Muslims of Ukraine and Crimea prepare for performance of Hajj – pilgrimage to Islam relics in Makkah and Madina. This year, in connection with epidemic of influenza А/H1N1, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia introduced a number of additional conditions for pilgrims
In particular, as it informs the SMMU "Ummah", for visa opening on performing of Hajj, the embassy of Saudi Arabia demands from pilgrims the presence of the international certificate on vaccination against meningitis ACYW1-135, also it is necessary to have inquiries on absence of chronic diseases.
Besides, for the purpose of prevention of possible distribution of virus А/H1N1 at the session of the Ministers of Health of the Arabic Countries in Cairo was accepted the decision to forbid performance of Hajj in 2009 to people above 65 years, below 12 years, to pregnant women, and those suffering from chronic diseases.
Women below 40 years can perform Hajj only with the husband or Mahram – close blood relative. It is necessary for spouses to have the marriage certificate corresponding to Shariat. (See the list of requirements and necessary documents on the web-site of the SMMU "Ummah(".
The Spiritual Management of Muslims of Ukraine "Umma" will organize pilgrimage of Muslims together with travel company Cosmos Travel Star which is business partner of the Saudi firm Zam-Zam, which organizes stay of pilgrims in Makkah and Madina. The specified tour agency suggests performing Hajj this year at the price of 3000 US dollars. The cost includes charter through-air flight from Kiev to Saudi Arabia and back, residing, food and bus transportations at all points of Hajj.
In Crimea Hajj will be organized by the Spiritual Management of Muslims of Crimea. As the SMMC informed QHA, the Crimean pilgrims will arrive to Saudi Arabia through Istanbul and will stay in holy sites of Muslims for one month.
"Believers will lodge in a hotel of the city of Makkah in radius of 2.5 kilometers from the mosque al-Masjid al-Haram, and in Madina - in a hotel which is in 500 meters from the mosque al-Nabawi (mosque of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him)", the Muftiyat noted.
The cost of Hajj from Crimea will make 3700 US dollars. The given price includes registration of visas, air flight, preliminary training of pilgrims, maintenance with the necessary literature and ihram, daily lessons and sermons, insurance, residing in Makkah and Madina, granting 10 liters of "Zam-Zam" water. Also the program of Hajj includes transfers in Saudi Arabia, residing in Mina and on Arafat, visiting of relics in Makkah and Madina.
Let's remind that in 2009 the Ministry of Affairs of Hajj of Saudi Arabia allocated for Ukraine 500 places quota, having stipulated thus that if among the Ukrainian Muslims there will be more wishing to perform Hajj, it is necessary to notify about it the Ministry not later than September, and additional demands will be satisfied.
On June, 24, at the session of the Council of Muftis of Muslims of Ukraine the allocated quotas were distributed as follows: the Spiritual Centre of Muslim Communities of Ukraine (Donetsk) – 50 places, "Kiev Muftiyat" (Kiev) – 50 places, the SMMU "Ummah" (Kiev) – 100 quotas, the Spiritual Management of Muslims of Ukraine headed by Ahmad Tamim – 100 places and the SMMC (Crimea) – 200 places. At distribution the Council considered quantity of parishioners and quantity of the living Muslim population in these regions.
By the web-site of the SMMU "Ummah" and QHA
Related Links:
Mechanisms for Hajj quotas will be discussed in Aqmescit
500 Muslims of Ukraine Received Quotas on Performance of Hajj
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