Finance Minister Abdullah Jihad has called on his employees not to delay their pilgrimages.
He made the statement in the ceremony held to include Finance Ministry employees in the scheme that allows government employees to go on pilgrimage to Mecca by deducting a fixed amount from their salaries.
Minister Jihad said the pilgrimage was made compulsory based on the economic status of the believer. He said such schemes were provided by the Government to ensure that the state employees were granted easy access to such activities.
“It is not possible for the Government to send all to Mecca. That’s why we have introduced schemes like this,”
Minister Jihad said the pilgrimage was a strenuous physical activity, one that became more strenuous as the individual aged. Therefore, he said it was preferable to carry out the pilgrimage when the individual is able and physically fit.
He urged all those intending to go Mecca to attempt the journey with a clean slate and increase the amount of good deeds. He said if an individual had died with the pure intention to complete the pilgrimage then he will attain blessings. Minister Jihad urged all Ministry employees follow this and to enlist in the scheme.