Latest news with #Haj
Hindustan Times
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Hearing over Budaun temple-mosque row deferred
Budaun, The hearing in the Neelkanth Mahadev v. Shamsi Jama Masjid case in a local court was on Thursday deferred to August 30 owing to the judge's absence. Hearing over Budaun temple-mosque row deferred The case file was transferred to the fast track court as civil judge Suman Tiwari went on maternity leave. The court previously reserved its order after hearing arguments from Anwar Alam, counsel for the Shamsi Jama Masjid Management Committee. Alam argued according to Supreme Court directions, subordinate courts were not authorised to hear such religious structure disputes, and the case should be dismissed. The temple's legal team, led by advocate Ved Prakash Sahu, said the hearing on August 30 would determine whether the case can proceed in the civil court or not. The legal battle has seen multiple adjournments since February, mainly due to absent counsel, court vacations, and judge transfers. On May 28, the judge reviewed the case file and instructed both parties to present their arguments on July 5. However, the Masjid committee sought an adjournment as their lawyer, Asrar Ahmad, was on Haj pilgrimage. The judge then fixed July 5 for regular hearings to commence, and both parties were told to be present with full preparations. On July 5, advocate Alam reiterated under the Places of Worship Act, 1991, and related Supreme Court rulings, the subordinate judiciary lacked jurisdiction to hear such cases. He submitted relevant documents, including a Supreme Court order, saying no court could pass orders on matters falling under the 1991 Act. In response, temple counsel Vivek Kumar Render contended that the Supreme Court orders did not bar the ongoing or pre-existing suits from being heard. He maintained that the case should be heard in full. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
News18
5 hours ago
- Politics
- News18
Hearing over Budaun temple-mosque row deferred
Agency: Budaun, Jul 24 (PTI) The hearing in the Neelkanth Mahadev v. Shamsi Jama Masjid case in a local court was on Thursday deferred to August 30 owing to the judge's absence. The case file was transferred to the fast track court (FTC) as civil judge (senior division) Suman Tiwari went on maternity leave. The court previously reserved its order after hearing arguments from Anwar Alam, counsel for the Shamsi Jama Masjid Management Committee. Alam argued according to Supreme Court directions, subordinate courts were not authorised to hear such religious structure disputes, and the case should be dismissed. The temple's legal team, led by advocate Ved Prakash Sahu, said the hearing on August 30 would determine whether the case can proceed in the civil court or not. The legal battle has seen multiple adjournments since February, mainly due to absent counsel, court vacations, and judge transfers. On May 28, the judge reviewed the case file and instructed both parties to present their arguments on July 5. However, the Masjid committee sought an adjournment as their lawyer, Asrar Ahmad, was on Haj pilgrimage. The judge then fixed July 5 for regular hearings to commence, and both parties were told to be present with full preparations. On July 5, advocate Alam reiterated under the Places of Worship Act, 1991, and related Supreme Court rulings, the subordinate judiciary lacked jurisdiction to hear such cases. He submitted relevant documents, including a Supreme Court order, saying no court could pass orders on matters falling under the 1991 Act. In response, temple counsel Vivek Kumar Render contended that the Supreme Court orders did not bar the ongoing or pre-existing suits from being heard. He maintained that the case should be heard in full. PTI COR CDN AMK AMK (This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed - PTI) view comments First Published: July 24, 2025, 16:00 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Malay Mail
7 hours ago
- Politics
- Malay Mail
Tabung Haji to roll out digital passport submission for Haj pilgrims, eyes smoother process
KUALA LUMPUR, July 24 — Lembaga Tabung Haji (TH) is working to introduce a digital passport submission system for Malaysian Haj pilgrims to minimise the need for them to visit TH branch offices in person, the Dewan Rakyat was told today. Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Dr Zulkifli Hasan said the initiative is among TH's ongoing efforts to enhance and improve efficiency in Haj management for the comfort of the pilgrims. 'May the administration and management of Malaysia's Haj pilgrimage continue to be among the best in the world, God willing,' he said when replying to a question from Datuk Adnan Abu Hassan (BN-Kuala Pilah). Zulkifli said various measures have been implemented by TH to ensure optimal management of the pilgrimage, including the introduction of a digital Haj medical record book, which helps medical personnel check pilgrims' health records online. 'This also aims to prevent the loss of physical medical books. In addition, the Haj mobility application was introduced to assist staff in coordinating pilgrims' movements throughout the Haj season,' he said. Meanwhile, Zulkifli said all eligible Malaysian pilgrims successfully obtained their Haj visas, including those who encountered technical issues during biometric registration via the Saudi Visa Bio mobile application. He said the achievement was the result of close cooperation between TH, the Embassy of Saudi Arabia, and relevant technical agencies. However, TH is aware that a small number of pilgrims experienced difficulties registering biometric data through the app. 'The issue stemmed from technical factors such as mobile device incompatibility, inaccurate facial or fingerprint scanning, and the need for ongoing technical system upgrades in line with current developments,' he said when replying to a question from Datuk Seri Dr Ismail Abd Muttalib (PN-Maran). Zulkifli said TH has taken several proactive measures to help ease pilgrims' use of the application, including providing complete guidelines and support through its official portal at for downloading and using the Saudi Visa Bio app. 'TH also conducts briefing sessions during the basic Haj courses nationwide. These guidelines are also clearly outlined in the haj offer letter issued to each pilgrim. 'TH customer service centres at headquarters and in all state branches are also available to assist pilgrims facing technical issues or in need of additional support,' he added. For pilgrims aged 80 and above, he said they are automatically exempted from the biometric scanning process, while special exemptions are granted to pilgrims with facial or fingerprint impairments, subject to medical verification and supporting documents uploaded through the Saudi Visa Bio system. — Bernama
National Geographic
2 days ago
- National Geographic
A journey of the senses through Abu Dhabi
We can learn a lot about a place when we allow our senses to guide us. While exploring Abu Dhabi, aromas that commonly delight and intrigue include heady oud wafting from incense burners in souks and malls, along with fruity-smelling smoke puffed out by shisha pipes across cafés. On the taste side, cumin, saffron, and cardamom are just some of the spices that feature heavily in many of the traditional dishes that please the palate and tell the story of the emirate's cuisine. A sensory-led journey through Abu Dhabi will not only grip you; it will help to illuminate many aspects of the emirate's culture, such as the connection between coffee, or gahwa as it is known in the region, and hospitality. Nothing says Abu Dhabi quite like the scent of coffee infused with flavors such as cardamom and rose water. Gahwa is a symbol of hospitality and holds great importance in Emirati culture. Such is gahwa's significance to Abu Dhabi, and the UAE as a whole, its one-dirham coins pay homage to it by depicting the dallah, the traditional Arab coffee pot. The pot's unique form, from its crescent-shaped spout to its spire-shaped lid, has become a symbol of local coffee culture. There is even an oversized dallah-shaped sculpture in Abu Dhabi's Union Square, further emphasizing the utensil's place in Emirati national consciousness. Coffee is a key part of an emirate welcome, traditionally boiled up in a ornate pot called a dallah, which is now synonymous with the region. Photograph by Nichole Sobecki Some believe that coffee was first brought to the region, known today as the UAE, by Muslims returning from Haj in Mecca, around the 15th century. Regardless of how the beverage made its way here, its popularity quickly spread in the Arabian Peninsula, taking on a life of its own complete with rituals and etiquette. This etiquette is an important display of hospitality in Emirati society, thought to hail from the days when Bedouins relied on reciprocal generosity. The person tasked with serving gahwa, known as muqahwi, holds the dallah in his left hand and the finjaan (cups with no handles) in his right. He then serves gahwa starting with the most important person in the room followed by those on his right. Once a guest is finished and no longer wants a refill, they should shake the cup, alerting the muqahwi that they're done. Although admittedly, once you start it's hard to stop, no matter how ill-advised it is to keep guzzling a heavily caffeinated beverage. The process of making gahwa is an elaborate affair, however, today some of the steps are omitted. The roasting is mostly done by machines where traditionally the process began with converting the beans into coffee by sorting, washing, and drying the beans, then roasting them until they turned red or brown. The roasted beans are ground with a mortar and pestle—a noisy process tinged with nostalgia for older generations of Emiratis. The rhythmic clanging evokes memories of coffee being made at dawn and is seen as an invitation to awaken and join the rest of the family before the start of the day. Once roasted, the beans are boiled in the dallah, releasing a pungent aroma. Added spices and flavourings, such as cardamom, saffron, rose water, and cloves infuse the coffee, giving rise to a distinctive, sweet scent that has become synonymous with hospitality, family, generosity. If you're looking to recreate the experience at home, it is worth making the trip to Souk Al Zafarana in Al Ain to buy supplies. A nose-led adventure awaits you in its alleys where you can shop for an array of spices, including those used in gahwa, as well as the dallah. Shop here at your own peril, though, if you're short on luggage space; it's hard to resist the medley of handicrafts, perfumes, and trinkets. As demand for specialty coffee soars and independent shops pop up across the emirate, the Department of Culture and Tourism - Abu Dhabi is working to preserve traditional gahwa through the Gahwa Championships at Al Hosn Festival. At the festival, participants are tested on their knowledge of gahwa heritage, along with bean selection, and the way the beverage is prepared. The initiative helps to protect and document gahwa as a precious Emirati tradition. Beyond its traditional roots, coffee is coming into the contemporary in Abu Dhabi through specialty roasteries and coffee shops. Photograph by Nichole Sobecki One thing gahwa shares with traditional Abu Dhabi cuisine is the sense of community and connection it evokes. Emirati dining is largely a communal affair; picture giant pots of gently spiced food being shared by the family, the scents of cinnamon and saffron surfing the air. Emirati food can be largely understood through the country's geography and trading heritage. An amalgamation of Asian and Middle Eastern influences, major ingredients include rice, fish and meat cooked with nuts, limes, dried fruit, and ghee. One popular dish is ayesh muhamar, rice cooked with date molasses and served with fish. The flavor profile is typical of Emirati dishes, which often combine sweet with savoury. Machboos, a much-loved dish made with rice together with chicken, lamb, fish or shrimp, is a regular fixture during weekend family lunches. Bzar, the spice mix that is used, varies from household to household and is typically a closely guarded family secret. Machboos, together with another local favorite that has taken on a form of its own, biryani, are living testaments to the UAE's trade history with India and the historic region of Persia. An interesting breakfast favorite is balaleet, which is comfort food at its finest—and if you're looking for a less-than-conventional way of having your eggs in the morning, this one is for you. Traditionally it is a combination of vermicelli noodles cooked with sugar, saffron, and cardamom and topped with—here comes the curious part—an omelet. While a number of restaurants offer Emirati cuisine, the truth is these dishes are best enjoyed homemade. If you happen to make friends with a local during your stay and they invite you to share a meal at their home, this is an opportunity not to be missed. No invite? No problem. Take an aromatic trip through one of Abu Dhabi's main souks and browse some of the most popular produce shopped for by locals and residents. The rows of colorful produce at the Al Mina Fruit and Vegetable Souk offers a plentitude of photo opportunities for those with no space left in their luggage looking to take some snaps home instead. It's also a great place to shop for a firm staple in Emirati cuisine, the date. From plain dates to ones stuffed with pistachios, orange peel, or covered with chocolate, there's a wide array to sample and buy. Neighboring Mina Zayed fish market is also worth a visit, where you can window shop and then eat local fish at one of the restaurants under the same roof. Delicious, fresh seafood cooked to perfection certainly comes a close second to a traditional Emirati homecooked meal.
The Sun
3 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
Many pilgrims decline Haj subsidy as awareness grows
KUALA LUMPUR: The number of Malaysian pilgrims opting out of Haj subsidies has risen over the past two years, reflecting increased awareness of financial readiness as a key requirement for the pilgrimage. Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Dr Mohd Na'im Mokhtar revealed the trend in Parliament today, noting a decline in subsidy uptake among B40 and M40 groups. 'Tabung Haji (TH) is making efforts to explain to Muslims the link between Haj and the condition of affordability. 'Beginning in 2022, the subsidies provided by TH to B40 and M40 pilgrims have been decreasing... this is an effort to educate Muslims on the obligation of Haj,' he said. A total of 396 pilgrims declined subsidies in 2023, followed by 263 in 2024. Mohd Na'im attributed this shift to a growing understanding that performing Haj should only be undertaken when financially capable. The trend has also benefited TH's financial health, with dividend payouts rising to 3.25 per cent last year. On Haj costs and quotas, Mohd Na'im confirmed no price increase for Muassasah pilgrims this year, with fees remaining at RM33,300 per person. Malaysia's official Haj quota, set at 31,600 annually by Saudi Arabia, has been fully utilised from 2020 to 2025. However, in 2022, pandemic restrictions reduced the quota to 14,306 pilgrims. - Bernama
