Saudi Gazette report

MAKKAH – A number of two-bed room homes had been constructed in Makkah by philanthropists to provide free accommodation for pilgrims who come from East Asia, Europe, India and other parts of the world, especially relatives who come for Haj.

The two rooms were used to house men and women, Makkah Arabic daily reported. There will be a kitchen in such homes for pilgrims to prepare food. This has been a tradition of Makkans for the past several years.

“Gaining reward from Allah the Almighty is the main motive behind this hospitality,” said a media source in Makkah who requested anonymity.

“This is part of an age-old custom when Makkans used to provide food, drink and housing to pilgrims who come to circumambulate the holy Kaaba, even before the advent of Islam,” he said.

Now some Saudis have developed that custom into an investment project as they rented a portion of their homes to accommodate pilgrims, instead of giving them free of charge. “These Saudis prepare their homes for this service in advance,” he pointed out.

The Saudis considered the pilgrims who stay in their homes as guests and provide them with all required services. They paint the house, clean its surroundings and carry out necessary repair works.

Abdul Kareem Al-Khateeb, a resident of Makkah, spoke about how Makkans receive pilgrims by making arrangements inside their homes and cleaning their homes and shops and their surroundings.

Many Makkah residents, especially the rich, still accommodate a large number of Hajis in their homes and buildings free of charge, expecting the reward from Allah, another resident said.

“There are others who do not provide any housing to pilgrims but extend other services as part of their age-old customs and traditions and considering Haj an occasion for them to earn a living,” he added.

The free housing facility known as Rubats in Makkah, which were established by Indian rulers like the Nizam of Hyderabad and Nawabs of Bhopal, Arcot and Tonk, used to accommodate many Indian pilgrims.

Although the Nizam dynasty has almost faded away, its rulers are still remembered by Haj pilgrims from Telangana and other parts of the erstwhile Hyderabad State through Rubat in Makkah, where state pilgrims still stay free of cost as Nizam’s guests.

The Rubats were private properties of Nizam and belonged to Nawab Mir Barkat Ali Khan, commonly known as Prince Mukarram Jah, grandson of Mir Osman Ali Khan who made these Rubats as an endowment for Hajis.

None of the Rubats, which were built by Nizams, exist in Makkah. All of these buildings vanished over the course of time with the development of the holy city and expansion of the Grand Mosque. One of the Rubats has been relocated to Misfalah long ago, an informed source said.

A pilgrim who stays in Rubat saves Rs.44,000 and enjoys the Deccani environment in the holy city. The capacity of Rubat was only 264 till two years ago in its old building at Mansour Street, however, the capacity has been increased to 1,283 this year by renting two other buildings.

“We are shouldering the responsibility of providing maximum comfort to pilgrims during their stay in Makkah,” said Mohammed Hussain Al-Shareef, its supervisor. All rooms in these three facilities have modern facilities with well-maintained housekeeping services round the clock, he added.