The year 2020 will leave terrifying and unforgettable memories all over the world. The resuming of Umrah pilgrimage from October 4 is good news for Muslim Ummah (“Saudi to gradually resume Umrah pilgrimage from October 4,” Sept. 26, Gulf Today).

Saudi Arabia will gradually resume the year-round Umrah pilgrimage for Muslims from October 4, the interior ministry said on Tuesday, seven months after it was suspended because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The kingdom had suspended the Umrah in March and later scaled back the annual Hajj in a blow to millions of pilgrims around the world amid fears that the coronavirus could spread to Islam’s holiest sites.

It is every Muslim’s dream to visit Saudi Arabia at least once in his or her life to perform Hajj or Umrah.

Due to the unfortunate start to the year 2020, the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic has gripped the world badly. Millions of people have died and billions of people are still suffering from an invisible enemy, coronavirus. The whole world adopted a lockdown policy including Saudi Arabia and stopped everything. Due to the lockdown, no one was allowed to go outside the country and come into the country as well. Saving people from the coronavirus was the top priority for every country.

As the world was experiencing its worst coronavirus time it was a good decision of the Saudi government not to allow people from around the world to perform the Umrah rituals, just for the sake of saving lives.

As things improve, I am sure the announcement from the Saudi government that Saudi will gradually resume Umrah pilgrimage for Muslims from October 4, is the happiest news and moment of the year 2020 for the Muslims around the world.

Raja Siyal — By email