695 Pilgrims Selected for Free Nizam’s Rubath Stay in Mecca
The allocation continues a long-running waqf program administered by the Awqaf Committee in coordination with the Haj Committee of India.
Overview
- A digital Qurrah chose 695 beneficiaries from about 10,000 applicants domiciled in the erstwhile Hyderabad State who applied through the Haj Committee.
- The draw was held at Hyderabad’s Chowmahalla Palace under the supervision of officials including M.A. Faiz Khan, Faheem Qureshi, Syed Ghulam Afzal Biyabani, and Hussain Mohammed Mudar Al Shareef.
- Each selected pilgrim is expected to save roughly ₹55,000 in accommodation costs during their stay in Makkah.
- The Awqaf Committee conducts this allocation annually, with 710 pilgrims accommodated in 2025, reflecting year-to-year variation in slots.
- The Rubath lodging stems from a Nizam-era charitable endowment later consolidated in Saudi Arabia by Mukarram Jah to provide free, safe accommodation for eligible pilgrims.