‘Haj subsidy unIslamic, use that money on our education, health’

Demanding an end to the subsidy, Maulana Mehmood Madani, Rajya Sabha member and general secretary of the Jamiat-e-Ulema-e-Hind, says “It is against the Shariat to be under any kind of obligation while undertaking Haj. According to the Quran, only those Muslims who can afford the expenses should perform Haj. It’s recommended only for adult, financially able and sane Muslims.”

Others like S Q R Ilyas, convenor of the Babri Masjid Committee and a senior member of the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB), call the Haj subsidy “a sop to gain political mileage.”

Owais has his own take on the subsidy issue. “There is no doubt that it is unIslamic and one should not be under any obligation while undertaking Haj. But we want travel to be made an open competition. We should be allowed to place bulk orders with the airline which quotes the lowest price for a ticket. As of now, we are bound by the Government to travel by Air India.” In fact the Central Haj committee convened a meeting today of all state committees to discuss this issue.

Ilyas, who also edits the Urdu weekly Afkar-e-Mili, says “there should be a separate institution for the regulation of Haj with no interference from the Government. Let Muslims decide themselves how to generate money to undertake Haj.” Pointing to the Sachar Committee findings, Ilyas says Muslims have emerged as a new backward class that needs uplift.

Of the 55 Islamic countries, not one, barring India, extends Haj subsidy because “Haj is not a state prerogative.” Though Pakistan had this subsidy till 1997, the Lahore High Court passed an order to discontinue it. There are independent institutions like Tabunghaji in Malaysia which regulate Haj in the country without offering any subsidy. They generate money for the pilgrimage after investing the deposits of intending Hajis.

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