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SINGAPORE: This year’s Haj plans for 900 local Muslim pilgrims will be postponed until 2021 in light of the current COVID-19 pandemic, the Singapore Islamic Religious Council (MUIS) said on Friday (May 15).
Pilgrims who have registered to perform their Haj this year will automatically be rescheduled to make the pilgrimage next year, MUIS added in a press release.
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MUIS said it was “only prudent” for the Haj to be postponed, a decision endorsed by its Fatwa Committee, which issues guidelines for navigating modern society in accordance with Islamic principles.
“The Fatwa Committee has met to discuss the matter and supports the decision to postpone Haj for Singapore pilgrims the following year for health and safety reasons.
“The Committee is of the opinion that, in the current context, not all preconditions for safe Haj are met, and therefore recommend that the Singapore delegation defer their Haj plans to avoid possible harm,” MUIS said.
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MUIS said it also consulted the Working Group of the Association of Muslim Travel Agents (AMTAS), which “fully supports” its decision.
The council said Saudi Arabia issued a notice in March calling on Haj agencies worldwide to stop taking new reservations for the pilgrimage. Saudia Airlines also announced the suspension of all international flights.
However, Saudi Arabia has yet to make an official announcement on the status of the Haj 2020 pilgrimage.
“We are fully confident in the management of the pandemic by Saudi Arabia and that appropriate measures will be taken should Haj proceed. However, Singapore has its own considerations to safeguard the health and well-being of Singapore pilgrims,” MUIS said.
The council noted that more than 80 percent of Singaporeans who are scheduled to perform Haj this year are over the age of 50, a group the MS recommended that they face an increased risk of complications and mortality if they contract COVID-19.
“In addition, the younger pilgrims who are working have expressed challenges in obtaining permission to perform Haj and concerns about their job security, given the difficult economic situation,” MUIS said.
“In recent years, pilgrims would have paid for and secured their travel and accommodation arrangements before the month of Ramadan. However, with the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic, it has become increasingly difficult to adequately prepare logistics requirements and administrative for the pilgrimage, “added MUIS.
MUIS also said it was unable to assemble a team of doctors and nurses for this year’s Haj delegation, as Singapore’s healthcare resources are fully committed to managing COVID-19 and other urgent hospital requirements.
“While we want to help our Muslim community fulfill their pilgrimage, we also have a responsibility to protect pilgrims and their families, as well as the wider Singapore community, from the risk of infection,” the council said.
“MUIS hopes that this early decision will help alleviate the anxieties of pilgrims and their families.”
MUIS said it will send letters to affected pilgrims with information about the Haj postponement and what steps they should take next. Those with questions can consult their respective travel agencies or call the MUIS hotline at 6350 5369.
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