MUSLIMS expressed disappointment yesterday at Saudi Arabia’s decision to scale back this year’s haj pilgrimage, but many accepted it was necessary as the kingdom battles a major coronavirus outbreak.

Around 1,000 people residing in Saudi Arabia will be allowed to perform Islam’s main pilgrimage this year, authorities said – compared to some 2.5 million from around the world last year.

The move had looked inevitable for some time and several countries had already pulled out, but the announcement added to disappointment of Muslims, many of whom invest huge sums and wait years to perform the rite.

“My hopes of going to (the holy Saudi city of Mecca) were so high,” said Kamariah Yahya, 68, from Indonesia, the world’s most populous Muslim nation, which had already barred its citizens from the haj earlier this month. 

“I’ve been preparing for years. But what can I do? This is Allah’s will – it’s destiny.”

Shahid Rafique, chairman of a Pakistani haj tour operators’ group, said it was “a moment of sorrow for all the Muslims, especially for those who were making plans for years and years”.

“Professionally, it is a big loss for us, for all the private haj organisers, and we may not be able to recover from this loss for many years,” he said.

But in Iran, where authorities are battling the Middle East’s deadliest Covid-19 outbreak, many backed the decision. 

Retired public transport worker Abdollah Pouyan pointed to an upswing in cases and deaths from the disease in the Islamic Republic in recent weeks, saying “this is all because of large gatherings”.

“When it gets really busy, when there are so many people there, can they really control the situation or maintain social distancing?” he asked.

“Overall, this is for the benefit of everyone.”

Worshippers at a mosque in Tunis also approved of a move by Tunisian authorities to postpone the haj in line with the Saudi decision. 

“God willing, it’ll be for next year… These are exceptional conditions and it’s also for their protection,” worshipper Mohamed-Amine said. 

In Bangladesh, the head of a haj travel agencies’ group said many people would be “shattered” by the decision, but accepted it was for the best.

“Unlike other countries, the majority of Bangladeshi pilgrims are elderly people, and they are vulnerable to Covid-19,” Shahadat Hossain Taslim said. – AFP, June 24, 2020.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.