Saudi Gazette

MAKKAH — India Fraternity Forum (IFF), in coordination with Marakiz Al Ahyaa, has completed all preparations to serve the Guests of Allah coming for this year’s pilgrimage under the banner of Khadim Dhaif Rahman” (Servant of Allah’s servants). Putting in service more than 1,200 volunteers, the Indian expatriates are well versed in their local languages beside English and Arabic and are from 16 different states of India.

The volunteers will cover areas including pilgrim accommodations in Makkah, Aziziyah, Haj Mission medical facilities, Mashaer train stations in Arafat, Muzdalifah, the tent city of Mina and also several other medical dispensaries, India Fraternity Forum (IFF) in coordination with Marakiz Al Ahyaa (District Center) revealed in the press conference held in a local restaurant here.

Volunteers will also guide the pilgrims to their destinations; help them in procuring medical aid if needed and could also arrange wheelchairs if needed by the pilgrims. The volunteers will also advice the pilgrims on health and safety precautions.

Volunteers will be deployed for the entire Haj operations under various sub teams in Makkah, Arafat, Mina Tents and Mina public places. In addition volunteers will be engaged in various hospitals and medical facilities in Mina.

Volunteers had already started their services to Indian pilgrims from the day the first group of pilgrims arrived. They have been focusing on the pilgrims in the vicinity of Masjid Al Haram in Makkah, pilgrims’ accommodation in Aziziyah as well as Masjid Al Nabawi in Madinah and pilgrims’ accommodation in Madinah.

Fraternity Forum had arranged Haj camps in UP, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala to guide the pilgrims before they leave for the Kingdom. The camps were unique and effective with multimedia presentation educating pilgrims on the entire Haj process — from start to its culmination. The presentation described in detail each ritual and practices to perform during Haj and also listed the dos and don’ts of the annual pilgrimage.

Back in the Kingdom, IFF has prepared the map covering the whole area of pilgrim accommodation in Makkah and Aziziyah. It will also release the updated map for the tent city of Mina on the 6th of Dhul-Hijja.

Haj Navigator App: The most novel service rendered by IFF this year would be an android-based application for locating the tents in Mina and the updated version of this application will be released soon with latest statistics.

This application will cover the Aziziyah and Makkah accommodation area and the whole of the tent of city of Mina and will help the Hajis to reach their destinations/ accommodation buildings easily. This Haj app was inaugurated last year in September 2016 in the presence of members of Indian Pilgrims Welfare Forum (IPWF), India Fraternity Forum (IFF) and few community members in a local restaurant.

The entire volunteer service will be coordinated by a team consisting of Mohammed Sadiq (coordinator) Mohammed Ali (asst. coordinator), Mudassir (volunteer captain), Shahul Hameed (assistant captain).

The meeting was attended by Mohammed Siddiqui (volunteer co-ordinator, Marakiz Al Ahyaa), Fayazuddin (IFF regional president); Shamsuddeen KM (regional secretary); Mohammed Sadiq (Haj coordinator), Omer Husain (IFF regional council member).

The meeting expressed its gratitude to different government bodies involved in Haj operations for their support and coordination in IFF endeavor. “It is a great honor for all of us to get the privilege of helping and aiding the Guests of Allah,” said Omar Husain, and hoped that all volunteers will work diligently and tirelessly and set an example.

Siddiqui said that each and every step taken to serve the Dhaif Rahman” (Servant of Allah’s servants) is being updated and briefed to the Makkah Gov. Price Khaled Al-Faisal, who is also the Chairman of Central Haj Committee. Members of Marakiz Al Ahyaa report to Makkah Governorate.