General
Source: Daily Trust
Mni — Hajj is Islam's fifth pillar and a journey for completion of a Muslim's faith. Those who have the resources and can travel in safety to Makkah are enjoined to perform hajj at least once in their lifetime. For such an important religious activity, Muslims worldwide invest money and time in ensuring that pilgrims are taught the rites of hajj and perform it hitch free.
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) is the organisation charged with policy issues and administration of Hajj nationwide. It works closely with State Pilgrims Welfare Boards/ Agencies to develop policies for Hajj operation and administration. It also organises review meetings of previous hajj operations and capacity building workshops for hajj officials and stakeholders.
In 2009, NAHCON established a Committee on Women and Hajj Matters to advise it on women's special needs and ensure that women who constitute a substantial number of pilgrims make input into policy. The Committee on Women's Needs has since then been organising capacity building workshops for women on hajj affairs. The workshop is an annual event that brings together the staff of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria NAHCON, representatives of the State Pilgrims Welfare Board and Agencies, nongovernmental organisations and other stakeholders. This year's workshop which held from April 19-21 2013 at the National Mosque Conference Hall Abuja had 79 participants. It was preceded by a one day review meeting of the NAHCON Committee on Women Hajj Matters which is charged with the responsibility of making input into policy on women's special needs for Hajj. The event was chaired by Alhaja Lateefah Okunnu, former Deputy Governor of Lagos State who is the Chairperson of the Committee. The meeting discussed women issues that emerged from Hajj 2012 operations and explored how to improve on the forthcoming one.
The following day, the workshop opened with welcome remarks from Alhaji Suleiman Usman, who the represented the NAHCON Chairman Alhaji Mohammed Musa Bello. In his speech, the NAHCON chairman enjoined the participants to share what they learn at the workshop with intending women pilgrims in their states. This he said would contribute to organising a successful hajj operation.
The Chief Imam of the National Mosque, Sheikh Musa Mohammed sent a goodwill message in which underscored the significance of hajj that is well performed and the abundant reward for the performer.
The first session shared the objectives of the workshop with the participants. They include the following:
-To assist female pilgrims perform acceptable Hajj
-To provide female pilgrims with the physical, psychological and medical support for performing Hajj
-To equip female pilgrims with the knowledge required to perform Hajj.
-To provide female pilgrims with resources management skills that will aid with the performance of Hajj.
-To share the experience of past participants on the key issues that emerged from previous Hajj operations and proffer solutions.
Reports of the 2012 hajj operations from the various states were presented by SPWB officials and NGOs and matters arising from the reports were discussed by participants. Experts and religious leaders also presented papers during the workshop.
The second day of the workshop was devoted to presentations. The technical sessions featured papers on Women Pilgrims and Maharam and two papers were presented by Brother M.B. Nurudeen, the Imam Fuad Lababidi Mosque Abuja and my humble self. Both papers discussed the various hadith that support or discourage women from performing hajj without a Mahram. Both papers contextualized the various hadith and summarised as follows: "On the basis of the textual analyses and juristic commentaries above, it appears that the overriding concern of most scholars is that of the woman's safety. In the opinion of the scholars analysed above however, a woman may travel according to the following preferences:
- She may travel with her mahram or her husband.
- She may travel with a trustworthy group of women if she has no mahram or husband.
-She may travel with a trustworthy group of both men and women if 1 and 2 above are not available or possible.
-She may travel alone if 1, 2 and 3 are not available and the path is safe.'
The other technical papers presented were on 'Peculiarities of Hajj Travel' by Hajiya Fatima Oyekan, NAHCON commissioner for South West zone, 'Health Issues During Hajj' by the NAHCON Medical Director, 'Health and Safety Tips for Hajj', by Dr Yelwa Usman of the Women's Hajj Committee, 'Hajj Rites (Manasik)' by Dr Kulu Abubakar, Coordinator North West zone.
Each paper presented was followed by a discussion session in which presenters responded to questions and answers and observations. The participants were then divided into five groups for group work. They explored the various dimensions of hajj operation and problems encountered by women pilgrims before, during and after hajj and proffered solutions. The rapporteuers from the working groups then presented their reports at a plenary session which was anchored by Alhaja Lateefah Okunnu.
At the end of the workshop participants were presented with certificates and the workshop communiqué was issued. The workshop observed that women pilgrims constitute 40% of all Nigerian pilgrims and expressed delighted that there was a marked improvement in the areas of aviation and general welfare of pilgrims during hajj 2012. However they noted that there were still obstacles which they expected the State Pilgrims Welfare Boards to improve upon.
The workshop made then recommended as follows;
-that NAHCON should continue to exert efforts on improving the feeding of pilgrims at Masha'er.
- Considering the problems created by the women pilgrims who were not accompanied by mahram during the 2012 Hajj, the workshop urged states to perfect the policy of having mahram for all female pilgrims.
- State Pilgrims Welfare Boards/Agencies should ensure that women pilgrims' uniforms and dresses conform to Islamic injunction.