Maulana Tariq Shamsi, President of the Madrasa Council of India, said madrasa teachers are familiar with both the local Urdu-Hindi language and Arabic. Thus they are well-equipped to assist pilgrims effectively.
Mohammad Alamullah | Clarion India
NEW DELHI – The Madrasa Council of India has urged the Central Haj Committee to select madrasa teachers as Khadim-ul-Hujjaj (Haj volunteers) for this year’s pilgrimage, tentatively beginning on June 14.
Maulana Tariq Shamsi, President of the Madrasa Council of India, has recently submitted an application to the Central Haj Committee, emphasising the efficiency of madrasa teachers compared to other government employees. Appointing madrasa teachers as Khadim-ul-Hujjaj for Haj 2024 aligns with past practices and would greatly benefit the pilgrims, he said in his letter.
Maulana Shamsi said until 2022, both teaching and non-teaching staff of state-aided madrasas in Uttar Pradesh were selected as Khadim-ul-Hujjaj. However, this practice was stopped in 2023, resulting in reported difficulties faced by the pilgrims. The difficulties of the pilgrims were widely covered on social media and in newspapers.
To address these challenges and ensure a smoother organisation of the pilgrimage, the Madrasa Council urged the Central Haj Committee to reconsider the system implemented until 2022. Maulana Tariq Shamsi pointed out that madrasa teachers, familiar with both the local Urdu-Hindi language and Arabic, are well-equipped to assist pilgrims effectively.
Maulana Shamsi emphasised that teachers and employees of government-aided madrasas receive their salaries from the state government’s budget, similar to state employees. Their proficiency in Arabic, coupled with knowledge of local languages, distinguishes them from officials in other departments who often face challenges due to a lack of adequate Arabic language skills.
Maulana Shamsi also highlighted the support provided by madrasas in facilitating the Haj process, including free assistance in filling out Haj application forms and organising Haj training and vaccination camps under the guidance of the Central Haj Committee. These efforts aim to create a friendly and Shariah-compliant environment for pilgrims.
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