On June, 8th, under the invitation of the Saudi Ministry of Affairs of Hadzh the official Ukrainian delegation representing interests of Muslims of Ukraine took off for Jeddah. The Mufti of the SMMU "Ummah" tells in the interview about results of this voyage.
- Assalamu aleykum, Sheikh Said! Please, recount about how the negotiations.
- On June, 10th, in the Holy city of Makkah the Ukrainian delegation started negotiations, having met the representative of the Ministry of Affairs of Hajj of Saudi Arabia, Mr. Hatym Hasan Kady. On the agenda there was a question on allocation of places for pilgrims from Ukraine. The Deputy Minister presented us the exact statistics on pilgrims from Ukraine over the last 10 years, testifying that up to now not more than 200 Ukrainian pilgrims came to perform Hajj yearly.
The Saudi party considered our offer on quotas, and, eventually, offered us the following formula: to guarantee 500 places, and if we will have more wishing to go to Hajj, it is necessary to notify on it the Ministry of Affairs of Hajj not later than in September, and additional demands will be satisfied. If demands from Ukraine will be less than prospective quantity, the remained places will be allocated to other countries: in many Muslim states people are waiting for years their turn to perform Hajj and every permission is counted.
Further we had to visit some more departments which submit to the Ministry of Affairs of Hajj, and to co-ordinate in each of them the issues connected with the organization of pilgrimage, for example, how pilgrims from Ukraine will reach Saudi Arabia.
In the course of negotiations with the Department which is responsible for reception of pilgrims, the order of movement of the Ukrainian pilgrims on the territory of Saudi Arabia was approximately co-ordinated. Pilgrims from Ukraine will arrive to the airport of Jeddah, and then they will go to Makkah and from Makkah to Medina. We consider it inexpedient to come back from Medina to Jeddah as it will entail additional expenses, therefore after visiting the mosque of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), pilgrims will take off for Ukraine at once.
- How did you deal with the issue of pilgrims settling?
- Basically, to agree about these or that hotels and the prices is a duty of our delegation. We were informed at once that if the pilgrims will be settled further, than in two kilometers from the mosque of Al-Haram, it is necessary to conclude the contract with the companies which are engaged in bus transportations that pilgrims could reach the Holy Mosque from their hotel daily.
Having studied the situation, we understood what we could not settle the pilgrims closer, than in two kilometers from Al-Haram, it will not be possible for us, as many countries constantly sending a considerable quantity of pilgrims, reserve the nearest hotels for many years ahead.
That is, there was a question on transportations?-
- Naturally, the following point of our negotiations became the Department engaged in passenger transportations. The matter is that it is necessary to carry our Hajjis not only from hotel to the mosque, but also at all points of Hajj: Mina, Arafat, Muzdalifa, Makkah, and Medina; it is a considerable volume of work. Therefore it will be necessary to rent certain quantity of buses officially.
How food supplies of pilgrims will be provided?-
- On purpose to deal with this question we visited the Department which is responsible for maintenance of pilgrims by food. Quite often pilgrims buy themselves meals — in markets, cafes. But during the time of Hajj at similar places gather huge queues, and people spend a lot of time that is very tiresome under the scorching sun. We signed the contract that the Saudi party completely incurs maintenance with food of the Ukrainian Muslims who arrived for Hajj.
Are there any innovations in the organization of Hajj this year?-
- This year Saudi Arabia obliges the party sending pilgrims to Hajj, to put into the account in the Saudi bank 50 rials for each of them — if the pilgrim will be traumatized, will be ill, lost, etc. Without the necessary sum on the account, visas will not be given. If the sum is not spent and the delegation will safely come back home, the money will be returned. We will agree this is the fair requirement: during pilgrimage there are accidents, especially with elderly people who can not maintain heat and loads, therefore such insurance on the case of unforeseen situations is necessary.
- How they estimate preparation of the Ukrainian pilgrims in the Ministry of Affairs of Hajj?
- As a whole it was noticed that Muslims of Ukraine are always very well prepared and acquainted with rituals of Hajj; Ukrainians behave according to instructions of Islam and laws of Saudi Arabia. It is a very positive moment, too. The Saudi party stated a wish that it will go on in the future, and Muslims of Ukraine would be an example for all pilgrims.
I think that the level of trust which we were given is reached due to corresponding preparation, organization, and consciousness of the Ukrainian Muslims.
- What should the organizers before a trip take care of, what it is necessary to know for the future pilgrims?
- Hajj is one of the pillars of Islam, the major event in the life of a believer, therefore it is impossible to neglect trivialities in this question. It is necessary to be prepared for pilgrimage carefully. Each pilgrim should know in advance, how Hajj goes on, that they will not inquire on the place what to do and where to go, where to make a prayer or sacrifice, when to dress and when to remove ihram.
It is important to consult Muslims about behavior rules in the Kingdom Saudi Arabia, since it is a different culture and way of life, distinct from the European countries; to instruct concerning documents and visa reception, to explain, what things to take with them; probably, it is necessary to take care in due time of vaccination — all of it becomes known later.
The receiving party demands, that each fifty pilgrims should have one head who necessarily should know the Arabic language. Accordingly, if we account on five hundred pilgrims from Ukraine, we need to have as a part of delegation not less than ten heads. One of the heads, knowing Arabic, will take courses in Saudi Arabia where will be held instructing for leaders of groups of all countries.
- What question is the most often asked by those going to Hajj?
- About ihram. Ihram, suitable footwear and everything that is necessary for the performance of Hajj is better to take from home. The decision to buy these things in Makkah will be short-sighted.
- A question which, perhaps, most of all interests people, is financial. It is known that last year to make Hajj from Ukraine it was possible approximately for 3500 dollars. Is it already known, at least approximately, how much the pilgrimage in 2009 will cost?
- It is impossible to name the exact amount yet, since there are still no contracts with hotels, airlines, bus carriers, but by estimation the price will be at the level of last year. It does not depend on us, since this is a price conjuncture in Saudi Arabia. We can say just one thing: this year there will be no free places.
- How the allocated places will be distributed?
- In the meeting on May, 27th, in the State Committee on Affairs of Nationalities and Religions it was decided that the quota which will be given to us by Saudi Arabia, will be divided between all spiritual managements of Ukraine. It is known that most of all Muslims live in Crimea; therefore Crimea by right should get more places, rather than other spiritual managements. The Council of Spiritual Managements of Muslims of Ukraine will carry out negotiations with all spiritual managements and centers which will definitively define how many places each spiritual management will receive.
- Irrespective of whether it enters into the Council of Spiritual Managements or not?
- It is not important. I would like to remind that Hajj is religious duty, and any gamble round it is inadmissible. We incurred responsibility before Muslims not only in Ukraine, but also in the whole world and we represent interests of Ukrainian Muslims before such a big meeting. Our duty is to follow principles of Islamic justice accurately, for what Allah the Almighty calls to in the Holy Quran, "O ye who believe! stand out firmly for justice, as witnesses to Allah, even as against yourselves, or your parents, or your kin". (The Holy Quran, 4:135)
Interview was held by Gregory GRISHKO
The newspaper "ARRAID" (May-June, 2009)
Related Links:
500 Muslims of Ukraine Received Quotas on Performance of Hajj
Ukrainian Pilgrims Back from Hajj with Memorable Prize
