MAKKAH, 22 December 2006 — There are two blind pilgrims among 157,000 Indians performing the forthcoming Haj.

Hattam Ali, a 60-year-old from Faridabad in India’s Haryana state, is fully blind and cannot complete the Haj rituals without assistance.

Abdul Razak Bhatt, a 44-year-old from Kashmir, is the other visually impaired Indian who made the trip to the holy city this year, according to Dr. Nadeem Siddiqui of the Indian medical mission in Makkah.

Bhatt, who is accompanied by his relatives, is partially blind in one eye. “He doesn’t need a guide as Hatam Ali does,” said Siddiqui.

“Ali will be provided a full-time guide by the Indian Consulate General beginning from when Hajis move to Mina.”

Ali has been blind from birth. He said that his four brothers — two elder and two younger — helped him to come for Haj.

“They asked me to perform Haj and bore all my expenses,” said Ali between prayers thanking his relatives for their generosity.

“I have one sister, who is younger than me. Her husband is not well off financially, but my brothers have promised to send them for Haj next year,” Ali said.

Despite his handicap, Ali says that his submission has provided him a lighted path; Ali said he memorized the Qur’an when he was 15 years old.

“There can be no darkness with such light and guidance,” he said.

When asked if he was married or and how many children he had, the 60-year-old gave an animated response. “Who would marry me?” he said, gesturing to his hometown comrades in the Makkah apartment where they are staying. “These kind people take care of me.”

Ali says he spends a lot of time back home teaching his younger relatives the Qur’an. “When I return, I will start teaching other children as well — from the neighborhood,” he said.

Asked if he had any advice or message for others, he said: “I have only ‘duas’ (prayers) and good wishes for the people. For advice: one must seek it in the Qur’an and the Sunnah.”

Like many pilgrims, Ali said he plans to take home the usual: dates, rosaries and prayer mats.

“I’ll pick up the Zam Zam water at Delhi airport on my way back,” he said. “A nice arrangement, which has been introduced by the consulate people for the first time,” he added.