Hajj imbroglio: Where the problem lies
Some Nigerian Muslims, including clerics, were even quoted as challenging the Saudi authorities to tell us our offence since, according to them, the issue of Muharram (an approved male relative companion on a trip) was not tenable. If this was not from a cleric, I wouldn’t mind! I equally don’t agree with insinuations that Nigerian […]
Some Nigerian Muslims, including clerics, were even quoted as challenging the Saudi authorities to tell us our offence since, according to them, the issue of Muharram (an approved male relative companion on a trip) was not tenable. If this was not from a cleric, I wouldn’t mind!
I equally don’t agree with insinuations that Nigerian female pilgrims were into crimes or that the Saudi authorities don’t like Nigerians. Nigeria, like any other country participating in the Hajj exercise, could not be free from her fair share of bad eggs, but the truth is such would not be limited to Nigeria alone. Those alleging that the Federal Government caused the problem also missed the point completely. As a matter of fact, I have not seen a serious, frank and tough diplomatic talk in Nigeria in recent days like in the case of yellow fever vaccination card with South Africa and the current Hajj imbroglio with Saudi Arabia. As soon as the problem emerged, the Vice President, in the absence of Mr. President, summoned the Saudi Arabian Ambassador to Nigeria. The wordings of the FG were so tough and strong with even a threat of an ultimatum!
From far away United States, the President directed for the constitution of a high level delegation to discuss the way out of the imbroglio with the Saudi Arabian government. The National Assembly leadership, the Senate and House Committees on Foreign Affairs were all on their toes in search of solution to the problem. That to me was commendable.
While I sympathise with the female pilgrims concerned, I also noted that there were some cases where the female pilgrims had met the condition of having a Muharram but were turned down because their names, as they appear on the passport, did not tally! That was quite unfair. In Islam, and I am sure the Saudi authorities are aware of that, married women are not compelled to bear the names/surnames of their spouses. Nana Fatima bint Rasuulullah was a good example.
It is also a fact that we (Nigerians) have invented ingenious ways of violating the same Muharram policy in the past especially during Umrah. The Muharram policy is a strong sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad SAW and its conditions were clearly stipulated and anything short of that is simply not a Muharram. Therefore, our invented ways should be officially discouraged henceforth.
I only blame the Saudi Arabia for not enforcing the Muharram policy, which is not new, at the point of Hajj visa issuance here in Nigeria. I also blame Nigerians for always thinking every country is like Nigeria where you can circumvent the law. The second blame is our seeming ignorance of Islamic laws that provided for a Muharram for a trip that is more than a day or our pretence in violating or ignoring the laws! The provision of the Muharram for a female traveller is to preserve the chastity of the Muslim woman, to protect her and most importantly to provide for her needs on a trip. This provision is not only for Hajj or Umrah, but for every trip! Are we now saying that as government, traditional rulers, clerics and Muslims we don’t know this for a fact?
It is always my considered opinion that knowledgeable practice of Islam by Muslims, especially in Nigeria, is vital for us and even our non-Muslims compatriots to appreciate the incomparable true value of Islam in our lives.
Abdulrahman Mohammed Alfa, No 6, Mukum Close, Badarawa, Kaduna