World Bulletin / News Desk

The first convoy of Crimean Muslims departed on Monday Mecca, Saudi Arabia, to perform Islamic pilgrimage, a leading Crimean news agency said.

32 Muslims from Crimea and Odessa, including eight women moved to Hajj from the Central Airport of Aqmescit (Simferopil), Crimean news agency (QHA) said.

"The rest of pilgrims to make a hajj plan to move to Saudi Arabia on 18 November," QHA quoted Mufti of Muslims of Crimea hajji Emirali effendi Abla as saying.

The hajj is packed with symbolism and ritual aimed at cleansing the soul of sin. Every able-bodied Muslim who can financially afford to must perform it at least once in his or her lifetime.

It should be mentioned that 24 June 2009, the Religious Administration of Muslims of Crimea (RAMC) by agreement with interested parties distributed the quotas among 5 the Muftiyats of Ukraine, in connection with that, the quota of 500 places was distributed in the following way: the Religious Centre of Moslem Communities of Ukraine (Donetsk City) – 50 places, "Kyiv's Muftiyat" – 50 places, Ummah Muftiyat – 100 places, the Religious Administration of Moslems of Ukraine (RAMU) headed by Ahmad Tamim – 100 places and the Muftiyat of Crimea – 200 places.

Around 3 million Muslims make the pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia most years, a journey all Muslims must carry out at least once in their lifetime.

Güncelleme Tarihi: 17 Kasım 2009, 08:19