Stay in the Mashaer Area during the Haj Days

1.                 On the 7^th, 8^th of Zil-Hij, while leaving for Mina, Arafat, please take two pairs of woollen clothes and one woollen brocade (Chadar) or light blanket with you because these days nights are very cold; specially since you  will have to spend the night in the open at Muzdalifa.

2. In Mina the Pilgrims are lodged in tents according to their Maktabs. They are transported from Makkah to Mina by buses arranged by the Maktabs. The space per pilgrim in the tents in Mina is only 1 sq m.  So please do not complain about shortage of space in your camps. However, make sure that no unauthorized persons occupy your camp.

3. All the Moallims looking after pilgrims from India belong to South Asian Moassasa which is the largest Moassassa (Establishment) and is also called as Moassasa Janoob Aasia in Arabic.  The colour of the South Asian Mossassa is yellow. In Mina and Arafat the sign boards of Maktabs in Mina will be yellow.  Location of camps in Arafat will be marked by tall yellow pillars that are visible from a distance. The pilgrims must always carry identification cards and, if lost, ask the way for "Moassassa Junoob Asia" or Indian Haj Office or "Baith Al Haj Al Hindiya". They must always remember the number of Moallim's Maktab.

4.  The Indian Consulate sets up an office at Mina along with a full fledged dispensary. The Indian camp is situated on the two main roads called the Souq-al-Arab and the Share-Johara and is easily identified by the large number of Indian flags.  

5. The Indian Haj Mission officials are spread around the whole of Mina area and can easily be identified by the blue jacket and INDIA/AL HIND markings. Some of the officials may be themselves performing Haj but they would be identified by the scarves bearing INDIA and AL HIND markings worn by them.  Some would also be carrying Indian flags with them.

6. Please do not hesitate to contact these officials if you face any kind of difficulty in Mina.  We have also made arrangements through the good offices of the South Asian Moassasa to locate a small contingent of doctors and paramedics in the tents provided by each of the Maktabs. These medical personnel would be available to provide immediate medical relief to you.  A similar administrative contingent would also be available in each of the camps to provide all possible assistance to you. 

7. In Mina you would be responsible to arrange your own food. There would be ample eateries and fast-food restaurants in Mina during the Haj days and there should not be any difficulty in arranging food or refreshments. You may also like to carry some dry ration with you from Makkah i.e. Biscuits, cookies, fruits , juices etc.

8.  There are two levels from which pilgrims can perform Rami (stoning) at the Jamarat.  You should only go to the Jamarat at times allocated for your camp by the Saudi authorities. Indian Haj officials/ of the Officials of the Moallims and the South Asian Moassasa  will come and escort you to the Jamarat at these timings along with officials of the Maktab. In this manner stoning can be done with ease. You should never get stuck in a crowd that is not moving or that is observably stationary. You should choose the ground or the top level for stoning as per the assessment of the crowd. Old and infirm pilgrims, children and women, who are not able to withstand the strain, can depute someone else to stone on their behalf. If it is found that the Jamarat site is overcrowded or the movement there is very slow, it is better to turn back immediately and return to the camp.  You can go back for the ritual at a better time.

9. One must also be very alert to the fact that some pilgrims of certain nationalities come in bunches and batches and push their way through. You should not get into their way or try to stop them as one could get harmed in the process.   It will be more sensible to avoid their path and wait till they get out. Do not try to go against the direction of the crowd. Move with the crowd. Do not lose temper and do not fight with others. It is advisable to move in groups from the camps with the assistance of the Khuddam-ul-Hujaj or other officials.  PLEASE DONT ATTEMPT TO CARRY ANY HEAVY BAGS WITH YOU WHILE PERFORMING RAMI AT THE JAMARAT AS IT COULD PROVE TO BE FATAL.

10. From this year the Saudi Ministry of Haj has instructed to all the Moallims to provide the Mina Camps to the pilgrims for 13^th Zul HIjj also. The Ministry is also making a plan to distribute the departure of the Pilgrims from Mina to Makkah over 12^th and 13^th of Zul Hijj. The idea is well intentioned and would go a long way in reducing the congestion on the peak hour on 12^th Zul Hijja. As per the present practice all the pilgrims leave Mina on 12^th Zul Hijja. It creates a lot of rush as every pilgrims would carry his baggage with him so that he can leave for Makkah immediately after performing the Rami Jamarat ritual of that day.

So if this is done it would help immensely as the departure of the pilgrims would be cut into two halves i.e. half on 12^th ZH and another half on 13^th ZH. The suggestion would go a long way in avoiding casualties during Rami jamarat ritual.

Staying an additional night in Mina also conforms to the Sunnah (Prophet Muhammed PBUH stayed up till 13^th ZH in Mina when he performed Haj).

11.   We want all of you to perform your rituals safely without putting your lives in danger.  Please remember that no ritual is important than a human life.  Learned Ulemas of several schools of Islamic jurisprudence have given clear opinions on the subject.  Most Ulemas agree that it is necessary to dissuade pilgrims from exposing themselves to danger and have, thus, declared that Rami could lawfully be done at any time during the days of Tashreek.

12. Islam does not enjoin to suffer bodily harm or risking life. There are always options available and hence there is no need to hurry and in the process get harmed.  It is stated in the Holy Quran that Allah (s.w.t.)“...has placed no difficulties on you in matters concerning religion" (Al-Hajj 22:78).  In another verse it is stated: “Allah desires for you ease; He does not desire hardship for you” (Al-Baqarah 2:185).  Thus, we sincerely advise all of you to avail of the concessions given in Islam and not to expose your lives to danger.

13. ARAFAT is the crux of the Haj.  So please spend your entire time in prayers and zikr during the Wukoof in Arafat.  In Arafat, you should pray at your own camps. If you intend to go to Jabl-e-Rahma or Masjid-e-Nimra, you should study your camp locations and directions carefully before leaving the camp. Otherwise, there is a distinct possibility that you may get lost.  In case of any difficulty, you may contact the Indian Haj Office at Arafat for assistance.

14. Remember you are to leave Arafat only after the Magrib Azaan but have to say Magrib prayers combined with Isha only on reaching Muzdalifa, however long it takes.