Indonesia calls for Saudi decision on Haj
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JAKARTA: Indonesia on Tuesday called for Saudi Arabia to decide if it will allow the annual Islamic pilgrimage to Makkah, after the coronavirus pandemic plunged the ritual into doubt.
Last year around 2.5 million faithful travelled to Saudi Arabia from across the world to take part in the Haj, which all Muslims must perform at least once in their lives if able.
The year-round Umrah pilgrimage was suspended in March, while Saudi Arabia asked Muslims to temporarily defer preparations during the Covid-19 outbreak.
But Saudi authorities have yet to announce whether they will proceed with this year’s Haj, which takes place at the end of July.
Indonesia’s religious affairs ministry said a decision should be made before the fasting month of Ramazan ends this weekend.
“We hope the official decision on whether Haj will go ahead or be cancelled will be announced soon,” ministry spokesman Oman Fathurahman said on Tuesday.
Indonesia is the world’s biggest Muslim-majority nation and at least 231,000 of its citizens were registered to take part in this year’s pilgrimage — the largest contingent of any nation.
But Indonesia has held off confirming housing, transportation and other contracts with Saudi travel authorities, Fathurahman said.
“Until now the Ministry of Religious Affairs has yet to sign any contracts or pay the down payment for Haj services in Saudi Arabia,” he added.
The pilgrimage is a key revenue earner for the kingdom but risks becoming a major source of contagion if pilgrims flock to Makkah’s religious sites.
Published in Dawn, May 20th, 2020
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Comments (36) Closed
May 20, 2020 09:22am
defer. please. do-not-risk lives. especially when a large portion of the hajis are older.
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May 20, 2020 09:34am
Haj should be closed for at least a year
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May 20, 2020 09:57am
With proper precautions in place, Kingdom should allow haj. This shouldn't be stopped.
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May 20, 2020 10:08am
Saudi Arabia should announce about its Haj policy as Hajis not only from Pakistan but from all Muslim nations are awaiting for a decision of Saudi Arabia whether only local Saudi nationals will be allowed to perform Haj or people from other Muslim nations will also be joining them.
People during the period of pandemic of coronavirus are not all affected but mostly people in Muslim countries are good in health and can perform Haj.
Leaving Saudi Arabia policy about performing Haj for foreign Muslims in limbo is very painful as thousands of people from Pakistan have applied to perform Haj but since Haj policy of Saudi Arabia for the year 2020 is not clear.
People who want to perform Haj are going through anxiety whether they will be performing Haj this year or not?
A lot of preparations are required to be made by non-resident Muslims before boarding a Haj flight but all these preparations are subject to the announcement of Saudi Arabia whether they are allowed to perform Haj or not?
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May 20, 2020 10:18am
Saudi Arabia should open its air space and allow people to perform Haj. Virus is not that life threatening., just 2% mortality and 35% recovery.
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May 20, 2020 10:26am
Saudi is waiting to get instructions from USA, whereas USA is waiting for instructions from Israel. So, folks just wait, what is a hurry!
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May 20, 2020 10:38am
No Haj this year those who were planning to go for Haj should give away the money they were going to spend on Haj to the poor & hungry. Don’t forget the starving innocent children, women & elderly keep them in your thoughts.
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May 20, 2020 11:05am
Is this even a question ? How dumb you can be to expect Saudi govt to open HAjj. Mass gatherings are number one source of spread. I suggest dont open it for at least one more year if you have little bit of sanity.
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May 20, 2020 11:06am
There should be a committee of all Muslim countries to decide the affairs of HIJAZ, democratically.
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May 20, 2020 11:14am
There should be no Haj this year. Risk is too high. To keep the religious tradition, "small number of locals" can perform Haj under controlled conditions.
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May 20, 2020 11:16am
Looks like Saudi Arabis will go bankrupt soon, Haz income is stopped and Oil is at historic low
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May 20, 2020 11:22am
It would be better if all pilgrims canceled their plans and used that money to help people in need in their own countries.
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May 20, 2020 12:00pm
Who has authority to postpone the Haj? The Grand Muftis from Saudi Arabia and from Al Azhar mosques of Cairo should sit together and decide.
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May 20, 2020 12:13pm
KSA has the responsibility to ensure safety of Hajies as well as its own people & they stand greater risks & losses, 2 months is a long way to predict pandemic situation, even when allowed the number of the visiting pilgrims will have to be restricted, so lets not be impatient & be prepared to travel on 15 days notice
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May 20, 2020 12:23pm
Most likely this year Haj will be performed by a handful of local Saudis only. It is very unlikely the Saudi government will allow people from other countries to come to Saudia for Haj.
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May 20, 2020 12:23pm
@Haseeb, in your dreams
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May 20, 2020 01:19pm
Hajj must go on whether it's a small group of May be 100 only.
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May 20, 2020 01:55pm
Remember Faith can wait but Life won't
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May 20, 2020 02:25pm
Under current circumstances its better to allow only those who are already in Saudia.
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May 20, 2020 03:24pm
Who are they to ask Saudi for Haj, it is their country their decision, all should respect their decision.
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May 20, 2020 03:55pm
Hajj with a single representative from each Muslim country of the world might be allowed by the Saudi Government, if the virus is still there.
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May 20, 2020 04:24pm
@Haseeb, but still they will be far richer than Pakistan.
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May 20, 2020 05:18pm
@Fahim Khan,
To decide how to hv mass suicide on Saudi Soil?
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May 20, 2020 05:19pm
@MAK, wisdom
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May 20, 2020 05:30pm
I think by allowing Saudi government would not risk not only millions of muslims around the world but local people as well. Perhaps local people may perform Haj this year.
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May 20, 2020 05:41pm
It would be better for the safety of millions to defer Hajj to next year.
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May 20, 2020 06:55pm
Amid fastly growing and rapidly expanding coronavirus pandemic, no doubt, it's high time and the right time for the Saudi Authorities to chalk out a clear and unambiguous policy about holding of this year's pilgrimage and Haj to Makkah and Madinah for millions of prospective Hajis all over the world.
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May 20, 2020 07:19pm
It will be decided by the oil market!
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May 20, 2020 07:59pm
Hajj must go on with following precautionary measures:
Over 50 Shouldn't be allowed to participate in this year's Hajj.
Anyone with pre health condition shouldn't be allowed too.
Less people should be taken this year.
Mask should be made mandatory.
Covid-19 test should be made mandatory on arrival.
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May 20, 2020 08:18pm
@Dr Tarik,
"No Haj this year those who were planning to go for Haj should give away the money they were going to spend on Haj to the poor & hungry. Don’t forget the starving innocent children, women & elderly keep them in your thoughts..."
You are one Sensible Soul...Serving the Poor and Needy is serving the Almighty....
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May 20, 2020 10:01pm
Saudi Arabia should allow all to perform haj
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May 20, 2020 10:19pm
@Haseeb, Saudi and UAE are small state of small population. They can still provide lavish living for there people for many years without oil and hajj money
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May 20, 2020 10:44pm
hajj 2020 should be limited only for Jeddah residents
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May 21, 2020 04:21pm
@Karachi, Pray tell and define your "proper precautions" that should be a good read, how to social distance 2 million people.
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May 21, 2020 07:49pm
@Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad, You are 100% right.
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May 21, 2020 08:23pm
It should be deferred. It will be a great challenge for a million of people maintain distance during Hajj. Also, great percentage of Hajis are in a high risk age group, so it let's not risk their lives.
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