The Spiritual Assembly of Muslims of Russia (SAMR) is sympathetic to the decision of the Saudi authorities to cancel the Hajj this year due to the coronavirus pandemic, for this reason, all paid tours by Hajj operators will be returned or postponed to next year, the head of the SAMR, mufti of Moscow Albir Krganov told RIA Novosti.
Earlier, the Saudi authorities canceled the Hajj for pilgrims from abroad because of the coronavirus: this year, only pilgrims who are already in the Kingdom are allowed to perform it. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 epidemic, the Kingdom's authorities have also banned Umrah-a small pilgrimage to Holy places, which, unlike the Hajj, is possible at any time of the year.
"It was expected that there would be a forced temporary measure to cancel the Hajj in 2020... The health of a person and the preservation of life is a mandatory factor, and in this regard, this decision is, of course, in all respects correct, and we - on behalf of the Spiritual Assembly of Muslims of Russia - fully support it, and we have sent our opinion on this matter to the Embassy of Saudi Arabia," Krganov said.
According to him, a similar opinion was expressed a few months ago, when the pandemic began around the world, and Muslim religious figures from other countries, and it corresponds to the Holy books of Muslims.
"We are conducting explanatory work among our believers, and tour operators of centralized religious organizations and muftiats were also ready for this, waiting for this decision. And they are ready to return those citizens who intended to go to the Hajj, back their funds or transfer them to the next year. In other words, the funds that were paid in advance will be returned to their owners, our Muslim citizens," Krganov assured.
The Hajj is an annual pilgrimage to the Holy places of Islam in Mecca and Medina (Saudi Arabia). Islam prescribes Muslims to perform the Hajj at least once in their lives. Saudi Arabia ranks first among Arab countries in the number of cases of the coronavirus with more than 161 thousand infected.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Alexander Shcherbak / TASS