Mecca: one million Muslims pilgrims were gathering on Saudi ArabThe largest holy city of Mecca on Wednesday Hajj Since the coronavirus pandemic has severely curtailed access to one of the Five Pillars of Islam.
Saudi Arabia’s decision to allow about 850,000 Muslims from abroad to undertake the annual pilgrimage, which begins on Thursday, marks a major step towards normalcy after two years of Hajj banned for Saudi residents.
The 1 million participating foreign and domestic pilgrims are still far fewer than the 2.5 million Muslims who traveled in 2019 for the pilgrimage, usually one of the world’s largest gatherings. Those performing rituals this year must be below 65 years of age, be vaccinated against the coronavirus and have tested negative for COVID-19 within 72 hours of travel. The pilgrims are selected from among lakhs of applicants through an online lottery system.
Saudi officials inspected the holy site on Wednesday and stressed its “readiness” to receive the pilgrims, with the goal of “maintaining public health”.
Following the coronavirus in 2020, Saudi authorities already allowed only 1,000 pilgrims living in the kingdom to participate, leading historians to compare the site’s storming by religious extremists and its dramatic closure in 1979.
Last year, Hajj was similarly limited to 60,000 fully vaccinated Muslims living in Saudi Arabia. The unprecedented sanctions sent shock waves across the Muslim world, devastated many believers who had spent years saving up for religious rites.
This year, however, Saudi officials are keen on easing virus restrictions. Religious pilgrimages brought in USD 12 billion before the pandemic – accounting for the largest percentage of Saudi Arabia’s GDP after oil.
Although virus cases in Saudi Arabia have steadily risen to more than 500, the government last month lifted the country’s indoor mask mandate and other virus precautions. About 70% of the people of the country have been vaccinated against this virus.
Quran It is said that all followers of Islam who are physically and financially capable should undertake a pilgrimage once in their lifetime. Pilgrims travel to Mecca from around the world for five days of intense worship, which consists of a series of rituals.
Hajj follows a path Prophet Muhammad It lasted about 1,400 years ago and is believed to follow in the footsteps of the prophets Ibrahim and Ismail, or Abraham and Ishmael, as they are named in the Bible.
Saudi Arabia’s decision to allow about 850,000 Muslims from abroad to undertake the annual pilgrimage, which begins on Thursday, marks a major step towards normalcy after two years of Hajj banned for Saudi residents.
The 1 million participating foreign and domestic pilgrims are still far fewer than the 2.5 million Muslims who traveled in 2019 for the pilgrimage, usually one of the world’s largest gatherings. Those performing rituals this year must be below 65 years of age, be vaccinated against the coronavirus and have tested negative for COVID-19 within 72 hours of travel. The pilgrims are selected from among lakhs of applicants through an online lottery system.
Saudi officials inspected the holy site on Wednesday and stressed its “readiness” to receive the pilgrims, with the goal of “maintaining public health”.
Following the coronavirus in 2020, Saudi authorities already allowed only 1,000 pilgrims living in the kingdom to participate, leading historians to compare the site’s storming by religious extremists and its dramatic closure in 1979.
Last year, Hajj was similarly limited to 60,000 fully vaccinated Muslims living in Saudi Arabia. The unprecedented sanctions sent shock waves across the Muslim world, devastated many believers who had spent years saving up for religious rites.
This year, however, Saudi officials are keen on easing virus restrictions. Religious pilgrimages brought in USD 12 billion before the pandemic – accounting for the largest percentage of Saudi Arabia’s GDP after oil.
Although virus cases in Saudi Arabia have steadily risen to more than 500, the government last month lifted the country’s indoor mask mandate and other virus precautions. About 70% of the people of the country have been vaccinated against this virus.
Quran It is said that all followers of Islam who are physically and financially capable should undertake a pilgrimage once in their lifetime. Pilgrims travel to Mecca from around the world for five days of intense worship, which consists of a series of rituals.
Hajj follows a path Prophet Muhammad It lasted about 1,400 years ago and is believed to follow in the footsteps of the prophets Ibrahim and Ismail, or Abraham and Ishmael, as they are named in the Bible.