Haj Minister Bandar Hajjar said Tuesday that the Kingdom does not interfere in the selection and identification of pilgrims coming to the country to perform the Haj rituals.

Addressing a seminar in Makkah, the minister confirmed that the selection of pilgrims is up to individual states. “The Saudi government only arrived at an agreement with countries on the number of pilgrims after reducing the quota of overseas pilgrims by 20 percent,” he said.

Hajjar said reducing the number of pilgrims is a temporary step and an exceptional decision due to the expansion projects. He said that such a decision was necessary to maintain the safety of pilgrims.

Hajjar noted that the electronic Tafweej program for the final exit of pilgrims is designed to eliminate crowding and congestion at airports.

Under the program, no bus will be allowed to leave Madinah or Makkah without confirming that passengers on the bus have confirmed return tickets to their home countries.

He stressed the need to invest in such seminars with a view to discussing the concerns and the aspirations of Muslims, as well as to educate them on the religious rituals.

Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Aziz Al-Asheikh declared that Muslims who delay the pilgrimage for years in order to make it easier for other pilgrims are rewarded, referring to statements made by senior Islamic scholars about achieving a balance between charitable deeds and spiritual rituals.

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