Friday 26 / April / 2024
Muscat: Oman's Haj delegation returned home safely after completing all of its duties for Omani people who performed Haj this year.
A statement by the Ministry of Endowments and Religious Affairs read: "The Oman Haj delegation has returned to Oman after it completed its duty to serve the pilgrims who left for hajj from Oman."
"The group had told all Haj companies that transported pilgrims by road that they must adhere to safety procedures as they return to Oman, and that drivers must be given enough rest to ensure the safety of passengers on the road," the statement added.
Head of the delegation, Sultan bin Said Al Hinai, said on Friday: "Thank you to all our pilgrims and the owners of the Haj companies, thank you to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from leaders to government and people, and we thank God for the success of this Hajj season and how smoothly the procedures went."
This year's Haj has been completed successfully, and some people who travelled by air were been able to return as early as Thursday evening, according to Omani pilgrims who performed Haj this year.
During Haj this year, one Omani unfortunately lost his life due to natural causes during the pilgrimage.
The Haj delegation wrote in a statement: "The Omani Haj delegation offers its condolences to the family of Said Salim Al Wuhaibi, who passed away on Dhulhijja 9, 1440H (August 10) as he was performing the pilgrimage."
"We ask the lord to envelop the departed in His mercy and to grant his loved ones patience," the statement added.
A minor incident — the cover meant to protect people from rain and sun in Arafat came crashing down — caused temporary panic among the pilgrims.
However, "Everyone in the Omani camps was safe, 'since the pilgrims had been warned to stay inside their tents during that time,’ Oman’s Ministry of Endowments and Religious Affairs had said in a statement.
