Umair Ali describes a
quintessential Islamic event
Sacred Hajj – To discharge their most sacred religious obligation more than 2.5 million Muslims from around the globe circumambulated solemnly around the Kaaba during the biggest Hajj pilgrimage in several years began in the heat of the Saudi summer. It is reported that pilgrims from 160 countries are in Saudi Arabia performing the annual rites that could break attendance records with 1.6 million foreigners already there. The Hajj began early on Sunday with the tawaf and a series of rites are completed over four days in Makkah and its surroundings in the west of Saudi Arabia. On Sunday night, pilgrims started moving to Mina, about five kilometres from the Grand Mosque, ahead of the Hajj’s climax at Mount Arafat, where the Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) is believed to have delivered his final sermon.
Mina, the world’s largest tent city, readied to receive the influx of pilgrims with food supplies brought in and security forces deployed around the area. Outside the Grand Mosque, thousands prayed on colourful carpets that adorned the pavement with male pilgrims wearing simple white robes. The area was dotted with ambulances, mobile clinics and fire trucks. The Hajj poses a considerable security challenge and has seen several disasters over the years, including a 2015 stampede that killed up to 2,300 people. There have been no major incidents since, and catastrophe was the last thing on pilgrims’ minds. This year’s summer timing for the Hajj which follows the lunar calendar will test the endurance of worshippers during the mostly outdoor ritual. Carrying white umbrellas to shield themselves from the scorching sun, policemen in the mountainous city have conducted foot patrols and set up checkpoints to inspect Hajj permits. Others splashed water on pilgrims as temperatures climbed towards 45 degrees Celsius (113 degrees Fahrenheit). Thousands of paramedics were on standby inside the Grand Mosque. Saudi authorities said more than 32,000 health workers will be on hand to treat cases of heatstroke, dehydration and exhaustion.
The Hajj, with its hefty fees, makes billions of dollars a year for Saudi Arabia, the world’s biggest oil exporter, which is trying to diversify its economy beyond fossil fuels. This year’s will be the biggest since 2019, before the Covid pandemic, when about 2.5 million people took part. Only 10,000 were allowed in 2020, at the height of the global outbreak, rising to nearly 59,000 in 2021. Last year’s cap of one million has been removed. It is reported that most hotel accommodation is booked and pilgrims face difficulty in obtaining one. The Hajj also demonstrates social reforms in the deeply conservative country. This year’s pilgrimage will be the biggest since Saudi Arabia scrapped rules in 2021 that banned women who were not accompanied by a male relative. Organising for Hajj is a logistics challenge as pilgrims from around the world poured into Jeddah’s modernised airport, some of them using streamlined visa services to disembark from planes straight onto buses to their accommodation. Some 24,000 buses will be in service to ferry the pilgrims as well as 17 trains capable of moving 72,000 people every hour. This year, the maximum age limit has also been scrapped meaning thousands of elderly will be among those contending with Saudi summer temperatures.
For Pakistanis the crises for the government emanating out of acute shortage of foreign exchange reserves seem to keep coming as empty coffers are now set to impact arrangements for the upcoming Hajj. It was reported that aga¬i¬nst the earlier anticipated amount of $90 million the total requirement for Hajj expenses will be around $270-280 million to be paid in dollars. The government considered surrendering around 40,000 seats out of the quota of 179,210 assigned to Pakistan by Saudi authorities for this year’s pilgrimage. The government would be forced to take this drastic measure as its scheme to pay Hajj expenses in US dollars failed to get traction among the pilgrims. Under the sponsorship scheme, announced in light of the dollar shortage, the government expected to raise between $150–180 million, reducing the reliance on the central bank’s reserves to pay for Hajj expenses. The difficulties in the matter could be gauged from the fact that only 15 per cent of seats offered in the sponsorship scheme have been availed.
It is reported that the religious affairs ministry had divided the quota of 179,210 individuals equally between private sector Hajj operators and the government’s scheme. Of the government’s share of 89,605 seats, 45,415 were earmarked for the sponsorship scheme — for pilgrims willing to pay for the package in US dollars. However, only 6,000 individuals applied under the sponsorship scheme. The ministry had opened 13 foreign currency accounts in different banks and even extended the deadline up to 4 April to facilitate the beneficiaries of the sponsorship scheme. On the other hand, 72,869 applications have been received for the regular scheme against 44,190 seats. The religious affairs ministry has suggested accommodating pilgrims availing the regular scheme on the unutilised quota of the sponsorship scheme but only if the finance ministry assures of covering the expenses in dollars.
With more than 140,000 Pakistanis proceeding to Saudi Arabia for Hajj, the telecom companies vied to capitalise on the potential clientele by offering competitive International Roaming (IR) packages. The largest network company, Jazz, offered 5GB internet data for Rs.2,000 while Telenor has launched its ‘Hajj Saudia Bundle’ for prepaid users only at Rs.799. It included 1GB of internet, 30 minute voice call for both incoming and outgoing and 30 SMS. The package will be valid for 30 days.
Zong 4G was offering international roaming at Rs.1,200, with 1GB data, while 3GB data was available at Rs.3,300 and the 5GB for Rs.5,400 plus tax. The network has even claimed that the IR services will include WhatsApp audio and video calls, which are not available through local operators in Saudi Arabia. According to Ufone, its IR package will provide unlimited access to WhatsApp calls for unrestricted communication with friends and family back home. The 7GB package for Rs.4,000 will come with unlimited WhatsApp calls and messages from Saudi Arabia for 40 days. The Hajj packages were being advertised actively by the telcos mainly because the number of pilgrims has significantly increased compared to the previous three years. In 2022, only 80,000 pilgrims were allowed to perform Hajj and there were no pilgrims from Pakistan or anywhere outside Saudi Arabia in 2020 and 2021 due to Covid-19 restrictions.
It is also reported that the government has collaborated with a Saudi Arabian bank to provide a payment system for sacrificial animals to Pakistani pilgrims. The pilgrims will have to pay 720 Saudi Riyal to obtain a token for sacrificial animals from mobile vans parked near their residences. Many pilgrims have already made payments for the animal sacrifice when purchasing their Hajj packages. However, the newly introduced government facility aims to assist those who were unable to make the ritual payment earlier. It was reported that mobile vans operated by the Saudi Post and the Islamic Development Bank were observed selling tokens for sacrificial animals in Makkah’s Al-Azizia neighbourhood. Many pilgrims lined up to deposit the required amount and avail themselves of the service. The Weekender
Sacred Hajj
ByUmair Ali
Trainee lawyer
Dated
July 19, 2023
Umair Ali describes a
quintessential Islamic event
Sacred Hajj – To discharge their most sacred religious obligation more than 2.5 million Muslims from around the globe circumambulated solemnly around the Kaaba during the biggest Hajj pilgrimage in several years began in the heat of the Saudi summer. It is reported that pilgrims from 160 countries are in Saudi Arabia performing the annual rites that could break attendance records with 1.6 million foreigners already there. The Hajj began early on Sunday with the tawaf and a series of rites are completed over four days in Makkah and its surroundings in the west of Saudi Arabia. On Sunday night, pilgrims started moving to Mina, about five kilometres from the Grand Mosque, ahead of the Hajj’s climax at Mount Arafat, where the Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) is believed to have delivered his final sermon.
Mina, the world’s largest tent city, readied to receive the influx of pilgrims with food supplies brought in and security forces deployed around the area. Outside the Grand Mosque, thousands prayed on colourful carpets that adorned the pavement with male pilgrims wearing simple white robes. The area was dotted with ambulances, mobile clinics and fire trucks. The Hajj poses a considerable security challenge and has seen several disasters over the years, including a 2015 stampede that killed up to 2,300 people. There have been no major incidents since, and catastrophe was the last thing on pilgrims’ minds. This year’s summer timing for the Hajj which follows the lunar calendar will test the endurance of worshippers during the mostly outdoor ritual. Carrying white umbrellas to shield themselves from the scorching sun, policemen in the mountainous city have conducted foot patrols and set up checkpoints to inspect Hajj permits. Others splashed water on pilgrims as temperatures climbed towards 45 degrees Celsius (113 degrees Fahrenheit). Thousands of paramedics were on standby inside the Grand Mosque. Saudi authorities said more than 32,000 health workers will be on hand to treat cases of heatstroke, dehydration and exhaustion.
The Hajj, with its hefty fees, makes billions of dollars a year for Saudi Arabia, the world’s biggest oil exporter, which is trying to diversify its economy beyond fossil fuels. This year’s will be the biggest since 2019, before the Covid pandemic, when about 2.5 million people took part. Only 10,000 were allowed in 2020, at the height of the global outbreak, rising to nearly 59,000 in 2021. Last year’s cap of one million has been removed. It is reported that most hotel accommodation is booked and pilgrims face difficulty in obtaining one. The Hajj also demonstrates social reforms in the deeply conservative country. This year’s pilgrimage will be the biggest since Saudi Arabia scrapped rules in 2021 that banned women who were not accompanied by a male relative. Organising for Hajj is a logistics challenge as pilgrims from around the world poured into Jeddah’s modernised airport, some of them using streamlined visa services to disembark from planes straight onto buses to their accommodation. Some 24,000 buses will be in service to ferry the pilgrims as well as 17 trains capable of moving 72,000 people every hour. This year, the maximum age limit has also been scrapped meaning thousands of elderly will be among those contending with Saudi summer temperatures.
For Pakistanis the crises for the government emanating out of acute shortage of foreign exchange reserves seem to keep coming as empty coffers are now set to impact arrangements for the upcoming Hajj. It was reported that aga¬i¬nst the earlier anticipated amount of $90 million the total requirement for Hajj expenses will be around $270-280 million to be paid in dollars. The government considered surrendering around 40,000 seats out of the quota of 179,210 assigned to Pakistan by Saudi authorities for this year’s pilgrimage. The government would be forced to take this drastic measure as its scheme to pay Hajj expenses in US dollars failed to get traction among the pilgrims. Under the sponsorship scheme, announced in light of the dollar shortage, the government expected to raise between $150–180 million, reducing the reliance on the central bank’s reserves to pay for Hajj expenses. The difficulties in the matter could be gauged from the fact that only 15 per cent of seats offered in the sponsorship scheme have been availed.
It is reported that the religious affairs ministry had divided the quota of 179,210 individuals equally between private sector Hajj operators and the government’s scheme. Of the government’s share of 89,605 seats, 45,415 were earmarked for the sponsorship scheme — for pilgrims willing to pay for the package in US dollars. However, only 6,000 individuals applied under the sponsorship scheme. The ministry had opened 13 foreign currency accounts in different banks and even extended the deadline up to 4 April to facilitate the beneficiaries of the sponsorship scheme. On the other hand, 72,869 applications have been received for the regular scheme against 44,190 seats. The religious affairs ministry has suggested accommodating pilgrims availing the regular scheme on the unutilised quota of the sponsorship scheme but only if the finance ministry assures of covering the expenses in dollars.
With more than 140,000 Pakistanis proceeding to Saudi Arabia for Hajj, the telecom companies vied to capitalise on the potential clientele by offering competitive International Roaming (IR) packages. The largest network company, Jazz, offered 5GB internet data for Rs.2,000 while Telenor has launched its ‘Hajj Saudia Bundle’ for prepaid users only at Rs.799. It included 1GB of internet, 30 minute voice call for both incoming and outgoing and 30 SMS. The package will be valid for 30 days.
Zong 4G was offering international roaming at Rs.1,200, with 1GB data, while 3GB data was available at Rs.3,300 and the 5GB for Rs.5,400 plus tax. The network has even claimed that the IR services will include WhatsApp audio and video calls, which are not available through local operators in Saudi Arabia. According to Ufone, its IR package will provide unlimited access to WhatsApp calls for unrestricted communication with friends and family back home. The 7GB package for Rs.4,000 will come with unlimited WhatsApp calls and messages from Saudi Arabia for 40 days. The Hajj packages were being advertised actively by the telcos mainly because the number of pilgrims has significantly increased compared to the previous three years. In 2022, only 80,000 pilgrims were allowed to perform Hajj and there were no pilgrims from Pakistan or anywhere outside Saudi Arabia in 2020 and 2021 due to Covid-19 restrictions.
It is also reported that the government has collaborated with a Saudi Arabian bank to provide a payment system for sacrificial animals to Pakistani pilgrims. The pilgrims will have to pay 720 Saudi Riyal to obtain a token for sacrificial animals from mobile vans parked near their residences. Many pilgrims have already made payments for the animal sacrifice when purchasing their Hajj packages. However, the newly introduced government facility aims to assist those who were unable to make the ritual payment earlier. It was reported that mobile vans operated by the Saudi Post and the Islamic Development Bank were observed selling tokens for sacrificial animals in Makkah’s Al-Azizia neighbourhood. Many pilgrims lined up to deposit the required amount and avail themselves of the service. The Weekender
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