Hajj capsules gave many a surprise!
This year the narrow sleep pods, reminiscent of Japan’s famous capsule hotels, have hit the roads of Saudia Arabia’s holy sites! The incentive had specifically been taken for Hajj, which commenced this year.
The Haji and Mu’tamer Gift Charitable Association took this initiative; offering approximately 18 to 24 capsules for pilgrims to nap in for free, deployed mainly in Mina for Hajj. These pods have been imported from Japan at an expense of around $1,114 per piece.
Each fiberglass pod is less than three metres long and just over one metre in terms of height. Each pod features a mattress, clean sheets, air conditioning and a huge, well-lit mirror. Capsules are fitted with a sliding door at the end that can be opened by a magnetic card for each user, in order to ensure privacy. The facility of each door opening automatically in times of a blackout, is also provided. Moreover, the pods can be lined up either horizontally or stacked vertically; such that a lot of space is saved, which otherwise tends to get occupied.
Mansour Al-Amer, director of the Haji and Mu’tamer’s Gift Charitable Association, said:
“The hotel capsule provides an ideal low-cost solution in crowded places such as airports, train stations, highway rest houses and holy sites.”
These pods are not just restricted for naps but also provide a space for changing clothes as well acting as a store for luggage and valuables.
Al-Amer also stated:
“The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Institute for Hajj and Umrah Research will conduct the required studies to inspect the success and feasibility of these capsules. The capsules will be deployed in Mina, targeting lost and elderly pilgrims who need rest and care to be able to continue to perform their rituals with ease and comfort”
The pods act as a go to solution for pilgrims who have limited means; basically people who cannot afford to book hotels on site but require a quick rest session during times such as that of Hajj. The access of the pod is given for three hours to each individual. When the individuals wake up for prayer time; workers are required to sterilize the pod before handing it over to the next person.
A trial of 12 pods was run earlier this year and turned out to be a success. Amer estimated that 60 people used each pod every day during Ramadan and the expected consumption in Hajj was even higher. The reason this measure was taken into practice is due to rising demands and providing convenience to people by benefiting from the modernized initiatives now available.
We as Muslims should consider the well-being and ease of our fellow Muslims, regardless of their wealth. This incentive proves this, also complying with a Hadith as follows:
"None of you truly believes (in Allah and in His religion) until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself" [Bukhari: 13 & Muslim: 45 (a)]
Thus, the introduction of these pods provides assistance to mainly the less privileged; acting as a means of equality in service offering.
May Allah (SWT) keep providing us with such opportunities and changes overtime, offering benefits to our fellow Muslims. This step taken in Saudia Arabia now evokes the feeling of rejoice amongst us, hoping that even bigger and better incentives are to be provided from time to time.
