabatan Kemajuan Islam Malaysia (Jakim), said one of the issues faced this year involved pilgrims whose schedules were changed, and they were taken to Madinah instead of Mecca.
“This relates to their intention (niat) to enter ihram. In this case, our advice is that they should remain in ihram while in Madinah if possible, which averages eight days or less.
“In certain cases, those unable to do so can be free from ihram by following certain procedures,” he added.
Another dilemma is when pilgrims are advised to wear ihram in Malaysia before departure, and they take the extra step of making their niat, but then circumstances cause the flight to be postponed. So now the pilgrim is still in Malaysia, and already in ihram.
Wan Mohamad said TH’s religious guidance unit also produces content for the maktab that are disseminated to the pilgrims to guide them in performing their haj properly.
“Through the TH system, pilgrims have gone through various levels of courses, and should be confident in what they have learned and what is recommended by the committee,” he said.
Wan Mohamad said while a lot of religious information is easily available online, it is safer for pilgrims to follow the guidelines issued by TH.
Pilgrims may be confused if they try to accept everything on the Internet without guidance. Some of the sources available may also be dubious or contrary to the views of accepted scholars.
Wan Mohamad said TH religious guides should not only be knowledgeable in Islamic law and worship, but also how to be diplomatic when dealing with haj pilgrims.
“Every issue or problem can be resolved in a good way that also meets Islamic law requirements. That’s why our guides are carefully chosen through tests and interviews,” he said.