Hajj 'lottery' explained: The random draw for western pilgrims

The Hajj “lottery” for western pilgrims closed on Monday, with potential pilgrims discovering out the standing of their software over the subsequent two days.

Final week, Saudi Arabia’s Hajj ministry introduced that Muslims from Europe, Australia and the Americas would wish to use to attend Hajj, which is going down between 7-12 July this yr, by way of a random draw on the government-backed Motawif web site.

The Hajj pilgrimage is without doubt one of the largest spiritual gatherings on the earth and is taken into account a spiritual obligation to be accomplished through the lifetime of each Muslim who’s wholesome and capable of afford it. 

For this yr’s pilgrimage, a million worshippers will take part after it had been scaled down due to the Covid-19 pandemic the earlier two years. In 2019, round 2.5 million pilgrims participated. 

The choice to alter the method of travelling to Hajj for western Muslims has confused worshippers and journey brokers alike, significantly on condition that the pilgrimage begins in lower than one month.

The random lottery launched on Friday, and crashed briefly because of excessive demand. 

Right here’s the whole lot it is advisable know concerning the new poll system. 

Who can apply?

The random draw is relevant to all international locations in North America, South America, non-Muslim majority international locations in Europe, Australia and New Zealand. 

All candidates have to be below the age of 65, and should have accomplished two doses of the Covid-19 vaccination. These attending should submit a adverse PCR check inside 72 hours of departing to Saudi Arabia. 

Solely those that haven’t carried out Hajj throughout the final 5 years are eligible to enrol.

The draw is the one means that Muslims from western international locations can take part on this yr’s Hajj. Anybody who has pay as you go to do the pilgrimage with a tour operator has been urged to request a refund.

Price and packages

There are three forms of packages that western pilgrims can apply for: silver, gold and platinum. 

The silver package deal begins at $5,986, and consists of flights, a five-star lodge near the Grand Mosque in Mecca, transportation buses, catering companies and camp places at pilgrimage websites Mina, Arafat and Muzdalifah. 

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This package deal covers a complete of 12 days. Notably, it doesn’t seem to incorporate a visit to the holy metropolis of Medina – not formally a part of the Hajj, however a metropolis most pilgrims historically go to both earlier than or after the pilgrimage 

The gold package deal begins at $6,296, with “top quality companies from the start until the top of your journey”. 

This package deal consists of all the identical companies as silver, with the addition of a keep in Medina in a five-star lodge. The transportation bus is described as “VIP”, and the package deal covers a interval of 21 days in complete. 

The platinum package deal begins at $9,768, and is described on the web site as a “luxurious service”. Like gold, it consists of five-star stays in Makkah and Medina, and “VIP transportation buses”. 

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The important thing distinction is it consists of “superior tenting spots outfitted with wonderful amenities and trendy furnishings”, and the unique use of the Al-Mashaaer metro line to maneuver between holy websites. 

A word on the Motawif web site prompts customers that the data offered is just a “preview of the particular packages” and the companies can solely be chosen in full after an applicant has been efficiently chosen. 

Timeframe

The Hajj lottery opened on 10 June, and is because of shut on Monday, with candidates anticipated to have uploaded all their passport and vaccination documentation by then.

An official draw shall be carried out from 15 to 18 June, with eligible candidates randomly chosen. 

Those that are profitable will then be notified and shall be anticipated to finish cost by way of Motawif’s on-line portal. As soon as cost is accepted, e-visas shall be issued, ranging from 17 June.

In line with Motawif, the primary arrival of pilgrims from western international locations is scheduled for 26 June. 

This implies some pilgrims may have simply 11 days between discovering out if their software was profitable, and making their journey to Jeddah airport. 

Pilgrims usually take months to organize for the spiritual rites related to the Hajj, attending seminars to make sure the pilgrimage is accomplished accurately. Below the brand new system, western pilgrims may have a matter of simply days.

What about different international locations?

In line with the Hajj ministry, overseas pilgrims will make up 85 p.c of the a million contributors.

As with all years, the quota shall be cut up primarily based on the variety of Muslims in every nation. 

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Indonesia obtained the best share with a quota of 100,051, whereas Pakistan got here second with 81,132 and India third with 79,237. 

Like western pilgrims, home Saudi contributors have been additionally topic to a random draw organised by the dominion. Over 390,000 functions have been obtained, with precedence given to those that haven’t accomplished Hajj earlier than. Profitable candidates have been notified by textual content message on Sunday, and now have two days to finish their funds. 

In different Muslim majority international locations all over the world, the system of choice varies.

In Pakistan for instance, 60 p.c of locations are granted primarily based on personal tour operators, whereas 40 p.c of locations are organised by a Pakistani authorities scheme that includes a computerised poll. 

In Turkey, the 37,770 folks attending this yr have been chosen by way of an software system which prioritised those that have by no means been. Many Turks have been making use of for a number of years, if not many years, ready for his or her names to be chosen.