Travel agencies are encouraged to assist pilgrims wishing to postpone umrah trips due to the West Asia conflict, with safety and flexibility as key priorities.
KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Muslim Travel Agency Association (MYTRA) has urged its member agencies to be flexible in assisting pilgrims who wish to postpone their umrah trips following the conflict in West Asia.
MYTRA president Muhammad Syazri Afiq Rosli confirmed that umrah operations are continuing as usual with no official suspension order, but the industry is closely monitoring developments and is prepared to reschedule trips upon request.
He explained that the association encourages agencies to help pilgrims change their travel dates wherever possible, though this is subject to the policies of the relevant airlines and hotels.
“So far, only a few pilgrims have asked to postpone their trips as a precaution, while most are going ahead with their plans, with the situation in Makkah and Madinah remaining under control,” he told Bernama.
Echoing this stance, Nuh Travel and Tours Sdn Bhd chief operating officer Adam Jalal said his agency is offering pilgrims the option to postpone their trips to the next season, pending approval from airlines and hotels.
He also advised pilgrims who plan to continue their journeys to take out the highest-level insurance to cover unexpected risks, such as being stranded due to sudden airspace closures.
“For flights without a postponement option, we go ahead as planned, but pilgrims are made aware of the risks,” he said, adding that those travelling independently should be extra cautious as they lack direct agency support in an emergency.
Adam noted that Ramadan and Syawal are peak periods for Muslims worldwide performing umrah, underscoring the importance of careful planning.
Perak Deputy Mufti Datuk Zamri Hashim stated that travel safety is a key factor in determining a person’s istita’ah, or ability to perform umrah without undue hardship.
“If a journey is considered unsafe because of war, it’s better to postpone,” he said, adding that from a fiqh aulawiyat perspective, funds for repeated umrah trips could be redirected to those in greater need, such as aid for Palestine.
This advice follows a call yesterday from Federal Territories Mufti Ahmad Fauwaz Fadzil, who urged Muslims to postpone travel to parts of West Asia until security stabilises, aligning the move with the syariah principle of preserving life.
