828 Muslims will make this year’s Hajj to Mecca. Qatar, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, donated 800 scholarships that cover accommodation, flight and feeding of 800 pilgrims who are performing this year’s (2018) Dhul-Hijjah described in Suratul al Al-I Imran as fard (obligatory).
Records showed that President Bio’s support is not only a novelty, but solidifies the existing religious tolerance the country is accredited for.
Monday, 6th August, 2018, a public notice from the Office of the Hajj Secretary, Ministry of Social Welfare, Gender and Children’s Affairs said, “It has resolved the issue surrounding 28 people who didn’t follow the simple instruction by visiting the Secretary to receive its bank payment Slip and authorization and paid after the payment date.”
The notice further stated that, “the government of Sierra Leone through the hardworking Minister and Deputy Minister and the Hajj Committee have been busy for the past week engaging the Saudi Government in order to accommodate those twenty eight (28) people and Government has unanimously agreed to accommodate them.”
“The Government of Sierra Leone through the Ministry of Social Welfare, Gender and Children’s Affairs called those affected people and had a meeting with them at the Ministry’s Conference room and put smile on their faces by informing them about the good news,” the notice affirmed.
The notice called on the affected persons who violated the initial instruction to be in full preparedness to perform this year’s Hajj.
“The affected Twenty Eight (28) will now be performing this year Haj with their compatriots,” the Hajj Secretary revealed.
Many Sierra Leoneans spoken to have commended President Bio’s led Government for a well-organized and transparent process that catered for all intending pilgrims.
It could be recalled that a year ago, during the erstwhile All Peoples Congress led Government, the Hajj process was marred by corruption which prevented hundreds of Sierra Leoneans from performing Hajj (one of the five pillars of Islam). Muslims are required to perform it once in their lifetime to deepen their faith.
