The Ministry of MOHIA Announces Key Implemented and Planned Activities Related to Hajj 1447 AH and Hajj Costs at a Press Conference

Saturday, 12 Sha‘ban 1447 AH, corresponding to 11 Dalwa 1404 SH

Sheikh al-Hadith, Dr. Mawlawi Noor Mohammad Saqib, Minister of MOHIA, today announced a number of important implemented and planned activities related to the Hajj of the year 1447 AH as well as the Hajj expenses, during a press conference held at the Government Information and Media Center. The conference was attended by the Honorable Mawlawi Mohammad Hamed Haseeb, Deputy Minister for Professional Affairs, central directors of the Ministry, and respected representatives of the media.

The Honorable Minister, in the light of the verses of the Holy Qur’an and the noble Prophetic Hadiths (peace and blessings be upon him), delivered a scholarly speech regarding the construction of the Sacred Kaaba by Prophet Ibrahim and Prophet Ismail (peace be upon them), the proclamation of Hajj by Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him), and the significance of this important fifth pillar of Islam.

 He added:

With the grace and help of Almighty Allah, and through cooperation with relevant Emirate institutions, the Ministry of MOHIA has been able to take continuous, beneficial, and necessary measures to ensure the effective implementation of the Hajj process. The most important of these are as follows:

1. A quota of thirty thousand (30,000) pilgrims has been obtained for Afghan pilgrims from the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and as a result of serious efforts, assurances have also been given regarding an increase in this quota in the future.
2. The majority of this quota has been distributed transparently and fairly across the country among previously registered and eligible Hajj applicants.
3. Following the victory of the Islamic Emirate, a total of eighty-seven thousand one hundred and four (87,104) previous Hajj applicants remained nationwide, some of whom, in certain provinces, had waiting turns dating back to the year 1412 SH. Through accurate, transparent, and fair distribution of the Hajj quota, the Ministry of MOHIA was able to send nearly all of these waiting pilgrims to Hajj within five years.
4. In addition to general pilgrims, separate Hajj quotas have independently been allocated for Mujahideen, Emirate institutions, heirs of martyrs, persons with disabilities, as well as migrants residing in Iran, Pakistan, and other countries.
5. In order to guide pilgrims and provide them with proper training in Hajj rituals, the Ministry dispatches qualified delegations to the center and to all thirty-four (34) provinces to conduct examinations for instructors from among respected provincial scholars. Those scholars who pass these examinations will be appointed as instructors accompanying pilgrims to the Two Holy Mosques.
6. The Ministry plans to hold training seminars for members of the Hajj mission and all instructors with the aim of better organization and management of pilgrims’ affairs and effective instruction of Hajj rituals. In these seminars, all necessary Shariah, administrative, and technical topics required to provide better services and essential facilities to pilgrims will be taught by prominent scholars and professional experts of the country. Participation in these seminars is mandatory for mission members and instructors.
7. To ensure the orderly transportation of pilgrims to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and their return, contracts have been signed with the state-owned Ariana Afghan Airlines and the private airline Kam Air. According to these contracts, pilgrims will be transported from four aviation zones of the country (Kabul, Balkh, Herat, and Kandahar) to the airports of Madinah Munawwarah and Jeddah, and after completing the Hajj rituals, they will be returned to the same zones.
8. The Hajj guidebook for Afghan pilgrims, prepared in accordance with Islamic Shariah and the Hanafi school of jurisprudence, which is simple, concise, well-documented, verified, and comprehensive, and includes important Hajj terminology and an introduction to sacred sites, is being reprinted in Pashto and Dari and will be distributed to respected pilgrims.
9. In Makkah al-Mukarramah, fully equipped and modern accommodation buildings have been contracted for all thirty thousand (30,000) pilgrims in the “Mahbas al-Jinn” area, near the Sacred Mosque.
10. This area is of particular importance due to its proximity to the Sacred Mosque, availability of 24-hour public transportation, and ease of access, enabling pilgrims to easily reach the Haram for the five daily prayers and Tawaf. Likewise, in Madinah al-Munawwarah, all pilgrims’ accommodations have been contracted in the central area adjacent to the Prophet’s Mosque, so that pilgrims may perform their prayers and acts of worship there with complete ease.
11. Considering that Hajj has become obligatory for a large number of our compatriots who have been waiting for many years to perform it, those individuals who have previously performed the obligatory Hajj are requested, in observance of the rights of first-time obligatory pilgrims, not to apply again. As in the previous year, there will be no provision for them to perform voluntary Hajj during this year’s Hajj process.

The Honorable Minister also presented the following recommendations and guidelines for this year’s pilgrims:

1. Pilgrims are required to receive all necessary vaccinations specified by the Ministries of Public Health of Afghanistan and Saudi Arabia in a timely manner and to carry the relevant health documents with them during travel.
2. Pilgrims must fully observe the sanctity and holiness of Makkah al-Mukarramah, Madinah al-Munawwarah, and the sacred sites (Mina, Arafat, and Muzdalifah), strictly avoid causing congestion, disputes, disorder, and any improper behavior, and demonstrate patience, tolerance, and good conduct, thereby presenting a достой representation of their country.
3. Pilgrims must observe the laws, regulations, and guidelines of the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia related to Hajj and pilgrims’ affairs.
4. Pilgrims should properly learn the Hajj rituals from their instructors and cooperate fully with instructors and members of the Hajj mission in all relevant matters to maintain better order and discipline.

Based on transparent contracts concluded inside the country and in Saudi Arabia, after thorough review and prevention of unnecessary expenses, the cost of Hajj for the current year has been set at two hundred sixty-six thousand four hundred (266,400) Afghanis per pilgrim. The total overall cost of the Hajj process amounts to seven billion eight hundred eighteen million three hundred seven thousand two hundred (7,818,307,200) Afghanis.

Note: Based on careful assessment and calculation of Hajj expenses, it was determined that there was an excess of more than sixteen (16) Afghanis per pilgrim above the stated amount. However, through the efforts of the Ministry and the compassion of the Islamic Emirate, this additional amount has been waived for the convenience of the pilgrims and will not be charged. This year’s per-pilgrim cost is fifteen thousand six hundred ninety (15,690) Afghanis less than last year. It is also worth noting that the Hajj cost per pilgrim last year was 282,090 Afghanis, whereas this year it has been set at 266,400 Afghanis, reflecting a reduction of 15,690 Afghanis compared to the previous year.

All pilgrims whose turn has arrived for Hajj 1447 AH (corresponding to 1405 SH) and who have paid the first installment of the Hajj cost are requested to submit their second and final installment. Likewise, newly registered pilgrims and pilgrims under the quotas of Emirate institutions who have not yet paid any amount are required to pay the full Hajj cost in a single payment.

Pilgrims may, starting from next Monday, 14 Sha‘ban 1447 AH (corresponding to 13 Dalwa 1404 SH), obtain the payment slip from the General Directorate of Hajj, Umrah, and Ziyarat located at the Hajj Complex in the center, and from the provincial Directorates of MOHIA in the provinces, and deposit the specified amount into the designated bank