Over 12,000 pilgrims from Chechnya and Dagestan are preparing for Hajj

This year, 10,000 residents of Dagestan and 2600 residents of Chechnya will make the pilgrimage to Mecca. The first flight from Grozny is scheduled for July 22, the local Muftiate has informed.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that in 2018 the pilgrims' quota for Chechnya made 2600 persons. This year, it has been decided to increase the number of theologians who will accompany the pilgrims, and each participant of the Hajj will receive religious literature and be able to bring home five litres of water from the holy source, the Spiritual Administration of Muslims (SA) of Chechnya has announced.

The reception of documents from those who wish to make the pilgrimage was over on July 1. According to the SAM, the Chechnya's quota is used completely. For 275 believers, the Akhmat Kadyrov Foundation has paid their travel to Mecca.

The departure of the first group of pilgrims from Chechnya to Saudi Arabia is scheduled for July 22, the Muftiate told the "Caucasian Knot" correspondent.

This year, 10,000 people will go from Dagestan to the Hajj, Enrik Muslimov, the Dagestani Minister for National Policy and Religious Matters, said at a press conference on July 17.

Because of the unstable situation in Saudi Arabia's neighbouring countries, it was decided to send pilgrims to the Hajj only by air, Bulat Kurbanov, a participant of the press conference, the director general of the "Marva-Tour" company, said as quoted by the "Arguments and Facts" on July 18.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on July 20, 2019 at 12:25 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.