the Council of British Haji's (Pilgrims) | the CBH | Practical Hajj and Umrah Advice Centre

Welcome & eid mubarak

click here for news updates on hajj 2009

(And proclaim unto humankind the pilgrimage. They will come unto you on foot and on every lean camel; they will come from every deep ravine) (Al-Hajj 22:27).

muslims celebrate eid ul adha

27th November, 2009

Thousands of British Muslims have joined millions worldwide today to mark the Festival of Sacrifice known as Eid ul Adha, the greater of the 2 Muslim festivals. It comes as around 25,000 Muslims from the UK have travelled to Mecca to perform the annual pilgrimage which is one of the five pillars of Islam. Read more

Prime Minister’s message for Hajj

Wednesday 25 November 2009

The Prime Minister has sent his best wishes to all Muslims making the annual Pilgrimage of Hajj.

The PM said:

Approximately 25,000 British Muslims travel to Saudi Arabia for the annual Pilgrimage of Hajj. I am proud that the UK Government was one of the first in the Western World to send a Hajj delegation to Saudi Arabia to provide British Hajis with consular and medical services.

This period is of course a time of deep personal reflection but it is also a time of great celebration. I wish Hajj Mubarak to all of the pilgrims and Eid Mubarak to you all.

Link to Number 10

islamophonic: the hajj & eid

Tuesday 24th November, 2009

Listen to the Online Podcast with the guardian's Riazat Butt conducted with the CBH on Friday 6th Nov 2009 or download here

British medical volunteers begin giving health care

Tuesday 24 November 2009 (07 Dhul Hijjah 1430)

JEDDAH: A team of eight British doctors, all volunteers, have opened clinics and health-care points in Makkah this week to provide on-the-spot health care to UK pilgrims.

The doctors are part of the 10th British Haj Delegation, led by Lord Adam Patel for the 9th consecutive year. The delegation also includes consular staff to deal with lost documents and repatriation should the need arise. The team will be based in Makkah but will be traveling to Mina and Arafat during the Haj.

“Members of the Ministry of Haj are now just like members of the family,” said Lord Patel. “They know me and I know all of them. In that respect that makes dealing with procedures very easy.” Read more

Day of Arafat: thurs nov 26 2009

RIYADH: The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia declared yesterday that today, Wednesday Nov 18, is the first day of Dhul Hijja. The announcement was made by the state-run Saudi TV which added that the Day of Arafat on the ninth of Dhul Hijja in the Islamic calendar will coincide with Thursday, Nov 26. Thus the first day of Eid Al-Adha will be on Friday, Nov 27, 2009. Read More

Hajj pilgrims urged to report scams

16 November 2009 15:18

As more than 25,000 British Muslims travel to Mecca for Hajj, the Government is urging pilgrims to know their rights and report scam artists.

In previous years, some Hajj pilgrims have been ripped off by a variety of scams, including paying for a five star hotel but getting substandard accommodation, or in extreme cases, some agents have disappeared and taken pilgrims’ money with them.

Consumer Affairs Minister Kevin Brennan said:
“British pilgrims should not suffer in silence if they feel that they have been ripped off.

We are urging pilgrims to take simple steps to protect themselves, such as retaining travel documents, taking photos of any substandard accommodation, and most importantly, reporting any unsatisfactory experiences to trading standards. Read More

health screening at jeddah airport

Friday 6th Novmber, 2009

Advisory note to All Pilgrims and tour operators.

The Saudi Health Auhtorities have introduced health screening of ALL pilgrims to Hajj this year. The Red Sea port of Jeddah is the gateway to the pilgrimage. At the Jeddah airport, there is a separate terminal just for pilgrims. Thousands are arriving every day.

At arrival, they will be sent immediately through a heat sensor that screens them for a fever. If they have a fever, they are kept at the hajj terminal until that fever disappears.

If they don't have a fever, Memish says, the pilgrims will be given packets with masks, hand sanitizer and information about H1N1. If they later contract symptoms during hajj, they'll be given anti-viral medications but won't be isolated.

Foreign Secretary launchES the 10th British Hajj Delegation

United Kingdom
Tuesday 28th October, 2009

The Council of British Hajjis were amongst a selected guest lists of foreign ambassadors and dignitaries invited by the Foreign Secretary Rt Hon David Miliband MP at the launch of the 10th British Hajj Delegation to the Hajj in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. Every year the Foreign Office sends a delegation to provide medical and consular support to British national performing the annual Hajj pilgrimage. Read more...

the cbh live on sky channel 826 - iqra tv

Satruday 24th October, 2009

the CBH were interviewed LIVE on Iqra TV Sky Channel 826 on Saturday 24th Oct 2009
video upload to follow.

ksa - ministry of hajj picks up on the success of the cbh hajj vaccination clinic 2009

Kingdon of Saudi Arabia - Ministry of Hajj Website
Monday 19th October, 2009

In a concerted campaign, a number of British Muslim and health organisations have given many Britons hoping to perform Hajj the benefit of advice and flu innoculations

http://www.hajinformation.com/main/y2685.htm

Hundreds of british pilgrims jabbed up for hajj

United Kingdom - Monday 12th October, 2009

Hundreds of would be Hajjis (Pilgrims) turned up to the country’s first Health & Safety at Hajj Seminar and Hajj clinic hosted by the Council of British Hajjis (the CBH) in association with the Bolton Council of Mosques and NHS Bolton. Read more

Listen to the Programme recorded live on Sunday 11th October, 2009 - download here

pre-hajj 'know before you go' seminars & health & safety roadshow

Blackburn Sat 7th Nov 2009 - Safeway Travel Ltd / Inam Tours

*Important - FREE Flu jabs... read here t&c's apply

cbh makes noise on the airwaves

7th October, 2009

The CBH have been invited onto AWAZ 103.1FM - Pendle Community Radio to offer tips and advice on Hajj every Wednesday's until Eid-ul-Adha between 3pm and 4pm.

Listen live

8/10/09 - A day after the Council of British Hajjis went on air, a shocking revelation by a tour operator who breaks silence on the Hajj visas Read more

11/10/09 - BBC GMR interviews the Council of British Hajjis on the success of the Bolton Hajj seminar.

No flu certificate - no Hajj

Thursday 1st October 2009

Pilgrims planning to travel for the annual Hajj, will need to produce a valid flu certificate.

The Council of British Hajjis (Pilgrims) a national charity have launched a Pre‐travel health and safety awareness campaign which has seen 250 plus tour operators across the country briefed on the coming Hajj season and a series of Pilgrim Hajj awareness seminars organised to drive home the message of health and safety at Hajj. Read More..

Important & Urgent - Health requirements for hajj season 1430ah

Important & Urgent - Health requirements which must be complied with by incoming travellers for Umrah and Hajj during the season of 1430 Hijri`

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Additional New Health Requirements must be provided by the Hajj pilgrimages during the season of 1430 Hijri

Incoming travellers for Hajj from all countries must provide a valid certificate of vaccination against seasonal flu before acquiring a Hajj Visa. This certificate should be at least two weeks old. This recommendation cancels clause 4 of the health requirements that have been attached as a Ministry Circular mentioned above..
click here to read more on the Saudi Embassy website

Saudi calls for pilgrims to be vacinated

Maktoob Health - Sep 01, 2009

Saudi’s interior minister has called on countries to vaccinate pilgrims against swine flu before they arrive in the kingdom to mitigate the possibility of an outbreak during the upcoming Haj season, local daily Arab News reported on Tuesday. Click Here to read more...

Flu shots now mandatory for Haj pilgrims

Arab News - Thursday 6 August 2009 (14 Sha`ban 1430)
RIYADH: Restricting Haj pilgrims to those between the ages of 12 and 65 will soon be a definite condition for the forthcoming Haj season, Health Minister Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah said in a statement on Wednesday. Al-Rabeeah said the proposal had been sent to the Cabinet for formal approval and would be forwarded to Saudi missions for action concerning the issuance of Haj visas. Click Here to read more...

British Pilgrims Warned of Swine Flu: hajj & umrah 2009

United Kingdom: 25th July, 2009

The Council of British Hajis has issued a health warning to British Pilgrims to Saudi Arabia and general overseas travellers to exercise extra cautions over the recent pandemic of Swine Flu ahead of the Hajj and Umrah season.
Peak numbers make the Umrah pilgrimage (lesser pilgrim) over the summer holidays and during the holy month of Ramadan, which this year is due to begin in late August. Click Here to read more

Information Leaflet

This Department of Health leaflet has been delivered to homes nationwide

the council of british hajiS

Marhaba and Welcome to the official website of the Council of British Hajis (Pilgrims). The CBH is a not-for-profit voluntary charity whose aims are to work for the welfare of British Haji’s and to ensure that they are relieved of any distress and to ensure that Hajj service providers perform their obligations towards the pilgrims making the experience an enjoyable one.

Each year over 25,000 British pilgrims make the journey of a lifetime for the Hajj and Umrah so that they may seek the pleasures of the Almighty Allah (God). They return spiritually rejuvenated and with a more informed and conscious understanding of their faith. Their experiences on the hajj foster an enhanced critical awareness of the diversity of humanity and further prepare them to serve humanity as model citizens standing by to contribute to the societies and communities they live in by responsibly shouldering civic participation.

However, over the past few years, pilgrims have had to suffer delays, stress due to Visa allocation, bad experiences with Tour operators etc. with nowhere to turn to for advice.
In many cases, these are isolated incidents not making the radar, but as more and more people have started reporting such incidents, it’s time to unite and take action. With One Voice, we can make the difference for the benefit of the Guests of the Almighty.

Support our Cause, Join Today: email us at info@the-cbh.org.uk

Unite with us - Join the CBH and together we can make a difference to the Future of Hajj & Umrah Travel.

"Take necessary provisions with you for the Hajj journey, but the best provision is right conduct". The Holy Qur'an - [Al-Baqarah:197]

tour operators & your hajj & umrah experience

We understand that on the whole the Hajj & Umrah Tour Operators in the UK do a tremendous job in delivering the 'Journey of a Lifetime', however there are still a minority of of firms who fail to deliver their promise to the Pilgrims and give the Industry a bad name. If you have an issue regarding your recent Hajj or Umrah trip, then please get in touch with us. If you have fallen victim to such an experience then email us. All correspondence will be treated in the strichtest confidence and we will ot disclose your deatils to anyone.

upcoming events & media broadcasts

The CBH will be Live on Unity FM Birmingham 93.5FM - Monday 16th November 2009 4:15pm GMT
Listen Live - click here

The CBH have been invited onto Radio Hajj 107.8 FM - NW London on the Night time show 'Hajj and the British Muslim Experience' on
Tues 3rd Nov 2009.
Listen online