SINGAPORE – Muslims from Singapore who performed the haj pilgrimage were in high spirits despite the blazing hot weather, said president of the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Muis) Mohamed Sa’at Abdul Rahman on Wednesday.
In a social media post, he added: ”They are diligent in taking care of themselves, but did not forget to care for fellow pilgrims.”
More than 1.8 million worshippers from around the world had to brave intense heat over the past few days as they took part in one of the largest religious gatherings. The haj must be undertaken by all Muslims with the means, at least once in their lives.
Temperatures peaked at 48 deg C on Tuesday, when pilgrims prayed for hours at Mount Arafat, said various news reports.
They included 234 pilgrims from Singapore – one of the largest groups for the haj in 2023 – who left for Jeddah in Saudi Arabia on Monday.
Mr Sa’at, who also heads a 29-member delegation from the Singapore Pilgrims’ Affairs Office (SPAO) that is accompanying the worshippers, told Berita Harian that the pilgrims had generally been in good health and were eager to carry out their pilgrimage.
The delegation provides medical and welfare services to the pilgrims throughout the haj.
SPAO’s chief medical officer, Dr Fatimah Abdul Lateef, told Berita Harian on Tuesday that the team treated about 40 to 60 patients every day for minor problems such as respiratory tract infections, diarrhoea and dry skin.
“There are two (or) three cases where the diagnoses are more serious, which we have dealt with early and with concern,” she said, without elaborating on what the issues were.
Muslim travel agency TM Fouzy Travel & Tours, in an interview with Berita Harian, said that although air-conditioned tents were provided, a few pilgrims had to deal with a broken air-conditioner for several hours, adding to the challenge of the haj.
Some pilgrims also suffered from heat stroke and passed out in the extremely hot weather, but received the necessary treatment from the agency’s officials and SPAO, said Ustaz Hasanuddin Razali, who is from the travel agency and was on the haj with the pilgrims.
He added that SPAO had been proactive, regularly monitoring the welfare of the pilgrims to provide immediate assistance to those in need.
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