Tabung Haji to facilitate Raudah visits for 31,600 haj pilgrims

MADINAH: Tabung Haji (TH) has assured that all 31,600 pilgrims for the 1445H/2024 season will have the opportunity to visit Raudah (a spot in the Nabawi Mosque) during their six-day, five-night stay in Madinah.

Malaysian Vice Consul (Haj) and Madinah operations director Ashrof Shamsuddin said TH will book Raudah slots via the Nusuk application, arranging them according to flight groups and the pilgrims’ respective arrival dates.

“Insha-Allah, TH will submit an official request through the application for all 31,600 pilgrims to visit Raudah. However, approval depends on the Nabawi Mosque management.

“The Nabawi Mosque management will organise pilgrims’ access to Raudah according to visit schedules allocated to their accommodation zones,” he told a press conference at the TH Operations Office here on Monday (May 5).

He said TH’s Holy Land Haj guide will lead the pilgrims to the Raudah area and assist in presenting their entry permit to the Raudah entrance keeper, allowing them to perform acts of worship within the allocated period.

For elderly pilgrims, Ashrof said TH will evaluate their health status and identify their next of kin before arranging assistance for visiting Raudah.

“In the absence of next of kin for elderly pilgrims, our staff will facilitate their movement from accommodations to the Nabawi Mosque. For those unable to walk but medically fit to go to the mosque, TH will provide wheelchairs to facilitate their visit to Raudah,” he said.

According to TH’s records, 36% of this year’s 31,600 haj pilgrims are aged 60 and older, while the rest are below 60 years old.

The visit to Raudah is among the activities arranged for the ‘Ziarah Dalam’ programme organised by TH for all pilgrims during their six days and five nights in Madinah, in addition to the ‘Ziarah Luar’ tour to historic sites in the city.

Commenting on the importance of participating in ziarah (visit) activities while in Madinah, Ashrof said that Tabung Haji hopes the pilgrims will gain insights from the historical places they visit.

The ‘Ziarah Luar’ programme includes visits to significant sites such as the Quba Mosque, the first mosque built by Prophet Muhammad; the Qiblatain Mosque; the Seven Mosques; and Mount Uhud. – BK