Islamic scholar faults mode of hotel room allocation in Makkah

An Islamic scholar, Sheikh Muhammad Nuru Khalid, has called for improvement in the mode of hotel room allocation to Nigerian pilgrims in Makkah, Saudi Arabia by the officials of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON.

Khalid, a former Chief Imam of the Apo Legislative Quarters Mosque, in Abuja, Nigeria canvassed that hotel rooms allocation be planned ahead of the arrival of pilgrims and that pilgrims’ flight manifest should be used to make such allocations.

The Islamic scholar who spoke with some journalists covering this year’s holy pilgrimage in Madinah argued that accommodation and its allocation is one issue that must be accorded priority and allocated unhindered.

“The allocation of the rooms, the pilgrims were supposed not to wait for more than 10 minutes to know their rooms. I think this thing can be done before the arrival of the pilgrims since there is a manifest of the flight.

“I think more work should be done to improve on this,” he advised.

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The scholar enjoined the pilgrims to be careful in the way they spend money in the holy land given the little amount allotted to them as a Basic Travelling Allowance BTA this year.

He reminded pilgrims that the main Hajj activity is in Makkah, especially at the Masha’ir (holy sites).

According to him, it is going to be hell if the pilgrims do not have enough money while in Makkah.

“The main activity is in Makkah and the Masha’ir. Let them conduct themselves not to spend much (in Madinah), because in Makkah if you don’t have money, it is going to be hell,” Sheikh Khalid warned.

He appealed to the Federal Government to look into the issue of pilgrims’ BTA before next year’s Hajj in view of the economic situation.

The scholar commended the Hajj Commission over the improved welfare of Nigerian pilgrims to this year’s Hajj in Saudi Arabia,

Sheikh Khalid, popularly called Digital Imam, said there was much positive difference in the welfare of the Nigerian pilgrims compared to the previous years.

Specifically, he said NAHCON did well in securing hotel accommodation for the pilgrims at a walkable distance to Prophet Muhammad’s mosque in the holy city, adding that the reception accorded them on arrival at the Mohammed Bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Madinah was well organised.

“There is a difference and Alhamdulillah the difference is mostly positive because the organisation is improving.

“Accommodation is one of the basic things you need to improve if you want the welfare of the pilgrims to be improved.

“As you can see this hotel is a very good hotel, within walkable distance to the Haram (the Prophet’s mosque), especially from the outside you can see the minarets of the Haram. That means we are close to the Haram.

“On our arrival, officials of the Hajj commission received us in a very organised manner, gave us transportation in a very organised manner and they received us here.”

He, however, pointed out that despite the well-organised manner, there was still room for improvement, saying that, “whatever man does, there must be some shortcomings and it could be improved.”

Sheikh Khalid, therefore, suggested that NAHCON officials should plan on allocating rooms at the various hotels housing Nigerian pilgrims well ahead of their arrival, advising that the pilgrims’ flight manifest should be used to make such arrangements.

“The allocation of the rooms, the pilgrims were supposed not to wait for more than 10 minutes to know their rooms. I think this thing can be done before the arrival of the pilgrims since there is a manifest of the flight.

“I think more work should be done to improve on this,” he advised.