Nusuk exhibition showcases holy rituals

The 9th edition of Nusuk organised by the Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs (MOARA) was held at the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque on Monday under the auspices of Sultan bin Said al Hinai, Head of Omani Haj Mission.

The Haj Mission, which will comprise representatives from the Ministry, Department of Fatwa, Administrative and Financial sections, ROP, Oman Scouts, Media, medical, and various Haj companies will depart Oman on June 14.

The Nusuk exhibition which was at the events hall of the Grand Mosque which showcased the various facets of the holy ritual.

“The first official Omani pilgrimage mission was formed in 1972 by a noble order from the then His Majesty Sultan Qaboos and it was headed by Shaikh Sulaiman bin Mohammed al Salmi, who was Director of Governors’ Affairs at the Ministry of Interior and Justice at the time,” remembered Sultan al Hinai.

The Omani Haj missions in the following years continued from that date to the present day working hard to serve the pilgrims to the Sacred House of God through their various delegations, each of which assumed specific roles and responsibilities and served Hajis every year.

The Presidency of the Omani Haj Mission comprises the head of the mission, his deputy and adviser. They have to draw up general policies for the work entrusted to the mission, and supervise all the services and care that must be provided to the pilgrims.

The Mission will also have representatives from the Department of Awqaf, Fatwa, Administrative and Financial sections, ROP, Oman Scouts, Media, medical, and various Haj companies.

The first flight carrying pilgrims from Oman will leave Muscat on June 14 corresponding to Dhul Qa’ada 25, 1444 followed by regular flights carrying other pilgrims in the following days.

The ministry received as many as 33,536 applications including 29,930 requests from Omanis, and 3,606 requests from residents for this year’s Haj after the registration was closed on March 5.

Oman will only be able to send 14,000 people to perform Haj this year through MOARA based on the agreement with the General Authority for Awqaf (GAA) of Saudi Arabia.

Those who are eligible for performing Haj this year, who are selected electronically through the e-sorting and e-selection process, were contacted directly and we’re given five days to contract through the electronic system with Haj companies.