Latest news with #HajandUmrah
The Sun
7 days ago
- General
- The Sun
TH ensures visually impaired pilgrims won't be left
MAKKAH: The Pilgrims Fund Board or Tabung Haji (TH) has pledged that the needs of visually impaired pilgrims will be fully supported during this year's haj, with special attention given to enabling their participation in the key rite of wukuf in Arafah. Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Dr Mohd Na'im Mokhtar said 11 pilgrims with visual impairments are currently in the Holy Land for the annual pilgrimage and will be accompanied by trained support personnel to ensure they can complete the pilgrimage. 'TH staff, including sahabat maktab (pilgrim companions), are fully prepared to prioritise the needs of disabled pilgrims. This is about ensuring they too can achieve haji mabrur (a fulfilling and accepted haj),' he told reporters after a meet-and-greet event with Malaysian pilgrims here today. In a step towards greater inclusion, the minister also launched a Braille version of the Haj and Umrah guidebook, a collaboration between TH, the Ibn Ummi Maktum Research Centre (UMMI) of Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM) and the Malaysian Islamic Association for the Visually Impaired (PERTIS). 'I congratulate TH on this meaningful effort, as this guidebook will benefit our visually impaired pilgrims and may inspire others still waiting for their chance to perform the haj,' he said. He added that any additional support required by disabled pilgrims would be provided promptly to ensure smooth access to services throughout the pilgrimage. As preparations intensify ahead of wukuf, considered the pinnacle of the haj, set to take place this Thursday (June 5), the minister urged all pilgrims to prioritise their health. 'Haj cannot be completed without wukuf in Arafah. We want no one to miss it due to illness in the final 24 hours,' he warned. Among this year's visually impaired pilgrims is Nai'mah Mansor, 64, a retired schoolteacher from Kuala Terengganu who lost her sight completely just two years ago. Diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa in her youth and later glaucoma at 55, she became fully blind in 2023. Yet, she has since mastered Quranic Braille. 'I never missed a single day of practice, even if just for an hour. Maybe that's why I picked it up quickly. Now I'm able to teach it to others too,' she said.
New Straits Times
7 days ago
- New Straits Times
Saudi authorities tighten checks to curb illegal pilgrims in Makkah
MAKKAH: Getting stuck for between half an hour and over an hour at the checkpoint each time we try to enter the Holy Land has become a daily routine during our stay in the Sacred City. This is because every passenger, whether travelling by car or bus, is thoroughly inspected one by one by Haj and Umrah policemen. Media personnel from several countries who are here on the invitation of the Saudi Arabian Media Ministry are not exempt. "Tasreeh… tasreeh, bisur'ah… kullukum (Permit… permit, quickly… all of you)," is among the phrases frequently heard each time a police officer steps onto our bus, asking everyone to be ready with their permit for inspection. Imagine—even media personnel, accompanied by an officer from the Media Ministry, are not given easy passage into the Holy Land, let alone ordinary people travelling alone. Usually, two policemen board our bus carrying around 20 media representatives before asking each person to show their visa for inspection. Based on observation, the officers on duty record the visa number and cross-check the data with the holder's passport, while also referencing the Haj and Umrah Ministry's headquarters database directly on site. During inspections, several vehicles have been seen directed to the roadside for further checks if any data discrepancies arise. The Saudi Arabian Haj and Umrah Ministry is taking the issue of 'illegal' pilgrims seriously to ensure an orderly and safe pilgrimage. The Saudi government has reportedly taken strict action against pilgrims found in Makkah without a haj visa, with offenders facing fines ranging from RM22,000 to RM113,000. They may also be deported and blacklisted from entering Saudi Arabia for 10 years. These firm measures also address health risks that could arise if pilgrims perform haj without proper arrangements, especially during the peak days of rituals—including standing at Arafah, staying overnight at Muzdalifah, and the stoning ritual at Mina—when temperatures can reach 40 to 45 degrees Celsius. Previously, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Dr Mohd Na'im Mokhtar advised Malaysian citizens without official authorisation from Saudi authorities not to risk performing the pilgrimage. In addition to legal consequences, he highlighted serious health concerns for those undertaking haj through unofficial means.
