The Kingdom’s Ministry of Haj is to be commended for instructing domestic Haj service companies to cancel their five-star services. The decision was taken after authorities realized that some of these companies were allocating a complete tent to a single pilgrim at the holy sites. Violating the spirit of the fifth pillar of Islam, these Haj companies were willing to offer domestic pilgrims extravagant services even if it meant charging them SR50,000. The available space at Arafat, Muzdalifah and Mina is limited; the space there cannot be enlarged or expanded. The government’s decision to fix quotas of pilgrims from Muslim countries — one pilgrim per 1,000 Muslims — is meant to give a chance to everyone to perform Haj, keeping in mind the limitations of space.
Even Tawafa organizations — which are responsible for the welfare of international pilgrims — are required to conserve space as much as possible. It is often the case that when tents are divided among service groups in Mina, the service group leader is asked to accommodate 10 people in one tent of the camp. All these things are done in order to accommodate as many people as possible.
It is both regrettable and unfortunate that to many domestic Haj companies the idea of providing services to the guests of God is not the core issue. For them, the business has become a simple matter of seasonal profits. And as such, it is dependent upon the pockets of rich and naive pilgrims who want to do everything as lavishly as possible — even if it is performing one of Islam’s most sacred rituals. Sadly, these businesses would never have flourished had it not been for pilgrims who enjoy being called VIPs and are treated accordingly.
To many of these pilgrims, performing Haj is no more than a picnic. Instead of focusing on glorifying God, reading the Qur’an and improving their knowledge and understanding of Islam, they worry about what the menu will be in the evening’s open buffet. Instead of thanking God for His blessings, they waste time gossiping, smoking sheesha, watching TV or even playing cards.
When it is time for them to throw stones at the Jamarat, they mumble and grumble about how it will all be so tiresome. They lament having to leave their lavish, well-appointed air-conditioned tents where servants await their requests.
These pilgrims have forgotten the true essence of Haj as well as its universal meaning. One of the reasons why Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) told Muslims to wear only white garments — silk is forbidden — sandals that are not laced and no perfume or jewelry is so that all mankind will be equal as they perform Haj. No person is better than any other in the eyes of God, except a person who is better than the other in righteousness. This is the message Islam brought to the world. Every Muslim has a dream. And that dream is to come to Makkah to perform Haj once in a lifetime. To be able to glorify God and answer His call is duty and not luxury.
