Shameem named chief sheikh of next year’s hajj mission

Sheikh Dr. Adam Shameem has been named as the chief sheikh of the Maldivian Hajj Mission next year.

The announcement was made by Islamic Minister Dr. Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed in a post on X on Wednesday morning.

Shameem attained his higher education in hadith and Islamic education.

In additional to delivering Friday sermons, he regularly gives religious lectures in Male’ and the atolls.

He is most well known for his ‘Andhalus’ lecture.

އަންނަ ޙައްޖުގައި ދިވެހި ޙައްޖުވެރިންނާ އެކު، އިސް ޝައިޚަކަށް ވަޑައިގަންނަވާނީ ފަޟީލަތުއްޝައިޚު ޑރ އާދަމް ޝަމީމް. އިންޝާ ﷲ pic.twitter.com/uk97NlXfPO

— Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed (@Mohamedshaheem1) December 27, 2023

Each year, a senior state official is appointed as the Amir al-Hajj, to lead the Maldivian Hajj Mission and ensure the smooth and safe operation of the Maldivian pilgrims travelling to Saudi Arabia for the annual pilgrimage.

This year’s Amir al-Hajj was former Vice President Faisal Naseem.

Maldives usually receives a quota of 1,000 pilgrims for the hajj pilgrimage. Unlike previous years, the Islamic Ministry has decided that all official quota will go to the Maldives Hajj Corporation, and none will be allocated to private tour groups.

Presently, 6,000 pilgrims are registered in the Hajj Corporation queue to perform the pilgrimage, of whom 4,706 have paid their dues.

According to the government, the decision aims to avoid prolonging their wait, improve the quality of service, and increase the general public's confidence in the quality of service provided by Hajj Corporation.

Islamic Minister Shaheem has stated that the government is also working on lowering the cost of hajj pilgrimage.

Next year’s hajj pilgrimage is expected to begin on June 14, next year.