COTABATO CITY – The National
Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) has called on pilgrims to register from
December 16 to 31 this year for the 2021 Hajj to Mecca, Saudi Arabia.
"This is to determine
the actual number of intending pilgrims for the 2021 Hajj,” said Director Malo
Manonggiring of NCMF’s Bureau of Pilgrimage and Endowment (BPE), in a statement
on Wednesday, December 16.
Manonggiring said the
BPE accepts registrants between the scheduled dates but no fees would be
collected until the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) will release a confirmation
on foreign pilgrims' inclusion.
“There is no advice
yet from the KSA if foreign worshipers would be allowed for the 2021 Hajj,”
Manonggiring said.
However, he said
Saudi Arabia has already eased some restrictions for foreign pilgrims who were
allowed to perform the “Umrah” pilgrimage.
Umrah is the name
given to a pilgrimage to Mecca, which is a shorter version of the annual Hajj
gathering.
Manonggiring said it
was still possible for the 2021 Hajj to push through for the international
Muslim community.
The annual Hajj is a
religious duty for able-bodied Muslims who are physically and financially
capable of undertaking the journey at least once in their lifetime. It is one
of the five pillars of Islam.
Manonggiring said
registration is free of charge and fees would only be collected upon approval. (NOEL
PUNZALAN, PNA, MINDANAO EXPOSE’)
