How Hajj Is Managed In Britain

For Hajj 2013, special plans have been made as always for the convenience and safety of guests of God. These plans include the number of pilgrims that will be allowed to come for Hajj this year, the packages that will be offered to them, how their safety will be ensured, proper training and guidance of pilgrims, accommodation for pilgrims at Makkah and Madina, transport charges from Jeddah to Makkah and others like health facilities that will be provided to them. All these things require proper planning before the time. 

A number of travel agencies are present in UK from where you can get information about Hajj 2013. In the past there was not any association in Britain that would keep the rights of Muslim minority specially in London where most of the Muslim population is present. As a result no one was there to manage the matters related to Hajj and Umrah pilgrimage and all of us are aware of the problems that pilgrims can face regarding it. So, keeping this in mind the Association of British Hajj was made in 1998. The purpose of this association was to work for the social welfare of Muslims in London and to activate the higher authorities somehow and convince them to consider Muslim rights with reference to Hajj and Umrah. The other underlying purpose was to train and guide Muslims for Hajj and Umrah and to design packages for them. 

From 1998 up till now, many other societies have also been made to ensure the safety and rights of pilgrims in UK and the government has also taken steps for British Muslim rights. Previously the British Government has made an objection on the private companies working for the purpose. However, Hajj 2013 is free from any obligation by British government. Almost 23,000 British Muslims went to Saudi Arabia for performing Hajj and the number is even greater for Hajj 2013.

Although it is the ultimate wish of every Muslim to perform this 5th basic component of Islam and the Saudi government also takes care of their sacred desires, some problems should also be considered while making the decision, as for Hajj 2013 Saudi government has advised pilgrims to postpone their Hajj plans for the next 2 years, as construction is going on in the Haram and Mafat for expansion, that was the demand of increasing number of pilgrims each year. This expansion will benefit the pilgrims in the future. Apart from the advice of Saudi government still almost 2 million foreign pilgrims are expected for Hajj 2013. Therefore, avoiding any mismanagement, keeping the safety of pilgrims and controlling the whole pilgrimage along with the construction, is going to be a comparatively tough job this year.