Let me admit to a limited knowledge of the devoted people who serve visitors to the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah. They are known as the guides. I was surprised when a friend told me that she was a guide and requested that I write about the demands of the women guides as elections to the board of directors for the guides’ organization is scheduled for Saturday.
From ancient times the people in both the holy cities have been competing eagerly to serve pilgrims to the Grand Mosque and visitors to the Prophet’s Mosque. Some Madinah families became the sole providers of services to visitors to the Prophet’s Mosque more than three centuries ago. However, the Haj Ministry recently took steps to guarantee the quality of services to the visitors. Its reforms included the setting up of a guides’ organization for these service providers. The move brought the services, which did require improvement, into an administrative framework. The shareholders elect members of the board of directors of the organization. The electors have a duty to make sure that only trustworthy, honest, impartial and loyal candidates are elected.
Three groups — Al-Basair, Al-Daleel and Al-Amal — are major candidates in this year’s election. The best men of Madinah families, who have been honored for a long time to serve, figure among the three. They all have the common objective of serving the pilgrims in the best manner.
Al-Amal, for instance, aims at quality service in a cost-effective manner without jeopardizing the interests of the traditional guides’ group. Al-Amal emphasizes sincere services while protecting the public interests as well as the interests of both male and female guides. Justice, equal treatment to all the guides and efficiency will be the hallmark of Al-Amal’s service. It will also work with a team spirit, cooperation and a sense of commitment while supporting and implementing the decisions of the majority. The group will seek for the following objectives:
— To raise the wages of field workers
— To attract efficient and experienced workers from the guides’ families
— To find job opportunities for dependents of the guides
— To recruit women workers
— To train the guides and their assistants in developing service skills
— To strive to get services of hospitals and other sectors at discounted rates
— To develop financial resources for the guides’ organization
— To establish a permanent headquarters for it
— To increase the share returns and
— To reduce expenditures.
The demands of the women guides include:
— Increasing the share value of each share as well as raising the lump sum paid to groups with only a few shares
— To reinstate the right of women heirs to inherit from their mothers who were guides. Women used to enjoy this right before the organization was established
— To employ women workers at airports, hospitals etc. to serve women pilgrims
— To elect women members to the board with a special division in it for them after canceling the legal authorization endorsed by the court along with other inconvenient formalities required of women.
There is no selfish motive behind my writing about the election to the board of directors. I am impelled to write by the hope of getting reward from God and by my love for my beloved home. I mention this because I was once accused of accepting promotional fees when I wrote about Dar Al-Hekma. I have no relatives among the candidates who are seeking election to the board of directors. May I also congratulate in advance the winners and pray for their success in carrying out their duties.
