Though the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah is yet to make any pronouncement on 2021 hajj, nor penned down MoU with the hajj participating countries, the body language of the kingdom’s officials is indicating that hajj will take place this year. God willing.
This can be seen from the statement made by Saudi Minister of Health on Monday. The health minister, Tawfiq Al-Rabiah, said on March 1 that, COVID-19 vaccination will be a major requirement for performing this year’s hajj.
Mr Al-Rabiah had ordered the formation of a COVID-19 vaccination committee for hajj pilgrims, stressing that only those vaccinated against the virus will be allowed to participate in the 2021 hajj.
This is the most authoritative public statement made so far regarding 2021 hajj by any top official in the kingdom.
The minister had also called for early preparation to secure the manpower required to operate health facilities in Makkah, Madinah and the ports of entry for pilgrims for this year’s hajj.
However, Mr Al-Rabiah did not specify the number of pilgrims that the kingdom will receive this year, nor did he indicate whether the number will be limited as it was in 2020.
Will the hajj quota status quo remain? Will it be reduced to 50, 30 or even 20 percent of each country’s allocation? No one can say.
The waiting game continues
It is worthy of note that the health ministry had on Sunday emphasized that “there are no recommendations either for medical isolation after receiving a coronavirus vaccine or for a laboratory test before receiving vaccine shots.”
The intent and purpose of this statement may be linked to plans to allow pilgrims who had been vaccinated to perform the umrah or hajj without having to observe the three day quarantine currently being observed by lesser hajj pilgrims.
Another possible reason is to allow a blanket vaccination of all hajj pilgrims irrespective of whether they are positive or negative after undergoing COVID- 19 test on arrival into the kingdom.
Recently, the kingdom hajj and umrah minister, Mohammed Saleh Benten, said “there are concerted efforts of government and private agencies in Saudi Arabia to cope well with the pandemic,” adding that his ministry has “mobilized all its energies and capabilities to serve Islam, Muslims and all those who want to come to the kingdom.”
Mr Benten further said: “We were able to expect not to see the random crowding that used to happen in previous years in the holy sites. This year, there will be specific standards set for services to pilgrims in Makkah and Madinah, whether they are performing umrah or hajj rituals.”
The minister was speaking during a seminar on the successful efforts by the kingdom to manage the Grand Mosque in Makkah and the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah throughout the pandemic. The session was part of the 20th Scientific Forum for Hajj, Umrah, and Visit Research.
Another ‘green light’ is the establishment of an emergency first aid service center, named “Haram Emergency Center 1” inside the Grand Mosque in Makkah, to provide emergency health services to all visitors and pilgrims. The center is equipped with modern medical equipment to deal with all cases and to ensure the safety and health of pilgrims.
The emergency health services mentioned here implies possible large numbers of pilgrims being expected during hajj.
Prior to 2020 hajj, the kingdom had suspended both hajj and umrah local and international pilgrims and even closed the two Holy Mosques for local worshippers.
Hajj 2020 was extraordinary, participants were limited to Saudi Arabia alone and the number of pilgrims was limited to around 10,000, compared to around 700,000 locals pilgrims that performed hajj in 2019.
Fast forward to pre – Hajj 2021, the temporary suspension of both local and international umrah pilgrims has been lifted and the two Holy Mosques are now receiving pilgrims.2021 Hajj is indeed loading.
Will Nigeria participate in 2012 hajj?
First, the good news is that more than 300 Nigerians have so far performed umrah despite the application of COVID- 19 protocols by the kingdom. By allowing Nigerian Umrah pilgrims to enter the kingdom shows that Nigerians will be allowed to participate in 2021 hajj.
The entry and exit of Nigerian umrah pilgrims without any recorded cases of COVID-19 within the hajj rites sites is a good development for Nigeria.
This is important if you recall what the Pakistani minister for religious affairs, Noor-UL-Haq Qadri, said. He said he was aware that Saudi government is closely monitoring the coronavirus situation and collecting data from all countries.
For that reason, if Saudi Arabia decides to use COVID- 19 as a yardstick for participation in hajj 2021, the arithmetic will be in favour of Nigeria.
Currently, Nigeria’s infection rate is lower compared to other top five hajj participating countries.
Pakistan, with an estimated population of 225,199,937 people, has 583,000 cases with 547,000 recoveries, and 12, 938 deaths, while Bangladesh, with 66 million people, has 547, 000 recorded cases, with 489,000 recoveries and and 8, 423 deaths.
Iran with 84 million population, on the other hand, recorded 1.64 million cases, with 1.4 million recoveries, and 60,181 deaths; while Egypt, with a 104 million population, recorded 184, 000 cases, with 142,000 recoveries and 10, 778 deaths.
Indonesia with a population of 273,523,615 people, has 1.34 million cases with 1.15 million recoveries and 36, 235 deaths.
However, Nigeria with an estimated population of 206 million, only recorded 156,000 cases, with 134,000 recoveries and 1, 915 deaths.
Going by this data, Nigeria has the least infection and death rates among the top hajj countries.
Also, over 75 percent of Nigerian intending pilgrims come from rural areas, while COVID-19 infection data are derived from urban populations. Thus, 60 – 70 percent of that 75 percent has little or no contact with the inner cities. Areas where the largest number of registered pilgrims come from have the lowest infection rates in Nigeria. States like Jigawa, Gombe, Kebbi, Sokoto, Kano, Kwara, Borno, Bauchi, Nasarawa, Yobe, Zamfara and Katsina fall under this category.
The recent posting and resumption of the new Saudi ambassador to Nigeria, Faisal El Ibraheem Al Ghamdi is another positive pointer that the kingdom is making preparations to welcome Nigerian pilgrims in 2021 for Hajj.
His predecessor, the late Ambassador Adnan Bostaji died on February 4, 2020; and ever since the kingdom did not appoint a replacement till this year.
The above analysis has established that hajj 2021 would take place and international pilgrims will be allowed to participate. Two, hajj 2021 will be conducted under new protocols.
The onus now lies on relevant hajj stakeholders to strategically plan and wait for formal announcement by the Saudi hajj ministry, and also prepare for a worst case scenario.
Muhammed is the national coordinator Independent Hajj Reporters
