Millions of Muslims ruin the dream of Hadge

Shirin Nazirmadova, a doctor from South Tajikistan, has been saving for years to go to Hadge, the pilgrimage that all capable Muslims must make once in their lives.

But like millions of others, the journey of her dreams was shattered, as Saudi Arabia decided last month to stop international visitors from making Haxhi this year in an effort to curb the spread of Coronavirus.

Saudi authorities said that about 1,000 people alone residents of Saudi Arabia will be allowed to make annual Haxhia, which starts this year's 28 July evening and ends on August 2nd.

Anyone participating should be under the age of 65 and take the Coronavirus test before entering pilgrimage sites in the sacred cities of Mecca and Medina.

Nazimadova, 60, told Free Europe Radio that she would not expect another year for the opportunity to visit the Islamic holy sites, which she hoped to see this year.

She donated the saved money to Hadge at her hospital in Farkhor County to buy equipment needed to fight Coronavirus.

The rural hospital used the money ready to buy protective equipment for staff as well as medicine and antiseptics. In many Tajikistian hospitals, home to some 9.5 million people, there is a lack of protective equipment.

As an experienced physician, Nazirmadova is on the front line against the Coronobrus.

New Rules

Authorities in Saudi Arabia, where more than 217 thousand cases of Coronavirus have been recorded until July 7th, demanded this year that believers in Hadge, in addition to simple white dress, cover their faces and place gloves.

In the Saudi Kingdom, over 2,000 people have died from the disease that causes COVID-19.

Physical distance regulations, temperature controls, and use of disinfectants are expected to become part of Saudi authorities' measures to ensure the health of believers.

The crowd of 1,000 is small compared to the normal crowds of Haxhi, which is usually the largest gathering of Muslims in the world. Last year, some 2.5 million people attended the pilgrimage.

Because of the Coronavirus crisis, Saudi Arabia suspended even Umra, a smaller pilgrimage that could be carried out any time of the year, unlike Haxhi é. Some 7 million Umra hackers visit the country each year.

Each Muslim dreams of making this pilgrimage

Under a quota system agreed on by the Tajik and Saudi authorities, the Tajik sometimes wait from five to six years to go to Hadge.

The number of applicants markedly exceeds Tajikistan's annual quota of about 6,000 participants.

Similar long expectations exist in other Central Asian countries, such as Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan.

At Farkhor, Dr. Nazirmadova does not know if he will be able to go to Hadge in another year.

The trip, made possible by the State Religious Affairs Committee, costs $3,700 per person. This is a huge sum for the village Tajik, whose salary is about $150 a month.

Committee spokesman Algjem Muqim told Radio Free Europe that those involved in Hagi's 2020 quota will have a chance to make Haxhi next year if they want.

But the committee is unable to guarantee that the price, which is to be paid in dollars, will stand the same in 2021 or later.

The price has been the same over the past 7-8 years. But Tajikistan's national currency has lost value [against the dollar in recent years]. The cost of travel has increased by our currency”, Muqim said.

With the current exchange rate, the trip to Hadge costs about 38,000 somones, and eight years ago it was approximately 19 thousand somoins about half the price of this year.

Salaries remain low in Tajikistan, and inflation levels are high. This seems to make it impossible to drop the travel price for Tajik next year.

Tajikistan has its limitations on selecting candidates for Hadge. Applicants must be over 40 years old and should be verified by local authorities, who do the control of their backgrounds.

Moreover, we do not know whether the virus will be removed until the time of the coming Haxhi, or whether I will be good enough to make the” trip, said Salohidedin Mirzoev, a 56-year-old driver from the village of Khirmanak, about 15 kilometers west of Dusanbe capital.

Mirzoev has also been placed on the Haxhi list this year, as it was registered for the quota in 2015. With the driver's salary, Mirzov barely meets his needs.

My two boys working in Russia raised their money to pay for my trip to Hadge”, Mirzev told Radio Free Europe.

Each Muslim dreams of making this pilgrimage. I hope I will do it next year”, he said.