The Federal Government of Somalia today bid farewell to the first group of Somali pilgrims departing for the annual Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia. A total of 431 pilgrims left Mogadishu’s Aden Adde International Airport in the early hours of Saturday, marking the beginning of this year’s Hajj journey for Somali worshippers.
The farewell ceremony was attended by several high-ranking government officials, including the Minister of Endowment and Religious Affairs, Sheikh Mukhtar Robow, who offered prayers and words of encouragement to the departing pilgrims.
“This is a sacred journey, and we ask Allah to accept their Hajj and bring them back safely,” said Robow. He also emphasized the importance of unity and patience during the pilgrimage, urging the pilgrims to represent Somalia with dignity.
This year, a total of 11,500 Somalis are expected to perform Hajj, according to the Ministry of Endowment and Religious Affairs. The remaining pilgrims will depart in scheduled groups over the coming days.
The Somali government has worked closely with Saudi authorities to ensure smooth processing and logistics for the pilgrims, including medical checks and travel arrangements.
Hajj, one of the five pillars of Islam, is a once-in-a-lifetime obligation for Muslims who are physically and financially able to undertake the journey.
The Somali pilgrims are expected to join millions of Muslims from around the world in Makkah in the coming days as the Hajj season officially begins.