Bilal Bashir Bhat
India’s one of the leading women politicians and member of the ruling party BJP, Smriti Irani has won the hearts of the Muslim community across the nation after her images at the periphery of holy locations in the sacred city of Madina went viral during her ongoing visit to Saudi Arabia.
The Government of India’s delegation visit is in the context of the Bilateral Haj Agreement for Haj 2024 which was signed between India and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on 7 January 2024.
While leading a delegation of the Government of India, Smriti Zubin Irani, who holds the charge of Union Minority Affairs visited the perimeter of the Prophet’s Mosque (Al Masjid Al Nabwi) in the Markazia area of Madinah. This was followed by a visit to the mountain of Uhud and the Quba Mosque. Quba Mosque is the first Mosque of Islam while Uhud Mountain is the final resting place of several early Islamic martyrs.
Irani was accompanied only by non-Muslim senior officials including Minister of State for External Affairs V. Muraleedharan.
Madinah, also known as Medina, stands as one of the holiest cities in Islam and holds profound religious significance for Muslims worldwide. Nestled in the Hejaz region of Saudi Arabia, Madinah is renowned as the city to which the Prophet Muhammad migrated, marking the inception of the Islamic calendar.
This exceptional gesture by the Saudi side, welcoming a non-Muslim delegation to Madinah, underscores the strength of the bilateral relations between India and Saudi Arabia. As both nations continue to forge stronger ties, this historic visit is poised to contribute significantly to mutual understanding and cooperation in the realm of religious and cultural exchanges.
While sharing the pictures of her visit on Social Media, the actor-turned-politician Smriti Irani termed it a “historic journey”
Undertook a historic journey to Madinah today, one of Islam’s holiest cities included a visit to the periphery of the revered Prophet’s Mosque, Al Masjid Al Nabwi, the mountain of Uhud, and the periphery of the Quba Mosque – the first Mosque of Islam. The significance of the visit to these sites courtesy of Saudi officials, intertwined with early Islamic history, underscores the depth of our cultural and spiritual engagement.
Undertook a historic journey to Madinah today, one of Islam’s holiest cities included a visit to the periphery of the revered Prophet’s Mosque, Al Masjid Al Nabwi, the mountain of Uhud, and periphery of the Quba Mosque – the first Mosque of Islam. The significance of the visit to… pic.twitter.com/WgbUJeJTLv
— Smriti Z Irani (@smritiirani) January 8, 2024
“I hope it will help to develop trust in both faiths as India has the largest Muslim population and Saudi Arabia has the largest Indian diaspora. A welcome step in the right direction,” a netizen replied to the Irani’s post on Social Media.
I hope it will help to develop trust in both faiths as India has the largest Muslim population and Saudi Arabia has the largest Indian diaspora. A welcome step in the right direction.
— Mukhtar Ahmed, M.Phil, Ph.D. (@drmahmed1) January 8, 2024
A total quota of 1,75,025 pilgrims from India has been finalised for Haj 2024 with 1,40,020 seats being reserved for pilgrims to proceed through Haj Committee of India which will greatly benefit the common first-time pilgrims intending to undertake the Haj pilgrimage in 2024 whereas 35,005 pilgrims would be permitted to proceed through Haj Group Operators.
Pertinently, under Narendra Modi-led government for the first time Over 4,000 Indian women performed Haj without ‘mahram’ this year, the largest since the reform in 2018 which did away with the compulsion of a male companion with women on the pilgrimage.
Prime Minister Modi in his July 2023 monthly Mann Ki Baat radio broadcast said last year said over 4,000 Muslim women performing Haj this year without ‘mahram’ was a “huge transformation” and asserted that more and more people were getting the chance to go for the annual pilgrimage with the changes made by his government in the Haj policy over the past few years.
“Our Muslim mothers and sisters have written a lot to me about this. Now, more and more people are getting the chance to go for ‘Haj’. The blessing given by the people who have returned from the Haj pilgrimage, especially our mothers and sisters through their letters, is very inspiring in itself,” Modi had said.
