1.5 Million Foreign Pilgrims Arrive as Saudi Arabia Gears up for Hajj Pilgrimage- More Details Here
1.5 Million Foreign Pilgrims Arrive as Saudi Arabia Gears up for Hajj Pilgrimage- More Details Here
Dubai: Close to 1.5 million foreign pilgrims have arrived in Saudi Arabia, the vast majority by air, so far for the annual Hajj pilgrimage, Saudi officials have said.
The kingdom is expecting more pilgrims to arrive before the start of the Hajj on Monday.
Pilgrims in white robes and sandals packed the ancient city, now dotted with luxury hotels and air-conditioned shopping malls, after flooding in on planes, buses and trains for the annual rites.
This year’s Hajj — one of the world’s biggest annual religious gatherings — could break attendance records, officials said.
In 2019, more than 2.4 million Muslims made the pilgrimage. On Friday, pilgrims thronged the Grand Mosque in Mecca to attend weekly communal prayers.
Many then did a ritual circuit walking seven times around the Kaaba, the cube-shaped structure inside the Grand Mosque that is Islam’s holiest site. On Thursday night, the vast marble court around the Kaaba was packed with the faithful, walking nearly shoulder to shoulder — in stark contrast to scenes two years ago at the height of the pandemic, when the sparse numbers kept far from each other in the nearly empty court as they walked the circuit.
How do pilgrims commute?
Some 24,000 buses will be in service to ferry the pilgrims, as well as 17 trains capable of moving 72,000 people every hour, officials said.
For the first time, the Saudi Transport General Authority (TGA) will introduce self-driving buses to assist pilgrims during this year’s Haj season.
The buses utilise artificial intelligence, cameras, and sensors to operate within designated routes. By collecting and analysing data during transit, the buses can make decisions to enhance passenger experience and ensure safety.
Each bus has an 11-seat capacity, can operate for 6 hours per charge, and has a top speed of 30 kilometres per hour. The move aims to streamline the movement of pilgrims
“It is an unbelievable feeling that is very emotional,” Souad bin Oueis, a 60-year-old Moroccan pilgrim, told AFP after arriving on her first visit to Saudi Arabia along with her husband.
What is Hajj?
Every year, millions of Muslims from around the world gather annually in Mecca to perform Hajj – the sacred Muslim pilgrimage.
Hajj became obligatory for every able-bodied Muslim adult who has the financial means to do after Prophet Muhammad’s “farewell pilgrimage” in 632 AD.
Hajj is a sacred pilgrimage that is required of every Muslim at least once in their lifetime – it is one of the fifth pillars of Islam. Each year, millions of Muslims from across the world travel to and perform Hajj in Makkah, modern day Saudi Arabia.
It takes place during the same time each year, in the sacred month of Dhul Hijjah – the twelfth month in the Islamic Calendar. Hajj begins on the 8th of Dhul Hijjah and lasts approximately five to six days depending on the sighting of the moon. When the new crescent moon is sighted, Muslims around the world welcome in the four-day festival of Eid al-Adha.
Muslims are commanded by Allah (SWT) to fulfil the sacred pilgrimage of Hajj as relayed in the Holy Qur’an:
As the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
“Whoever performs Hajj for the sake of Allah and does not utter any obscene speech or do any evil deed, will go back (free of sin) as his mother bore him.”
What Happens On Hajj?
Muslims who perform the sacred pilgrimage of Hajj are required to undergo a series of rites and rituals which each offer their own unique purpose and wisdom.
Here are the 18 steps of Hajj at a glance:
The 18 Steps Of Hajj At A Glance:
- Preparation and Intention
- Enter state of Ihram
- Tawaf x7
- Safa and Marwa
- Clip/Shave Hair (Umrah ends)
- Resting and Praying
- Enter state of Ihram
- Arrive at Mina
- Day of ‘Arafah
- Muzdalifah (under the night sky)
- Rami (stoning of the devil)
- Qurbani
- Shave Head
- Tawaf al-Ifadha
- Rami (stoning of the devil)
- Spend night at Mina
- Rami (stoning of the devil)
- Farewell Tawaf al-Wida
(With Inputs From Agencies)
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