File photo: Muslim pilgrims pray around the holy Kaaba at the Grand Mosque
Saudi Arabia is currently hosting more than 800 foreign media personnel to cover this year’s Hajj pilgrimage, according to Saudi Information Minister Awad bin Saleh al-Awwad.
This year’s pilgrimage season is officially set to begin on Sunday evening.
Al-Awwad made the assertion while inspecting a series of information centers set up for pilgrims in the areas of Arafat, Muzdalifah and Mina.
According to the minister, preparations for this year’s pilgrimage are being covered by 151 media outlets from around the world in a multiplicity of languages.
At least 16 direct digital channels, he said, are also covering the preparations in six different languages around the clock.
Al-Awwad went on to note that his ministry had set up a number of media centers in Mecca -- and at other holy sites -- to facilitate coverage of pilgrimage-related activities.
Media personnel, he added, were being provided with all the technical services they require.
Last year, roughly 1.75 million Muslims visited Saudi Arabia to perform the Hajj, while another 6.53 million came for the Umrah, the non-mandatory lesser pilgrimage.
The Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca is considered a religious obligation for Muslims, who are expected to make the journey -- if financially feasible -- at least once in their lives.
Unlike the Hajj pilgrimage, which this year will take place from Aug. 19 to 24, Muslims can perform the Umrah at any time.
The head of Turkey's top religious authority on Thursday visited patients being treated at a hospital founded by the authority in Saudi Arabia.Ali Erbas, the head of Turkey's Religious Affairs Directorate (Diyanet), made inspections at the Diyanet Health Center, which was specifically founded to treat Turkish pilgrims visiting the holy city of Mecca during the Hajj.The hospital provides treatment with its staff of 550 in Mecca and Medina, and has so far examined over 70,000 patients, according to the head of the directorate’s health team.
Turkish religious head visits sick patients in Mecca
The number of pilgrims who have come to Saudi Arabia from overseas to take part in this year’s Hajj pilgrimage now stands at some 1.39 million, the Saudi authorities said Monday.According to the Saudi General Directorate for Passports, the new arrivals cover the period from July 14 to Aug. 11.On July 1, the Saudi Ministry for Hajj and Umrah Affairs said that arrangements had been made to accommodate as many as two million expected pilgrims.Video: Muslim pilgrims visit Hira Cave in MeccaLast year, roughly 1.75 million Muslims visited Saudi Arabia to perform the Hajj, while another 6.53 million came for the Umrah, the non-mandatory lesser pilgrimage.The Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca is considered a religious obligation for Muslims, who are expected to make the journey -- if financially feasible -- at least once in their lives.Unlike the Hajj pilgrimage, which this year will take place from Aug. 19 to 24, Muslims can perform the Umrah at any time of the year.
1.4mn Muslims arrive in Saudi for Hajj pilgrimage
The holy sites in Saudi Arabia are for worship, not for political slogans, the imam of the Grand Mosque in Makkah said Sunday.“The holy sites are places for worship, not for political slogans or sectarian or religious strike,” Abdul Rahman as-Sudais said in a statement.Around 3.5 million Muslims are preparing to start the annual Hajj pilgrimage in the holy sites in Saudi Arabia next week.As-Sudais said Saudi authorities will not allow any attempt to raise slogans during the ritual.Saudi Arabia “is keen on taking care of all Muslims and is seeking to bolster ties and solidarity among members of the Islamic nation in light of the current circumstances,” he said.The Saudi imam said that “there is a war being waged on what Saudi Arabia is doing in the two Holy Mosques”, but without elaborating.Iran and Saudi Arabia – two regional rivals – have been trading barbs over the annual Hajj pilgrimage in recent years.While Tehran claims that Riyadh was placing restrictions to Iranian pilgrims during the Hajj, Saudi Arabia accuses Iran of “politicizing” the annual ritual.-Message of IslamAs-Sudais said Saudi Arabia was seeking to promote tolerance and co-existence.“The message of the Kingdom is the message of Islam that is based on mercy, tolerance and co-existence,” he said.“Terrorism has no religion or culture,” he said, going on to accuse parties of seeking to tarnish the image of Islam, but without naming these parties.As-Sudais said this year’s sermon during the climax of the Hajj ritual will be translated into five languages: English, Indonesian, French, Urdu and Persian.“This [translation] project would enable the users to benefit from translation in and around the holy sites,” he said.
Holy sites for worship, not politics: Saudi Arabia