695 pilgrims get free Hajj stay as Nizam Rubath Qurrah held in Hyderabad
HYDERABAD: The annual draw of lots (Qurrah) for free Hajj accommodation at the historic Nizam Rubath in Mecca was held on Thursday at Chowmahalla Palace, combining tradition with technology. This year, 695 pilgrims from the former Hyderabad State will benefit from the endowment.
A committee comprising Nawab M. A. Faiz Khan (Member, Awqaf Committee H.E.H. The Nizam), Mr. Faheem Qureshi (President, Telangana Minorities Residential Educational Institutions Society), Syed Ghulam Afzal Biabani Khusro Pasha (Chairman, Telangana State Haj Committee), Hussain Mohammed Mudar Al Shareef (Nazir, Hyderabad Nizam Rubath), and Syed Akbar Nizamuddin (Member, Telangana Waqf Board) supervised the digital draw.
The Awqaf Committee of His Exalted Highness the Nizam, in collaboration with the Hajj Committee of India, conducts this annual process to allocate rooms at the Rubath, a charitable lodging established by the Asaf Jahi dynasty. The Mecca properties were consolidated and managed as a waqf by the late Nawab Mukarram Jah Bahadur, the Eighth Nizam, to offer safe, free accommodation to pilgrims from the former Hyderabad State.
Chowmahalla palace hosts Nizam Rubath draw
“This institution is a living testament to the Nizams’ enduring legacy of welfare and foresight,” said Nawab M. A. Faiz Khan. On behalf of the present head of the Asaf Jahi family and Chairman of the Awqaf Committee, Nawab Azmet Jah Bahadur, he conveyed greetings to the pilgrims and prayers for their accepted Hajj.
The facility offers significant financial relief to selected pilgrims. Officials estimate each beneficiary will save nearly Rs. 55,000 on accommodation during the pilgrimage. Last year, 710 pilgrims benefited from this support.
Syed Ghulam Afzal Biabani Khusro Pasha, Chairman of the Telangana State Haj Committee, highlighted the seamless coordination. “This process is a model of cooperation between a historic private endowment and the state Hajj machinery, ensuring transparency and benefiting hundreds of families,” he stated.
The ceremony, attended by officials such as Mohammed Asadullah Pasha (Executive Officer, Telangana State Hajj Committee) and Syed Abdullah Qadri (Secretary, Awqaf Committee), underscored a philanthropic tradition spanning generations. For the 695 selected pilgrims, the draw marks the start of a spiritual journey, supported by a royal legacy of hospitality that continues to serve Telangana and beyond.
