Jeddah: The Omani Hajj delegation attended the 49th edition of the Grand Hajj Symposium, which was organized by the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah in collaboration with the Council of Senior Scholars and the King Abdulaziz Foundation. The event, themed Capability in Hajj and Current Developments, was held at Jeddah's RitzCarlton Hotel.
Since its inception in 1397 AH (1977), the conference has served as a major knowledge platform, encouraging academic and intellectual dialogue among Islamic scholars and thinkers. It focuses on the religious, cultural, and social aspects of Hajj, emphasizes Saudi Arabia's successes in serving the guests of the Most Merciful, and highlights unique initiatives in the Two Holy Mosques. Furthermore, it encourages intellectual conversation to solve issues affecting the Islamic community.
The event began with a special meeting for heads of Hajj affairs departments from numerous Islamic nations, including the Omani delegation, to explore coordination and cooperation in providing services to pilgrims.
The introductory session included welcome words, followed by the first major session, titled Facilitating the Ritual and Empowering Pilgrims: Saudi Arabia's Vision in Serving Hajj Performers. This session emphasized the Kingdom's attempts to simplify pilgrims' trips from arrival to departure, provide integrated healthcare, and guarantee their safety through security controls and regulatory permissions. It also assessed infrastructure development projects in Makkah and the holy places.
The second session, The Concept of Capability in Islam and Its Role in Facilitating Hajj, addressed issues such as physical and financial capability (istita'ah) and the need of educating pilgrims on its jurisprudential elements.
On the sidelines of the conference, professional seminars were conducted, with the participation of the Omani Hajj mission and sessions on healthcare services, media, and awareness. These efforts were intended to improve service quality for pilgrims and create a global narrative for Hajj. The event concluded with a final statement emphasizing the necessity for better collaboration among Islamic countries to serve pilgrims and tackle current difficulties.
The Grand Hajj Symposium, held for over four decades, emphasizes Saudi Arabia's position as a spiritual and cultural beacon. Oman's participation demonstrates its commitment to contributing to this intellectual forum, which promotes debate and coordinates efforts to improve the Hajj experience.
On the sidelines, Tawfiq Fawzan AlRabiah, Saudi Minister of Hajj and Umrah, met with Ahmed Saleh Al Rashdi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Endowments and Religious Affairs and director of the Omani Hajj delegation, as well as the heads of Hajj delegations from various fraternal and friendly nations. They addressed a variety of issues pertaining to the administration of pilgrims' affairs.
