Hajj-Muslim pilgrims face losing out from online booking to Mecca

British Muslims hoping to make a pilgrimage to Mecca are vulnerable to dropping heaps of kilos after the Saudi authorities has enforced on line booking.

Pilgrims had been instructed to apply a internet site to sign in their hobby and that a draw will take vicinity to select who will cross on Hajj.

Some have already booked with Hajj excursion operators and will lose their money.

Hajj is a non secular requirement for all Muslims who can have enough money it.

It is one of the 5 pillars of Islam at the side of 5 each day prayers, fasting, charity and a notion in God (Allah) and in Muhammad as a prophet.

The value of the as soon as in an entire life ride varies from about £6,000 to extra than £10,000 and plenty of Muslims spend years saving up for it.

Famida, now no longer her actual call, is in her 30s and lives withinside the north west of England. She informed the yallashoot2022 she has been ready to visit Mecca with contributors of her prolonged own circle of relatives for 2 years.

She had registered her hobby with a nearby tour agent and changed into very enthusiastic about pleasing an critical a part of her Islamic faith.

Famida stated she changed into "heartbroken" whilst she heard that she and her husband might need to ee-e book the go to online.

"It changed into so scary it surely made us cry," she stated.

Famida changed into additionally uncertain approximately the use of the brand new virtual reserving machine. She stated she did not recognise what kind of carrier they might receive, if that they had be capable of go to all of the historic sites, how a lot the ride might cost, and who to bitch to if something went wrong.

Despite her issues she has submitted her and her husband's call thru the virtual portal to mention she desires to make the pilgrimage in some weeks' time however is concerned approximately how a lot time she has to put together for it.

"If you consider it practically, no. I've were given youngsters who are at school, they attend football, madrassah, they visit madrassah, cricket, football."

The head of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Hajj and Umrah, Yasmin Qureshi, has written to the Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Tawfiq bin Fawzan Al-Rabiah to invite for the brand new machine to be not on time till subsequent year.

In the letter visible through the yallashoot2022, Ms Qureshi has requested if cash paid to Saudi carrier companies might be refunded. She has additionally stated she is concerned that Muslims who had deferred their ride in 2020 threat principal monetary losses if their pilgrimage isn't always carried out.

British Muslims hoping to make a pilgrimage to Mecca are susceptible to dropping hundreds of kilos after the Saudi authorities has enforced on-line reserving.

Pilgrims were informed to apply a internet site to sign up their hobby and that a draw will take region to pick out who will pass on Hajj.

Some have already booked with Hajj excursion operators and will lose their cash.

Hajj is a non secular requirement for all Muslims who can come up with the money for it.

It is one of the 5 pillars of Islam along side 5 day by day prayers, fasting, charity and a perception in God (Allah) and in Muhammad as a prophet.

The fee of the as soon as in an entire life experience varies from approximately £6,000 to extra than £10,000 and plenty of Muslims spend years saving up for it.

Famida, now no longer her actual call, is in her 30s and lives withinside the north west of England. She informed the yallashoot2022 she has been ready to visit Mecca with participants of her prolonged own circle of relatives for 2 years.

She had registered her hobby with a neighborhood tour agent and become very enthusiastic about enjoyable an crucial a part of her Islamic faith.

Famida stated she become "heartbroken" while she heard that she and her husband could ought to ee-e book the go to on-line.

"It become so frightening it honestly made us cry," she stated.

Famida become additionally uncertain approximately the use of the brand new virtual reserving gadget. She stated she did not recognize what form of provider they could receive, if they had be capable of go to all of the historic sites, how lots the experience could fee, and who to bitch to if something went wrong.

Despite her issues she has submitted her and her husband's call thru the virtual portal to mention she desires to make the pilgrimage in some weeks' time however is concerned approximately how lots time she has to put together for it.

"If you consider it practically, no. I've were given kids who are at school, they attend football, madrassah, they visit madrassah, cricket, football."

The head of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Hajj and Umrah, Yasmin Qureshi, has written to the Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Tawfiq bin Fawzan Al-Rabiah to invite for the brand new gadget to be behind schedule till subsequent year.

In the letter visible with the aid of using the BBC, Ms Qureshi has requested if cash paid to Saudi provider vendors might be refunded. She has additionally stated she is concerned that Muslims who had deferred their experience in 2020 hazard main monetary losses if their pilgrimage isn't carried out.

Mohsin Shah

IMAGE SOURCE,MOHSIN SHAH

Image caption,

Travel agent Mohsin Shah says the modifications have had a large monetary impact

She is likewise worried approximately how and if pilgrims' cash might be blanketed below the brand new scheme.

Ms Qureshi stated: "Certainly for this year, do now no longer organise the portal gadget due to the fact it is now no longer going to work. Who do you bitch to if matters do not flip out correctly?"

It is likewise uncertain what number of Hajj visas might be allotted to the UK. Previously approximately 25,000 have been issued each year.

Figures quoted in a few Arabic media cautioned this variety should now be halved.

Travel dealers withinside the UK who specialize in arranging Hajj excursions also are concerned as they'll lose out financially.

Mohsin Shah, a Manchester primarily based totally tour agent, and his London-primarily based totally companion have been because of take forty eight pilgrims to Mecca later this month.

He stated all of the pilgrims now ought to re-ee-e book their go to on-line and he does not recognize how a lot of them gets a visa to tour.

He charged £9,500 for a 5 supermegacelebrity bundle and has paid cash to inns and delivery vendors in Mecca.

"It's a large (monetary) impact (on us) due to the fact we are now no longer certain what will take place and the way we will set up it due to the fact inns have been booked and delivery."

There are 3.seventy two million Muslims withinside the UK in line with figures from Office for National Statistics. All pilgrims from Europe, America and Australia should use the brand new on-line portal to ee-e book their pilgrimage.

The yallashoot2022 has contacted the Licensed Hajj Organisers UK, an unbiased enterprise watchdog, and the Council for British Hajjis UK for a comment. The Saudi authorities has additionally been requested to comment.