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[PICTURES/VIDEOS] Saudi Arabia receives first foreign Haj pilgrims since before pandemic

I would drastically reduce Hajj numbers, if the virus is still in full flow then. Say, 0.5m between Hajis doing Tawaf, going to Mina, etc and calculate. That though, is unlikely. Hajj is going to be late August. If the virus is still around by then, we'll all have herd immunity or a vaccine anyway
 
KingKhanWC said:
Are you concerned for Muslims? What are these concerns for Hajj?
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LOL he's feigning concern, mans a snake.

Saudi Arabia has already dealt with a MERS outbreak which is a coronavirus similar to Covid-19 and actually had a much higher mortality rate. Things will simmer down by july.
 
Pakistanian said:
LOL he's feigning concern, mans a snake.

Saudi Arabia has already dealt with a MERS outbreak which is a coronavirus similar to Covid-19 and actually had a much higher mortality rate. Things will simmer down by july.
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Mers wasnt this infectious. By July I expect millions of people would have had the virus already. Maybe only allow people that were infected and now cured to performs Hajj. They won't be affected and unlikely to spread it. But if the virus is still going around by July I don't think people should go to perform Hajj. I think a lot countries wont allow people to go for Hajj this year.
 
Nadeemp said:
Muslims are people. I have concerns for people. I know its a new concept for you.
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There is hope for the world yet.

Hajj has been cancelled many times in history, it's not an issue for Muslims if it is cancelled apart from some who may never get to feel the spiritual beauty of this pilgrimage.
 
KingKhanWC said:
There is hope for the world yet.

Hajj has been cancelled many times in history, it's not an issue for Muslims if it is cancelled apart from some who may never get to feel the spiritual beauty of this pilgrimage.
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Well you could have had just answered that in the first place
 
Hopefully things will get better and it will not be canceled.

As Pakistanian has pointed out, this virus should slow down or die down by July. Let's hope so. I don't think this virus will be active during summer months.

Fingers crossed.
 
I hope so. However i dont know if this summer thing is true. Its 80 degrees in florida and cases are coming up positive there. Anyway fingers crossed
 
Hajj should go on with less number of people if it is still serious. 1000 local people that have been quarantined for 14 days. There is no set of rules of how many can participate
 
Nadeemp said:
I hope so. However i dont know if this summer thing is true. Its 80 degrees in florida and cases are coming up positive there. Anyway fingers crossed
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The summer thing has no scientific merit yet. It's mostly propagated by clueless people who think it's just like Flu.
 
Sirris said:
The summer thing has no scientific merit yet. It's mostly propagated by clueless people who think it's just like Flu.
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Of course it has nothing to do with temperature, MERS another coronavirus came out of Arabia where the temps are like 120 degrees (Fahrenheit)
 
Pakistanian said:
Of course it has nothing to do with temperature, MERS another coronavirus came out of Arabia where the temps are like 120 degrees (Fahrenheit)
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Mostly the thought is that like most viruses it this will also spread less in the summer heat. I do think they are correct with that thought as otherwise south asian countries like Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand would be in a similar or worse situation than Italy by now considering how close they are to china and the number of people traveling through them. The infection rate in these countries seems to be slower than colder places like Korea
 
Couch Cricketer said:
Mostly the thought is that like most viruses it this will also spread less in the summer heat. I do think they are correct with that thought as otherwise south asian countries like Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand would be in a similar or worse situation than Italy by now considering how close they are to china and the number of people traveling through them. The infection rate in these countries seems to be slower than colder places like Korea
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I guess that makes sense. Btw those aren't south asian countries, they're southeast asian.
 
Even if not cancelled I will never go this year. Life is more important than anything
 
Eye_Done said:
Even if not cancelled I will never go this year. Life is more important than anything
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Think this will be the opinion of many.

Saudis should ask for mandatory virus checks.
 
Not sure this will put many people off
Their returning countries might not be as eager to take them back however and they may have to stay longer than a fortnight
 
I can’t see it being an issue.

Islamic doctrine doesn’t encourage religious observances at the cost of ones health.

I think even the KSA authorities whom I consider to be incredibly ignorant, will have enough sense to allow it to go ahead if the threat is high.

Best way to deal a pandemic isn’t to have people from every corner of the globe congregating in very close proximity and then returning home.
 
Ah no by next year 70% of the population would be infected so would have antibodies to fight it off so it won't spread like fire that it is currently. Unless this virus is unique and people can get reinfected.
 
Couch Cricketer said:
Ah no by next year 70% of the population would be infected so would have antibodies to fight it off so it won't spread like fire that it is currently. Unless this virus is unique and people can get reinfected.
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One woman in Japan who had fully recovered from it, caught it again. So its not like flu where if you get it in a season then you are safe till next season.
 
Syed1 said:
One woman in Japan who had fully recovered from it, caught it again. So its not like flu where if you get it in a season then you are safe till next season.
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i believe she had a weak immune system.
 
Syed1 said:
One woman in Japan who had fully recovered from it, caught it again. So its not like flu where if you get it in a season then you are safe till next season.
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Ah no she was not reinfected just her previous infection had not cleared completely and came back. So far no confirm news of reinfection. At the same time it will take time to find out how long the antibodies for this virus will stay once a person is cleared.
 
Should ban the visitors but it should not be cancelled for locals. That's the correct way to go forward.
 
Nadeemp said:
Should Hajj be cancelled this year?
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There's no 'should' involved. It WILL be cancelled.

The numbers infected may start to go down by then due to the lockdowns currently being implemented by governments all around the globe.

But do you think the authorities will suddenly let them explode again just as the situation is getting under control, due to letting millions of pilgrims from every region of the globe congregate in the same place at the same time?
 
‏حدیثِ نبوی
آخری زمانے میں جہاں بہت سے فتنے رونما ہونگے اور دین کا راستہ روکنے کی کوششیں کی جائیں گی، وہاں کعبہ پر ایسا زمانہ بھی آئے گا کہ حج و عمرہ معطل ہوجائے گا۔
قیامت اس وقت تک قائم نہ ہوگی جب تک بیت اللہ شریف کا حج موقوف نہ ہوجائے۔
صحیح البخاری، الحج، حدیث 1593

Narrated Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri: The Prophet said The people will continue performing the Hajj and `Umra to the Ka`ba even after the appearance of Gog and Magog. Narrated Shu`ba extra: The Hour (Day of Judgment) will not be established till the Hajj (to the Ka`ba) is abandoned

الف الف صلوات اللہ علی خیر خلق اللہ و افضل خلق اللہ محمد رسول اللہ صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم
 
Haj organisers request PM Imran to grant tax exemptions for a year
Haj Organisers Association of Pakistan (HOAP) has urged Prime Minister Imran Khan to provide a bailout package and tax exemption for on year.

In a letter to the premier, HOAP chairperson Shahid Rafiq said that the travel and tour sector have been hit hard from the coronavirus crisis, which has resulted in strict travel restrictions. Many tour operators do not even have enough funds to pay their employees and are shutting down their businesses, He requested the prime minister to exempt the tour and travel sector from taxes for a year.
 
Haj should be cancelled, God has given us a brain, to use it. Cancelling Haj in this situation would be in line with basic Islamic teaching, not against it. If allowed, people will get infected there and will take the infection to their respective countries.
 
aukhan said:
Should ban the visitors but it should not be cancelled for locals. That's the correct way to go forward.
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i do not think Tawaf is even cancelled for locals. What i heard is right now they are letting 5 people at the same entering into haram sharif.
 
moghul said:
Haj should be cancelled, God has given us a brain, to use it. Cancelling Haj in this situation would be in line with basic Islamic teaching, not against it. If allowed, people will get infected there and will take the infection to their respective countries.
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Only those who got corona and have recovered should be called for Hajj.

Discuss !
 
Tough decisions to come from governments around the world. Whatever the call is, there will be a large opposition.

The most logical choice would be to cancel it for the year but from fear of retaliation, Hajj will probably be proceeded with.

If the ritual does occur, there must be a 3-week quarantine in place on those who decide to go at their monetary expense. No government nor citizens should have to bear the cost of a religious decision.
 
moghul said:
Haj should be cancelled, God has given us a brain, to use it. Cancelling Haj in this situation would be in line with basic Islamic teaching, not against it. If allowed, people will get infected there and will take the infection to their respective countries.
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God has given us brain. But you cannot question Gods wisdom. If God or his messenger says ok, how can believers question God’s wisdom?
 
troodon said:
God has given us brain. But you cannot question Gods wisdom. If God or his messenger says ok, how can believers question God’s wisdom?
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Where have god or his messenger said hajj must be completed no matter what calamity befalls his people?

On the contrary there are plenty of examples over the centuries where there have been postponements and cancellations of religious events due to the hazards befalling humanity
 
Hajj will happen but with very few people I guess(100 to 500)
 
Saudi minister tells Muslims to wait on making haj plans: state TV

Saudi Arabia is urging Muslims to wait before making plans to attend the annual haj pilgrimage until there is more clarity about the deadly coronavirus pandemic, the kingdom’s minister for haj and umrah said on Tuesday.

Some 2.5 million pilgrims usually flock to the holiest sites of Islam in Mecca and Medina each year for the week-long ritual, which is a once-in-a-lifetime duty for every able-bodied Muslim and a major source of income for the kingdom.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-...it-on-making-haj-plans-state-tv-idUSKBN21I2W2
 
Saudi Arabia asks Muslims to delay Hajj bookings due to Coronavirus

Saudi Arabia has asked Muslims planning to take part in the Hajj pilgrimage to delay booking amid uncertainty over the coronavirus pandemic.

Hajj Minister Mohammed Banten said the kingdom was concerned about the safety of pilgrims and urged people to "wait before concluding contracts".

Some two million people were expected to travel to Mecca and Medina this July and August for the annual gathering.

Muslims who are physically able must undertake the Hajj once in a lifetime.

The lesser pilgrimage, the Umra, has already been suspended as a precaution to try to reduce the spread of the coronavirus.

People are also being prevented from entering Mecca and Medina, as well as the capital Riyadh, as the Saudi authorities attempt to contain an outbreak of Covid-19 that has infected at least 1,563 people and claimed 10 lives in the country.

"Saudi Arabia is fully ready to serve pilgrims and Umra seekers in all circumstances," Mr Banten told state TV. "But under the current circumstances, as we are talking about the global pandemic, from which we have asked God to save us, the kingdom is keen to protect the health of Muslims and citizens."

"So we have asked our brother Muslims in all countries to wait before concluding contracts [with tour operators] until the situation is clear."

He added that the Hajj and health ministries had been inspecting hotels currently being used to accommodate people who had been undertaking Umra before the suspension and then been told to self-isolate or been unable to return home.

The minister also said that, for the time being, people who had purchased Umra visas and that could not be used would be refunded the cost.

Source: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-52118803
 
It seems that Saudi authorities will take the sensible approach and limit Hajj to a very small manageable number.
 
Very difficult to imagine a Hajj with very few people - one for the history books.
 
Singapore defers Hajj plans for 900 pilgrims

The plans of 900 Muslim pilgrims to travel to Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj will be deferred to 2021, the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore has said, according to local media.

Saudi Arabia has not made an official announcement on the status of this year's Hajj, which is due to start in late July.

The council said more than 80% of those registered to go were above the age of 50 - a group health authorities say are at greater risk from Covid-19.

Every year millions of Muslims travel to the holy city of Mecca. Muslims are required to make the journey at least one in their life if they are physically able and can afford to do so.
 
Sindh government announced to clamp strict lockdown on Friday, Saturday and Sunday as part of preventive measures against the pandemic novel coronavirus as confirmed infections have surged to almost 36,000 in Pakistan.

All commercial activities and businesses will remain at standstill from May 15 (Friday) to 17 (Sunday), according to an announcement made by the provincial home department.

Last week (May 10) after meeting representatives of associations of small traders of Karachi at the Sindh Assembly building’s auditorium, Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah announced to relax the lockdown measures and granted permission to traders to reopen their shops.

There will be 100 per cent lockdown in the province on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays in the province except for the businesses and shops providing essential services, including selling of grocery, food, and milk items, according to the May 10 announcement by CM Shah.

However, this time round, the stricter lockdown will be clamped. “From noon on Friday all sorts of businesses, including milk and vegetable shops and pharmacies, will remain shut,” said Sindh Minister for Information, Local Government, Housing & Town Planning, Religious Affairs, Forest and Wildlife Syed Nasir Hussain Shah.

There will be complete lockdown in the province from morning till 3pm, the minister said. All shops, including retail shops and medical shops, will be allowed to open after 3pm, he added.

Meantime, commissioner Karachi Iftikhar Shalwani directed deputy commissioners to ensure the implementation of the government’s directives. All sorts of business activities will remain closed today from morning till 3pm, he said, adding, the eateries and medical stores will be allowed to open after the 3pm.
 
JAKARTA: Indonesia on Tuesday called for Saudi Arabia to decide if it will allow the annual Islamic pilgrimage to Makkah, after the coronavirus pandemic plunged the ritual into doubt.

Last year around 2.5 million faithful travelled to Saudi Arabia from across the world to take part in the Haj, which all Muslims must perform at least once in their lives if able.

The year-round Umrah pilgrimage was suspended in March, while Saudi Arabia asked Muslims to temporarily defer preparations during the Covid-19 outbreak.

But Saudi authorities have yet to announce whether they will proceed with this year’s Haj, which takes place at the end of July.

Indonesia’s religious affairs ministry said a decision should be made before the fasting month of Ramazan ends this weekend.

“We hope the official decision on whether Haj will go ahead or be cancelled will be announced soon,” ministry spokesman Oman Fathurahman said on Tuesday.

Indonesia is the world’s biggest Muslim-majority nation and at least 231,000 of its citizens were registered to take part in this year’s pilgrimage — the largest contingent of any nation.

But Indonesia has held off confirming housing, transportation and other contracts with Saudi travel authorities, Fathurahman said.

“Until now the Ministry of Religious Affairs has yet to sign any contracts or pay the down payment for Haj services in Saudi Arabia,” he added.

The pilgrimage is a key revenue earner for the kingdom but risks becoming a major source of contagion if pilgrims flock to Makkah’s religious sites.

https://www.dawn.com/news/1558438/indonesia-calls-for-saudi-decision-on-haj
 
Malaysia bars citizens from Hajj pilgrimage on coronavirus fears

Malaysia said its citizens would be barred from making the haj pilgrimage this year due to concerns over the new coronavirus, following in the steps of neighbouring Indonesia, which is also a Muslim-majority nation.

Every year Malaysia sends tens of thousands of pilgrims to Saudi Arabia, home to Islam's two holiest sites, Mecca and Medina. Malaysian pilgrims can wait up to 20 years to make the trip due to a quota system negotiated with Saudi Arabia
 
Saudi faces perilous Haj call as virus spikes

Saudi Arabia is expected to scale back or call off this year's Haj pilgrimage for the first time in its modern history, observers say, a perilous decision as coronavirus cases spike.

Muslim nations are pressing Riyadh to give its much-delayed decision on whether the annual ritual will go ahead as scheduled in late July.

But as the kingdom negotiates a call fraught with political and economic risks in a tinderbox region, time is running out to organise logistics for one of the world's largest mass gatherings.

A full-scale Haj, which last year drew about 2.5 million pilgrims, appears increasingly unlikely after authorities advised Muslims in late March to defer preparations due to the fast-spreading disease.

"It's a toss-up between holding a nominal Haj and scrapping it entirely," a South Asian official in contact with Saudi Haj authorities told AFP.

A Saudi official told AFP: "The decision will soon be made and announced."

Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim nation, withdrew from the pilgrimage this month after pressing Riyadh for clarity, with a minister calling it a "very bitter and difficult decision".

Malaysia, Senegal and Singapore followed suit with similar announcements.

Many other countries with Muslim populations — from Egypt and Morocco to Turkey, Lebanon and Bulgaria — have said they are still awaiting Riyadh's decision.

In countries like France, faith leaders have urged Muslims to "postpone" their pilgrimage plans until next year due to the prevailing risks.

The Haj, a must for able-bodied Muslims at least once in their lifetime, represents a major potential source of contagion as it packs millions of pilgrims into congested religious sites.

But any decision to limit or cancel the event risks annoying Muslim hardliners for whom religion trumps health concerns.

It could also trigger renewed scrutiny of the Saudi custodianship of Islam's holiest sites — the kingdom's most powerful source of political legitimacy.

A series of deadly disasters over the years, including a 2015 stampede that killed up to 2,300 worshippers, has prompted criticism of the kingdom's management of the Haj.

"Saudi Arabia is caught between the devil and the deep blue sea," Umar Karim, a visiting fellow at the Royal United Services Institute in London, told AFP.

"The delay in announcing its decision shows it understands the political consequences of cancelling the Haj or reducing its scale."

'Buying time'
The kingdom is "buying time" as it treads cautiously, the South Asian official said.

"At the last minute if Saudi says 'we are ready to do a full Haj', (logistically) many countries will not be in a position" to participate, he said.

Amid an ongoing suspension of international flights, a reduced Haj with only local residents is a likely scenario, the official added.

A decision to cancel the Haj would be a first since the kingdom was founded in 1932.

Saudi Arabia managed to hold the pilgrimage during previous outbreaks of Ebola and MERS.

But it is struggling to contain the virus amid a serious spike in daily cases and deaths since authorities began easing a nationwide lockdown in late May.

In Saudi hospitals, sources say intensive care beds are fast filling up and a growing number of health workers are contracting the virus as the total number of cases has topped 130,000. Deaths surpassed 1,000 on Monday.

To counter the spike, authorities this month tightened lockdown restrictions in the city of Jeddah, gateway to the pilgrimage city of Mecca.

'Heartbroken'
"The Haj is the most important spiritual journey in the life of any Muslim, but if Saudi Arabia proceeds in this scenario it will not only exert pressure on its own health system," said Yasmine Farouk from the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

"It could also be widely held responsible for fanning the pandemic."

A cancelled or watered-down Haj would represent a major loss of revenue for the kingdom, which is already reeling from the twin shocks of the virus-induced slowdown and a plunge in oil prices.

The smaller year-round umrah pilgrimage was already suspended in March.

Together, they add $12 billion to the Saudi economy every year, according to government figures.

A negative decision would likely disappoint millions of Muslim pilgrims around the world who often invest their life savings and endure long waiting lists to make the trip.

"I can't help but be heartbroken — I've been waiting for years," Indonesian civil servant Ria Taurisnawati, 37, told AFP as she sobbed.

"All my preparations were done, the clothes were ready and I got the necessary vaccination. But God has another plan."
https://www.dawn.com/news/1563889/saudi-faces-perilous-haj-call-as-virus-spikes
 
no point scaling it back, saudi numbers are really high - aint they just 1 spot below is in confirmed cases.

it needs to be scrapped completely - ive done umrah yrs ago in august- thr were thousands-impossible to not to touch anyone, while is the masjid haram or even outside it
 
Saudi Arabia will decide next week whether Hajj will go ahead amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The annual pilgrimage sees 2.5 million Muslims, including around 25,000 from Britain, travel to Mecca to attend prayers at the Masjid al Haram, gather on Mount Arafat and sleep under the stars on the plains of Muzdalifah.

One of five pillars of Islam, Hajj is often described as "a journey of a lifetime" and Muslims are required to perform it at least once, providing they are physically fit and able to afford it.

The Saudi government is understood to be keen to go ahead with this year's event, which is due to start on 28 July.

Not only does it provide the country with immense influence and prestige among Muslims, but it also generates nearly £5bn in revenue annually.

After easing lockdown measures at the end of May, Saudi Arabia is now seeing a second wave of coronavirus and this year's pilgrimage is widely expected to be cancelled - a first in its 90-year history - or dramatically down-scaled.

Hajj has been cancelled on 40 occasions, for various conflicts and pandemics, with the last closure believed to be in 1798.

Several countries, including South Africa and Indonesia, have already banned any travel for Hajj this year.

On Friday, Saudi's COVID-19 cases exceeded 150,000, with 1,184 reported deaths. Cities are currently under curfew and borders are shut.

In Britain, Muslim leaders are urging their communities to see this not as a loss, but as a sacrifice for the safety of others, in keeping with Islamic principles.

Birmingham-based imam Sheikh Nuru Mohammed told Sky News: "What I would like to say to my beloved brothers and sisters, who made intentions of undertaking this lifetime journey, you've not lost anything if it is cancelled."

Student Nobeen Islam, 21, from Birmingham, took a year off university to work in order to save funds to take his mother to Hajj.

Speaking to Sky News, he said: "It seemed like a wonderful opportunity to spend my money on something that would hopefully make my mum really happy.

"It's a big shame but as a Muslim, we understand that nothing happens without God's will. The plan is to defer to next year, and if something happens next year, then to defer to the year after that."

Hajj packages can cost between £5,000 and £15,000, with the related travel industry worth an estimated £310m. If cancelled, it could cost the UK economy £175m.

Rashid Mogradia, CEO of the Council for British Hajjis UK, said: "Anyone who has booked to travel should immediately start looking at help before it's cancelled. Companies selling a package holiday are, by law, required to issue you with an ATOL certificate. That's your financial protection should anything go wrong."

He added: "In the last 20 years, we know Hajj has been impacted by the bird flu, swine flu, Ebola, SARS, and MERS viruses.

"But this is out of the ordinary. The coronavirus pandemic has had a global impact."

A UK Foreign Office spokesman said: "We are monitoring the global travel situation closely and keeping our advice against all non-essential travel under continuous review."

https://news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-25-000-british-muslims-set-to-miss-out-on-hajj-12010992
 
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ISLAMABAD: An emergency meeting of the Ministry of Religious Affairs has been convened to review the latest situation arising after Saudi Arabia’s announcement to hold Hajj 2020 with “a very limited number” of pilgrims residing in the country, a spokesperson for the ministry said on Tuesday.

The Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony’s spokesperson, Imran Siddiqui, issued a statement, saying Saudi Arabia's Minister for Hajj and Umrah Dr Mohammad Saleh bin Taher Benten telephoned his Pakistani counterpart Pir Noor-ul-Haq Qadri to inform him about the decision.

“An emergency meeting has been called to review the latest development during which the mechanism for the return of payments to those who had registered themselves for the government’s Hajj scheme would be discussed,” he said.

Pakistani envoy, diplomatic officials and the Pakistan Hajj Directorate in the kingdom would represent the country this year, he added.

According to a report, a total 179,210 Pakistanis had registered to perform Hajj this year, including 107,526 under the government scheme and 71,684 under the private scheme.

The Saudi government on Monday had said it will bar arrivals from abroad to attend the Hajj this year due to the coronavirus, allowing only a limited number of Saudi citizens and residents to make the pilgrimage with social distancing measures enforced.

The announcement means this will be the first year in modern times that Muslims from around the world have not been allowed to make the annual pilgrimage to Makkah, which all Muslims aim to perform at least once in a lifetime.

"This decision is taken to ensure Hajj is performed in a safe manner from a public health perspective while observing all preventative measures and the necessary social distancing protocols to protect human beings from the risks associated with this pandemic and in accordance with the teachings of Islam in preserving the lives of human beings," the ministry that oversees pilgrimages said in a statement.

The number of coronavirus cases in Saudi Arabia has exceeded 160,000, with 1,307 deaths, following a rise in new infections over the past two weeks.

Some 2.5 million pilgrims typically visit the holiest sites of Islam in Makkah and Medina for the week-long Hajj. Official data show Saudi Arabia earns around $12 billion a year from the Hajj and the lesser, year-round pilgrimage known as umrah.

The Kingdom halted international passenger flights in March and asked Muslims in March to put Hajj plans on hold until further notice. International arrivals for umrah pilgrimages have also been suspended until further notice.

Earlier this month, Malaysia and Indonesia both barred their citizens from travelling to Saudi Arabia for the pilgrimage, citing fears of the coronavirus.

https://www.geo.tv/latest/294414-hajj-2020-pakistan-calls-emergency-to-discuss-latest-situation
 
Muslims disappointed, but accepting, as Saudi scales back Hajj

Muslims have expressed disappointment at Saudi Arabia's decision to scale back this year's hajj pilgrimage, but many accepted it was necessary as the kingdom battles a major coronavirus outbreak.

Riyadh said Monday the hajj would be "very limited" with only pilgrims already in the country allowed to perform the ritual, marking the first time in modern Saudi history that foreign visitors have been barred.

The move had looked inevitable for some time and several countries had already pulled out, but the announcement nevertheless added to disappointment for Muslims who invest huge sums and face long waits to go on hajj.
 
Who's most affected by the Hajj coronavirus ban?

Saudi Arabia won't be allowing foreign visitors to make the annual Islamic pilgrimage, or Hajj, this year because of the risk of coronavirus. So who's likely to be most affected?

People normally come from around the world to visit Mecca. But this year, the Saudi authorities say the only non-Saudi pilgrims who can take part are those normally resident in the Kingdom.

In 2019, there were a total of 2.49 million pilgrims at the Hajj out of whom 1.8 million were international visitors, according to official Saudi statistics.

And the data shows that the number of pilgrims coming from non-Arab countries in Africa and Asia has been growing in the last few years.

Each country is normally allocated a specific quota for the Hajj, based on the size of its Muslim population, with Indonesia having the largest number, followed by Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Nigeria and Egypt.

These countries have all seen increases in coronavirus cases during May and early June, according to Johns Hopkins University figures.

India, Pakistan and Bangladesh in particular are reporting large numbers of new cases daily.
 
ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony has announced it will start refunding Hajj dues to all applicants for this year from Thursday, reported Radio Pakistan.

According to a spokesperson of the religious ministry, the decision has been taken in light of the Saudi government’s decision to hold a limited Hajj this year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The spokesperson said the amounts deposited by hopeful pilgrims will be refunded through scheduled banks across the country and all applicants are being informed via SMS.

“Applicants should come in person to receive the amount in cash, while group leaders should come to the bank with all original documents of group members in case of receiving through cheque,” the spokesperson said.

Read also: Hajj 2020 to be observed with 'around 1,000 pilgrims'

Applicants can contact Accounts Officer Refund at 051-9208465 in case of any difficulty in the refund process, the spokesperson added.

Limited Hajj this year
Earlier this week, Saudi Arabia had announced it would hold Hajj 2020 with a “very limited number” of pilgrims residing in the country.

The Kingdom later said it will allow only around 1,000 pilgrims residing in the country to perform the pilgrimage.

"The number of pilgrims will be around 1,000, maybe less, maybe a little more," Hajj Minister Mohammad Benten told reporters.

"The number won't be in tens or hundreds of thousands" this year, he added.

The pilgrimage, scheduled for the end of July, will be limited to those below 65 years of age and with no chronic illnesses, Health Minister Tawfiq al-Rabiah had added.

Read also: ‘Only those living in Saudi Arabia will be allowed to perform pilgrimage’

The pilgrims will be tested for coronavirus before arriving in the holy city of Makkah and will be required to quarantine at home after the ritual, Rabiah added.

“As COVID-19 cases continue to grow globally while the risks of Coronavirus spread in crowded spaces and to countries still exist, Hajj 1441H is decided to take place this year with a limited number of pilgrims from all nationalities residing in Saudi Arabia only, who are willing to perform Hajj,” the Saudi Hajj ministry statement had said.

The ministry said that the decision to hold the restricted pilgrimage was taken to ensure that the Hajj was safely performed "while committing to all preventive measures to protect Muslims and adhere strictly to the teachings of Islam in preserving our health and safety".

"The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques' government is honoured to serve millions of Hajj and Umrah pilgrims annually," it said.

"It confirms that this decision is in consideration of its constant care of maintaining the safety of pilgrims on its land until departing back to their home countries. We ask Allah the Almighty to protect all countries from this pandemic and keep all humans protected and safe," it added.

The decision marks the first time in Saudi Arabia's modern history that Muslims outside the Kingdom have been barred from performing the Hajj, which last year drew 2.5 million pilgrims.

The Hajj — a must for able-bodied Muslims at least once in their lifetime — typically packs millions of pilgrims into congested religious sites and could be a major source of contagion.

https://www.geo.tv/latest/295072-government-to-start-refunding-hajj-2020-dues-from-thursday
 
Saudi Arabia announced health protocols to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus in the 2020 Haj season, banning gatherings and meetings between pilgrims, the state news agency said on Monday.

Saudi Arabia decided in June to limit the number of domestic pilgrims attending the Haj to around 1,000 to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, after barring Muslims abroad from the rite for the first year in modern times.

Touching the holy Kaaba will be banned during Haj this year, and a social distancing space of a metre and a half between each pilgrim during the rituals including mass prayers and while in the Kaaba circling area will be imposed, a statement by the Center for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) elaborated.

Also, access to holy Haj sites at Mina, Muzdalifah and Arafat will be limited to those with Haj permits starting on Sunday, July 19 till August 2, 2020.

Wearing masks all the time will also be mandatory for both pilgrims and organisers.

https://www.dawn.com/news/1567340/saudi-arabia-announces-haj-health-measures-for-domestic-pilgrims
 
Pandemic hit to haj saddens would-be pilgrims

This year’s haj will be a time of sadness for many Muslims around the world prevented from travelling to Saudi Arabia, but a decision to honour local health and security staff in the front line of the fight against the coronavirus has won praise.

For the first time in the modern era, amidst efforts to curb COVID-19, Muslims from abroad will be unable to attend the pilgrimage.

This year’s event has been limited to about 1,000 pilgrims from within Saudi Arabia, 70% of whom will be foreign residents of the kingdom.

The remaining 30% will be drawn from Saudi healthcare workers and security personnel who have recovered from the coronavirus, as a gesture of thanks for their sacrifice.

“Haj this year is for the heroes who saved the country and saved our people, they deserve it ... I personally would have loved to go but there are priorities,” said Saudi citizen Nour al Ghamdi.

Those chosen will receive supplies including special ihram garments, toiletries, and a prayer rug in a suitcase from the Saudi haj ministry, as well as pre-arranged meals. They will be required to maintain social distancing.

Like many Muslims around the world, Egyptian Mahmoud Ali Mahmoud, 55, laments the restriction to domestic pilgrims.

“As you can see, I had everything prepared. Here is my Quran, my ihram clothing, my garment,” he said, opening his packed suitcase.

“The time that one can spend there could be a time for us to pray that God rids the world of this pandemic,” he said from his Cairo home.

Some 2.5 million Muslims typically visit the holiest sites of Islam in Mecca and Medina for the week-long pilgrimage, due to start on July 28. A once-in-a-lifetime duty for able-bodied Muslims who can afford the cost, it is usually extremely crowded.

Dhera Arizona, 31, had been saving up for seven years to travel to Mecca from Indonesia this year.

“We are disappointed and sad,” she said, but “we understand that in this kind of pandemic situation, it is impossible to hold the worship service”.

Official figures show that the haj and the year-round umrah pilgrimage earn the kingdom about $12 billion a year. Minimizing the event will hurt government finances, already hit by falling oil prices and the pandemic.

https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-h...-saddens-would-be-pilgrims-idUKKCN24N2GL?il=0
 
The annual Hajj pilgrimage performed by Muslims from around the world is beginning in Saudi Arabia, dramatically scaled back because of coronavirus.

International visitors have been banned from making the journey to Mecca, to try to curb the pandemic.

Only 10,000 pilgrims are expected, as opposed to about two million usually.

The vast majority normally come from abroad, but this year the only foreigners allowed to attend are those who reside in the kingdom.

Those taking part were subject to temperature checks and virus tests as they began arriving in Mecca at the weekend, AFP news agency reports.

Worshippers will also have to quarantine before and after the pilgrimage. Face masks will be mandatory at all times.

In an interview with Saudi-funded al-Arabiya TV this week, Minister for Pilgrimage Affairs Mohammed Saleh Binten said pilgrims were being quarantined in their homes before a further four days of quarantine in hotels in Mecca.

The kingdom has recorded more than 270,000 cases with nearly 3,000 deaths, one of the largest outbreaks in the Middle East.

The country only lifted a nationwide lockdown last month. Tough restrictions to tackle the spread of infections came into force in March, including 24-hour curfews in most towns and cities.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-53571886
 
This video shows how Tawaf is being conducted

<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 50%;"><iframe src="https://streamable.com/e/l0ho1q" frameborder="0" width="100%" height="100%" allowfullscreen style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;"></iframe></div>
 
With his head in his hands, Sajjad Malik sounds dejected. The taxi booking office he manages near Mecca's iconic Grand Mosque, the Masjid al-Haram, is empty. "There's no work, no salary, nothing," he says.

"Usually these two or three months before the Hajj (annual pilgrimage) me and the drivers make enough money to last for the rest of the year. But now nothing."

One of his drivers, Samiur Rahman, part of Saudi Arabia's largely foreign private workers, sends the office status updates from the roads around the popular Mecca clock tower. The sea of pilgrims is missing - they usually line the streets, dressed in white, with umbrellas to protect themselves from the intense heat.

Today the drivers' people-carriers are void of passengers and the city looks like a ghost town. Sajjad's drivers send him videos of the pigeons filling the roads instead.

"My drivers have no food and now they are sleeping four or five per room, in rooms designed for two," says Sajjad,

I ask him if he is receiving any government help. "No, no help, nothing. I have savings, which we are spending. But I have a lot of staff - more than 50 people were working with me - and they are suffering.

"One of my friends called me yesterday, saying, 'Please I need some work, I don't even care how much you want to pay me.' Believe me, the people are crying."

There are severe restrictions in place for this year's Hajj. Saudi Arabia has seen one of the biggest outbreaks of coronavirus in the Middle East and has said the two million pilgrims who normally come from around the world to Mecca will not be allowed to do so, in a bid to limit the spread of Covid-19.

Only those already living in the country will be allowed to perform the Hajj - taking the number down to just 10,000.

Pilgrims will not be able to freely drink from the holy Well of Zamzam, the water will all have to be bottled individually. And when it comes to the stoning of the three pillars in Mina, symbolising the rejection of the devil, the pebbles will have to be sterilised.

Away from Saudi Arabia itself, the huge influx of hungry pilgrims usually leads to lucrative import orders for livestock from neighbouring countries like Kenya - many of whose farmers now have herds of unsold cattle.

"The livestock subsector in Kenya is big. It's the mainstay for most of the households in the country, and a way of life for most farmers, especially during the Hajj period," says Patrick Kimani from the Kenya Livestock Producers Association.

Kenya now has thousands of unsold cattle due to the limitations on this year's Hajj, says Patrick Kimani
On average, his members export 5,000 head of cattle to Saudi Arabia for the Hajj, he says. "Farmers are now diversifying in to cold storage and local markets.

"We are concerned that it could decimate local cattle prices because all that extra produce could be dumped at cut price to local buyers for a quick sell."

Hajj dates back to the life of the Prophet Muhammad 1,400 years ago and there have been few limitations like this in its history.

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-53532941
 
Muslims wearing face masks and socially distancing have started arriving in Mecca for a dramatically scaled-down Hajj pilgrimage in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

Some 2.5 million pilgrims usually visit the Saudi Arabian cities of Mecca and Medina for the week-long ritual - a once-in-a-lifetime duty for every able-bodied Muslim who can afford it.

But this year as few as 1,000 people already residing in Saudi Arabia will take part in the gathering in an effort to control the spread of COVID-19.

Rather than praying shoulder to shoulder in a sea of people from different walks of life, pilgrims have been standing apart and moving in small groups of 20.

In past years, it was common to see men pushing their elderly parents around on wheelchairs in order to help them complete the Hajj, along with parents carrying children on their backs and people eating together.

This year, however, pilgrims are eating pre-packaged meals alone in their hotel rooms.

For the first time in Saudi history, the government barred Muslims from entering the kingdom from abroad to perform the Hajj.

The pilgrims, who were selected after applying through an online portal, were required to be between the ages of 20 and 50, with no terminal illnesses and showing no symptoms of the virus.

Preference was given to those who have not performed the Hajj before.

Pilgrims were tested for coronavirus, given wristbands that connect to their phones and monitored their movement.

They were also required to quarantine at home and in their hotel rooms in Mecca ahead of the start of the journey.

They also must quarantine for a week after the Hajj concludes on Sunday.

The Saudi government is covering all the pilgrims' expenses for travel, accommodation, meals and healthcare.

The Hajj is one of Islam's most important requirements and follows a route the Prophet Mohammed walked nearly 1,400 years ago.

It is believed to ultimately trace the footsteps of the prophets Ibrahim and Ismail, or Abraham and Ishmael as they are named in the Bible.

The pilgrimage is intended to bring about greater humility and unity among Muslims and it is a journey that followers traditionally experience with relatives.

https://news.sky.com/story/coronavi...down-hajj-pilgrimage-due-to-covid-19-12038688

skynews-hajj-kabaa-pilgrimage_5052852.png
 
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Eid festivities held amid virus woes

Muslims across the Middle East and the rest of the world are preparing to mark the major festival of Eid al-Adha amid the pandemic.

In Lebanon, a raft of restrictions have been reimposed for the next four days after it experienced an 80% rise in coronavirus cases since lockdown was lifted on 8 June.

In Iraq, home to cities holy to both Sunni and Shia Muslims, a 10-day lockdown came into effect on Wednesday amid a resurgence there too.

Prayers in mosques have been banned in Syria and Egypt, though in the latter opening hours of restaurants and cafes have been extended ahead of Eid following a decline in coronavirus cases in recent weeks.

Eid al-Adha - Feast of the Sacrifice - marks the last day of the Hajj, the annual Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia. Normally about two million people attend, though this year it has been scaled back to only a few thousand because of the pandemic.
 
Pilgrims pray on peak day of hajj in shadow of coronavirus

The global coronavirus pandemic has cast a shadow over every aspect of this year's pilgrimage, which last year drew 2.5 million Muslims from across the world to Mount Arafat, where the Prophet Muhammad delivered his final sermon nearly 1,400 years ago.

Only a very limited number of pilgrims were allowed to take part in the hajj amid numerous restrictions to limit the potential spread of the coronavirus.

The Saudi government has not released a final figure on the number of hajj pilgrims this year, but has said anywhere from 1,000 to 10,000 would be taking part.

Pilgrims are traveling in small groups of 20, following strict guidelines around social distancing, have undergone tests for the COVID-19 disease and were in quarantine before the hajj.
 
A new Muslim festival : Eid Al Abba

<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 50%;"><iframe src="https://streamable.com/e/qhcgps" frameborder="0" width="100%" height="100%" allowfullscreen style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;"></iframe></div>
 
And one from Boris....

<div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 50%;"><iframe src="https://streamable.com/e/f6mau4" frameborder="0" width="100%" height="100%" allowfullscreen style="width: 100%; height: 100%; position: absolute;"></iframe></div>
 
Amazing pic

_113772491_crokepa.jpg


The holding of a major Muslim prayer service at an "iconic" Irish sporting venue has sent a message "to the whole world" that Ireland is a welcoming country, an Islamic leader has said.

About 200 Muslims gathered at Dublin's Croke Park stadium on Friday to celebrate the Islamic festival of Eid.

Croke Park is the headquarters of the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA).

It was made available so Eid could be marked in a safe and socially-distanced way during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The event was addressed by Shaykh Umar Al-Qadri, the chair of Irish Muslim Peace and Integration Council.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-53615549
 
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