Maan takes pride in serving pilgrims heading for Mecca

AMMAN –– Essam Elayyan followed in his forefathers’ steps when he began frequenting the Pilgrims’ City in Maan to serve travellers on their way to perform Hajj (the greater pilgrimage). 

Hajj, or pilgrimage to Mecca, is one of the five pillars of Islam and the religious high point of a Muslim’s life. Umrah, the lesser pilgrimage, can be undertaken at any time of the year; Hajj, however, is performed during a five-day period from the ninth through the 13th of Dhu Al Hijjah, the 12th month of the Muslim lunar calendar.

Helping pilgrims is a social and religious duty in Maan, 220km south of Amman, which takes place during a 10-15 day-season.

“Every family residing in this city has at least one member who has participated in this ritual,” Elayyan told The Jordan Times over the phone on Monday.

The 20-dunum Pilgrims’ City is located right in the heart of the desert city.  The estate features a large parking lot for buses, surrounded in a U-shape by rooms and other facilities in case pilgrims decide to stay overnight, according to Maan Awqaf Department official Abdul Salam Dweirej, who described the Hajj season as a “festival” in Maan.

Yaseen Khateeb, another volunteer, said more than 40 volunteers including children gather at the Pilgrims’ City to meet the visitors who come from countries as far as Tajikistan and other former Soviet Union states.

“No word can describe how enthusiastic children are when they take part in this voluntary activity. They do it with great excitement,” Khateeb told The Jordan Times. 

He added that volunteers usually distribute snacks, fruit, water and dates, paid for by donations of the “rich people” of the city. 

The awqaf official said there are warehouses packed with foodstuff. 

Elayyan said although pilgrims bring their meals with them, Maani people insist on providing them with hot and fresh home-made food. 

Dweirej said department teams and volunteers have been working in the service of pilgrims since last Wednesday. By Monday, 5,000 people have benefited from the city’s services.

The awqaf authorities offer other services.

“We check their documents to make sure that everything is alright and check to see if the bus is fit or not to continue the journey to Saudi Arabia. If not, we replace it with another,” he told The Jordan Times over the phone. 

“Volunteers work on a shift system because pilgrims may arrive in the city at any time,” he said, adding that Maan is the pilgrims’ last stop before they arrive in Saudi Arabia. 

He noted that Maan is a must-stop destination for pilgrims coming by land, especially from far away countries, adding that it takes between nine hours and 10 hours to reach Medina from Maan.  

“What Maani people are doing reflects the hospitality of Jordanians in general and Maan residents in particular. Serving these people is a blessing and a source of pride for our town,” he said.