The Committee on Religious Affairs (CRA) under the Government of Tajikistan is holding a competition to select heads of groups for Hajj 2017.  

Applicants should speak Arabic and English, be aware of Sharia law, know Hajj performance rules, be communicative, and have managerial abilities and leadership qualities.

Nationals of Tajikistan under the age of 60 may participate in the competition, a source at the CRA told Asia-Plus in an interview.  

The application deadline is March 31, 2017

Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister, Azim Ibrohim, recently held a meeting to discuss preparations for this year’s Hajj.  

Speaking at the meeting, Ibrohim reportedly noted that the main task of organizers of the Hajj was to create all necessary conditions for Tajik Hajj pilgrims. 

The deputy prime minister ordered relevant agencies to check living conditions and financial opportunities of people wanting to perform the Hajj this year. 

Quota for Tajikistan has not been determined yet.  

According to the CRA, 6,000 Muslims performed the Hajj last year.  

Recall, Tajik authorities last year introduced new age restrictions for those who want to perform the Hajj.  Citizens under the age of 40 are no longer allowed to perform the Hajj.  The aim of the decision to introduce new age restrictions is reportedly to give older people an opportunity to achieve their dream to perform the Hajj.

The new age limit of 40 has been raised from the limit of 35 that was instituted in April 2015.

For the first time the CRA introduced age restrictions on those who want to perform the Hajj in 2010.  Only citizens aged 18 to 80 were able to perform the Hajj.

In 2011, the CRA designed a new Hajj uniform; men don two-piece suits, while women wear long-sleeved dresses complete with headscarves.  The Tajik Hajj uniform is embroidered with the country’s symbols.

Last year, Tajik pilgrims had to pay 3,600 U.S. dollars each for the Hajj this year.  This amount included travel expenses, board and lodging, special clothing with the national flag, purchase of animal for sacrificing, guide services, medical insurance, vaccinations, etc.

Each year, Saudi Arabia welcomes millions of Muslims from abroad traveling on Umrah and Hajj.  Hajj, one of the five pillars of Islam, is a pilgrimage to Mecca which adult Muslims must make at least one in their lifetime, provided they are physically and financially able. The Hajj is a demonstration of the solidarity of the Muslim people, and their submission to God.  The pilgrimage occurs from the 8th to 12th day of Dhu al-Hijjah, the 12th and last month of the Islamic calendar.  Because the Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar, eleven days shorter than the Gregorian calendar, the Gregorian date of the Hajj changes from year to year.  This year the Hajj will fall between August 30, 2017 and September 4.