War fear fails to dampen enthusiasm for Haj

For some Muslims, absolving sins by performing Haj pilgrimage to the holy Mecca is more important than staying together with their families in the backdrop of a fierce war.

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This holds true for 312 Muslims from various places of Punjab, who have planned a pilgrimage to the Kabba in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, this year, as all of them have got meningococcal vaccine and immunization against other crucial diseases.

Former president, Ahmedgarh Municipal Council, Suraaj Mohammad, claimed that members of his families had performed Haj pilgrimage during times harder than the ongoing fear of war between India and Pakistan. “Those who have planned Haj this year have not shown any ambiguity about the continuance of the pilgrimage on May 23, whatever may be circumstances in the region or at their home by then,” Mohammad said and maintained that Islam taught that human beings couldn’t change or evade their destiny by changing locations.

Chairman, Haj Committee, Punjab, Maulana Mufti Mohammad Khalid Qasmi, said all applicants for the Haj pilgrimage were enthusiastic about completing modalities for starting their journey on May 23 and abrupt change of circumstances at the border had not made any of the applicants give a second thought to their plans.

Malerkotla MLA Mohammad Jamil-ur-Rahman appreciated that all applicants were determined to accomplish their religious mission to perform Haj at least once during their lifetime. “Though we were apprehensive about making supplementary arrangements for undertaking vaccination for those who fail to attend the main camp held under the supervision of Senior Medical Officer Sukhwinder Singh, all the 312 aspirants had reached the venue before start of the event,” said Rahman.

He further said the applicants had argued that performing Haj during stressful circumstances would benefit citizens of both countries as they would pray for peace and harmony at global level during the five days they spend at the Mecca.