Intending pilgrims to this year's hajj in Mecca, Saudi Arabia have been advised to concentrate on the religious aspect of the exercise rather than the material benefits.

The Grand Khadi of the Kwara State Sharia Court of Appeal, Justice Saliu Mohammed gave the advice in Ilorin, the Kwara State Capital.

"The pilgrims usually focus more on buying things in the holy land instead of concentrating on the spiritual and religious aspects of the hajj exercise...They contributed significantly to the economy of Saudi Arabia in the past and this affected Nigeria's economy," Justice Mohammed said.

Pressure on sponsors

The Grand Khadi condemned a situation whereby people puts pressure and compel government and political appointees to sponsor them on the pilgrimage.

"Someone that is capable but not able with intention of performing hajj can sponsor people, to hajj, after meeting their financial needs.

"Sponsorship may come in two ways. It may be right and wrong, depending on the way you look at it. If someone is capable, but not able to perform the hajj, he can sponsor someone to hajj after meeting all the financial obligations of that person. It is wrong to put pressure on the government to perform hajj. Government is sponsoring people to hajj because they would need their votes during elections," he explained.

According to him, most of the pilgrims are not fit to perform the hajj, but struggled to perform hajj, thereby having health challenge in Saudi Arabia and causing problems for the hajj commission.

"As envisaged by Islam, you must be comfortable and capable to perform hajj without affecting your family. You can't just venture into hajj without proper preparation, or managed to perform the exercise. If you are to spend 750,000 Naira to perform the exercise, you must at least have 1.5 million Naira in your account," Justice Mohammed stressed.

On slaughtering of rams for the Eid-l-Kabir, he explains that it is the Sunnah of prophet and divine directive from Allah to slaughter rams during Sallah for those that are capable.

The Grand Khadi cautioned Muslims from securing emergency loans to buy rams, stressing the need for them to live within their means.