Local affairs editor
The Hajj mission evaluation is not a competition for places, but rather to ensure adherence to standards
The Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Al-Fateh Hajj and Umrah Campaign, Sheikh Nabil Muhammad Saleh, confirmed that the evaluation conducted annually by the Bahraini Hajj Mission is not a competition for the centers, but rather a follow-up to ensure adherence to standards and services, pointing out, “Our focus is always on the essence, and for Hajj to be a journey of spirit and faith for the pilgrims of our campaign, not just a program and services.”
He pointed out in an interview with Al-Watan that all those accepted for the 1447 AH Hajj season must enter the electronic Hajj platform to choose their campaign, during the period from 2 to 9 November, explaining that “excellence is the title of the campaign and that serving the pilgrims of the Holy House of God is an honor that we are proud of.”
Below is the text of the meeting:
What is the perspective of the Al-Fatih campaign to describe VIP in Hajj campaigns?
– Since the launch of the Al-Fateh campaign in 2002, our focus has always been on the essence, and that Hajj should be a journey of spirit and faith for our campaign pilgrims, not just a program and services.
We are not a tourism company, but rather a campaign that believes that Hajj is a great act of worship that has goals and objectives.
Our vision is for each of our pilgrims to be a VIP, not with excessive luxury or display, but by providing everything that helps him perform the rituals with reverence and reassurance: comfortable housing, healthy nutrition, medical care, integrated organization, and before that and most importantly, a faith and educational program that begins a month before the Hajj, and we remain with the pilgrim on his faith journey even after his return, until we consolidate those beliefs and spirituality.
This is what made our pilgrims, over more than 24 years, describe their experience with us as special, and that they truly lived the meaning of Hajj, as the Prophet, peace and blessings of God be upon him, said: “Whoever performs Hajj and does not commit obscene acts or commit sin, will return as the day his mother gave birth to him.”
What is the secret to the distinction and quality that your pilgrims talk about every year? Is it luck, experience, or choice?
The truth is that the beginning and the end are all success from God Almighty, then accumulated experience, and a conscious choice in the smallest details.
We sacrifice a lot – materially and morally – so that the pilgrim can experience the comfort that enables him to focus on worship. Therefore, you find our pilgrims staying in hotels that are comparable to the best Gulf campaigns, because we believe that physical comfort helps to devote oneself to the soul.
We choose the times, means of transportation, and details of the programs, all of which are carefully studied without any pretentiousness. Our goal is to facilitate the rituals for the pilgrim, and to ensure his safety and comfort, on a journey from which he emerges closer to the Most Gracious, and purer in spirit and heart.
Every year we hear about the evaluation of campaigns, why is the name of the Al-Fateh campaign not mentioned as first or distinguished?
The evaluation conducted by the Bahraini Hajj Mission annually is not a competition for places, but rather a follow-up to ensure compliance with standards and services. The campaign that implements all the requirements receives a report free of observations, and the campaign that needs observations receives something that directs it to correction.
As for the Al-Fateh campaign, praise be to God, our results always achieve the highest quality standards, with no significant violations, and this is true success. We are not looking for titles or centers, but rather for God’s satisfaction first and foremost, then the pilgrims’ satisfaction and comfort in performing the rituals.
Perhaps the greatest testimony is what the pilgrim says after his return, as he tells his story, that Hajj with the Conqueror was a reassuring and easy journey of faith.
Now that the numbers of those accepted have been announced, what is required of them during this period?
Currently, it is assumed that it is an evaluation and selection stage for those accepted, so we say to all who received the acceptance letter this year, we remind them that the next step is to enter the electronic Hajj platform to choose their campaign, during the period from 2 to 9 next November.
We in the Al-Fateh Campaign welcome you to be your companion on this blessed journey, and everyone can access the campaign’s accounts to find out the details, and communicate via the announced numbers, for any inquiries. We ask God Almighty to facilitate everyone’s argument, and to grant everyone acceptance and forgiveness.
