OVER 8,000 QUESTIONS RECEIVED FROM PILGRIMS SINCE E-TAIB INTRODUCED

MAKKAH, More than 8,115 questions related to matters of worship were received as of last Tuesday from pilgrims through the e-Taib service since it was introduced by Tabung Haji last year. Lembaga Tabung Haji (TH) Haj Guidance Operations director Shahrin Awaludin, said the service, which can be accessed through the THhujjaj application, has received encouraging responses not only from pilgrims in the Holy Land but also from those at home. "In the past, pilgrims would meet with the Holy Land Haj Facilitators (PIHTAS) at the hostel, but since we have established the e-Taib system through THhujjaj, they can directly ask any questions related to matters of worship through a channel like WhatsApp to the facilitator. "This has greatly helped pilgrims avoid long queues when meeting with religious teachers," he told a press conference at TH headquarters here. He said that among the frequently asked questions were about the prohibitions of ihram and issues related to women's fiqh and he assured that every question posed would be tried to be resolved within less than five minutes and at most 24 hours for more complicated issues to allow the team to seek expert opinions. This year, there are 40 PIHTAS who will be on duty to assist pilgrims, including answering questions submitted through e-Taib. Shahrin said the team, consisting of scholars, religious teachers, and counselors, will address questions and issues that concern pilgrims in completing their haj rituals. "This team is also supported by three scholars who are members of the Haj Advisory Committee (TH-JAKIM). This year, one of our scholars is Mufti of Selangor, Assoc Prof Datuk Anhar Opir,' he said. Meanwhile, in this era of information technology explosion, he mentioned that one of the challenges for the team is to enhance the effectiveness of courses and minimise social media distractions. "We always emphasise in the courses that haj is a worship that requires focus; even a change of 'niat' during tawaf invalidates it. "For instance, taking pictures-it's not that we prohibit it, but during the performance of the pillars and obligations of haj, pilgrims need to focus on the worship. Hopefully, this can help pilgrims achieve a mabrur haj," he added. Source: BERNAMA News Agency