Call to Muslims intending to make the Hajj

11 December 2024, 3:22 pm

By Our Correspondent, Zanzibar

In a recent press briefing held at Jamiu Mosque Zinjibar, Sheikh Ali Adam, the Chairperson of The Union of Hajj Travelling Agencies of Zanzibar known as UTAHIZA-(Umoja wa Taasisi za Hijja Zanzibar) informed and explained some alterations on registration procedures of the 2025 Hajj programmed by Saudi Arabia’s the Ministry of Pilgrimage which started on June 2024 and ends on February 14, next year. 

Sheikh Ali Adam said that, since September 2024, Saudi Arabia Hajj Authorities through virtual meetings outlined the procedures for organisations all over the world intending to send pilgrims for the annual pilgrimage to Mecca. 

In the compendium of changes released by the Saudi Ministry of Hajj specified that Zanzibar is allowed to be represented by four agencies which are allocated 500 slots each, making approximately of 2,300 while the two agencies from Tanzania mainland will cater for 1,300.

In was revealed that Tanzania with population of 61 million, has a low turnout of Muslims going to Mecca to peruse. Thus whereas the country has been allocated 25,000 slots of hajjs the expectation is to send a maximum of about 3600 (Zanzibar, 2300; Tanzania mainland 1,300)  

Although there are many organizations dealing with hajj travelling agency but Saudi Arabia hajj Authority has allowed Zanzibar to have only four travelling firms to deal with organizing the pilgrimage process to simplify it and the same applies to Tanzania mainland which has two companies on the matter.

In the same vein Sheikh Farid Had Ahmed, had a word of caution to fellow Muslims in Tanzania that everyone should consider the pilgrimage as an admirable and sacred undertaking which called for one being accountable and obliged through early preparations in order to avoid any inconveniences and determination.   

Ustadhat Biubwa Othman from the Waqf and Trust Commission said that, Zanzibar has established a specific pilgrimage Desk for those intending to go for the hajj holy event and asked them to begin saving their contributions gradually until they attain the total cost of traveling. The Waqf and Trust Commission is a government body cooperate having perpetuate succession and common seal established by Act no 2 of 2007 and its core functions are to administer Waqf and, trust properties, the estates of deceased Muslims as well as coordinating Islamic affairs including pilgrimage, zakat and charity