Kashmir’s chief cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Friday expressed concern over the declining number of pilgrims from Jammu and Kashmir undertaking Haj this year.
A total of 4,764 pilgrims from Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh are scheduled to perform Hajj this year. As one of the five pillars of Islam, Hajj holds profound significance for Muslims, and every believer aspires to undertake this sacred journey at least once in their lifetime.
The first batch of Hajj pilgrims departed from Srinagar on April 18 for Saudi Arabia. The flights will operate up to May 5 to facilitate the annual Haj pilgrimage.
Delivering his Friday sermon at Srinagar’s Jamia Masjid, the Mirwaiz said J&K witnessed a low turnout of pilgrims this year, urging the community to reflect on the trend.
He noted a growing trend of people preferring Umrah over Haj or postponing Haj in anticipation of more convenient conditions, such as cooler seasons.
Mirwaiz also observed that many who can afford it delay Hajj until they feel all worldly responsibilities are fulfilled, which is not the correct approach.
Emphasizing that while Umrah holds great virtue, Hajj remains an obligatory pillar of Islam for those who can afford it, he said it should not be delayed unnecessarily.
“Life and death are in the hands of Allah, and no one knows what tomorrow holds,” he said.
Urging people to undertake Hajj at a younger age if they can afford it, Mirwaiz said that Haj is an Ibadah that entails physical exertion, and is best performed when one has strength and good health. He cautioned that delaying it indefinitely may lead to missing the opportunity altogether.
He appealed to the Muslim community to give due priority to Haj, and fulfill this fundamental obligation without delay.
