Measures in place to ensure smooth Haj for UAE pilgrims

Mina/Makkah: All pilgrims attending this year's Haj will converge in Mina on Saturday to spend the Day of Tarwiyah in preparation for the Haj ritual on the plains of Mount Arafat on Sunday.

According to Mohammad Obaid Al Mazroui, Chairman of the UAE Official Haj Mission, preparations have been made to receive thousands of pilgrims at Mina and Mount Arafat.

He said the mission had set up makeshift camps in the holy sites of Mina and Mount Arafat.

Health clinics for men and women had also been set up with male and female doctors and nurses standing ready to provide medical assistance, Al Mazroui noted.

He said he would visit the camps of all the various committees and contractors to ensure that he had first-hand information about their readiness. The chairman added that he had instructed the inspection committee not to hesitate in penalising any contractor who failed to abide by the rules.

On Thursday, Al Mazroui met with all clerics accompanying UAE pilgrims in Makkah to provide the necessary religious guidance and counselling.

Moderate

During the annual meeting, which was held at the mission's premises, Al Mazroui urged the clerics to facilitate the smooth performance of Haj by adopting authentic but moderate methods. He also urged them to unify their edicts on religious matters.

Al Mazroui urged the clerics to keep in close contact with the Islamic guidance and counselling committee and to coordinate the issuance of edicts and the offering of counselling services.

He pointed out that the General Islamic Affairs Authority (GIAA) remains committed to its major objectives of spreading Haj jurisprudence and principles among UAE pilgrims.

This commitment, he said, was manifested in the activities organised by the GIAA before and during the pilgrimage, including the holding of workshops, forums, seminars and religious lectures to create and boost awareness among the would-be pilgrims before they embarked upon their religious observance.

As part of its efforts to ensure the success of its programmes for the current Haj season, the GIAA selected 153 Muslim clerics to accompany the pilgrims and give them the necessary counsel and guidance that they may require throughout the pilgrimage, he said.

The duties assigned to the clerics include leading the pilgrims in the offering of prayer five times a day and delivering religious lectures and counselling to the pilgrims on all matters related to Hajj.

The clerics selected to perform these duties are among the best in the country and were trained to adopt moderation in all matters, Al Mazroui said.