VIDEO: Masked Hajj pilgrims on Mount Arafat pray for COVID-free world
- 19 Jul 2021
Gulf Today Report
On Tuesday, July 20, Muslims of the world mark Eid Al Adha, the "Festival of Sacrifice," the most important event in the Islamic calendar.
Muslims who can afford perform Hajj once in their life as this year around 60,000 coronavirus vaccinated residents perform Hajj under the government’s directions for COVID-19 precautions.
This festival is celebrated throughout the Muslim world as a commemoration of Prophet Abraham's willingness to sacrifice everything for God.
Muslims gather for prayers to celebrate Eid Al Adha in Nairobi, Kenya, on Tuesday. Sayyid Abdul Azim/AP
Earlier, the Hajj pilgrims on the ninth of Dhul-Hijjah scaled Mount Arafat (Mountain of Mercy) on Monday, to perform the most important ritual of the Hajj.
The official spokesman for the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, Hisham Saeed, said that the pilgrimage to Arafat began at five in the morning on Monday, and pilgrims were transported by buses according to the grouping plans through the paths designated for them to the Arafat site.
He explained that approximately 400,000 square metres have been prepared in Al-Mashaar to receive pilgrims, indicating that this area is equivalent to 5 square metres for each pilgrim, and the aim is to improve the services provided to the worshippers, and to implement the precautionary measures and health protocols agreed upon for this year's Hajj.
Saeed revealed the use of modern technology such as the “Smart Hajj Card” to tighten the grouping operations, instant control and make any quick intervention in the event of a breach of this system, stressing that so far no defect has been detected in the system and it is proceeding as planned.
A woman pilgrim recites Holy Quran at Mount Arafat during the Hajj on Monday. AFP
The Secretary-General of the Automobile Syndicate, Abdul Rahman Al-Mayouf, told the Union of News Agencies of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (UNA) that more than 1,600 buses equipped with all safety requirements, and are accompanied by 1,400 guides and commanders to supervise their direction.
Through the paths and ensuring that the pilgrims adhere to the precautionary measures to combat the coronavirus.
The pilgrims to Muzdalifah will also go by buses and will start after seven in the evening on Monday.It will continue until ten in the evening Makkah time.
The security spokesman for the Ministry of Interior, Colonel Talal Al Shalhoub, confirmed that the security services are working with full preparations in the holy sites of Mina, Arafat and Muzdalifah to implement their plans.
The Ministry of Health has set up the Jabal Al-Rahma Hospital in the Arafat area, to provide medical care to pilgrims, and equipped a mobile field hospital to provide health services in the Arafat area, north of the Namera Mosque.
About 180 ambulances are also deployed to provide intensive and emergency health services, and civil defense centers were deployed in the area.