12,000 field team members involved in cleaning holy sites
As many as 12,000 members of field teams have swung into action to cleanse the neighborhoods of Makkah and the holy sites through the use of environment friendly and safe sterilizing and cleaning material.
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Arafat Day sermon to be translated into 10 languages
Arafat Day sermon will be translated into 10 languages in a bid to deliver the message of Islam to the widest possible audience, Sheikh Abdul Rahman Al-Sudais, chief of the General Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques, pointed out during the annual media briefing on the Presidency's plan for this year's Hajj season.
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Grand Mosque to remain closed to worshipers on Arafat Day and Eid Al-Adha
Maj. Gen. Mohammed Bin Wasl Al-Ahmadi, assistant commander of the Hajj security forces for the Grand Mosque and its premises, said on Tuesday that the Grand Mosque will remain closed to worshipers on Arafat Day and Eid Al-Adha as part of the precautionary measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus pandemic.
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‘Unprecedented’ plans in place for this year’s Hajj
Saudi Arabia's Minister of Hajj and Umrah Dr. Muhammad Saleh Benten made on Monday an inspection tour of the facilities and arrangement made for the Hajj pilgrims in Makkah and the holy sites.
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Software Developers Look to Offer Virtual Hajj as a Viable Alternative for Pilgrims
The annual hajj that brings more than 2 million pilgrims to Saudi Arabia’s Mecca has been drastically scaled back this year due to the pandemic, but virtual software developers are hoping to let Muslims experience what it’s like to worship at the city’s holy sites from afar.
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Surveillance beefed up to prevent infiltration for Hajj
Maj. Gen. Eid Al-Otaibi, commander of the tasks of the Makkah region police, said that all the arrangements have been made to prevent the infiltration of pilgrims without Hajj permits to the holy sites.
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Dhul Al-Hijjah moon not sighted, Eid Al-Adha begins on July 31
The Saudi Supreme Court on Monday said that Dul Al-Hijjah will begin on Wednesday, July 22, and that Arafat Day (Dul Al-Hijjah) will fall on Thursday, July 30.
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Arafat Day most likely on July 30, astronomers say
The Arafat Day, which culminates the annual pilgrimage of Hajj, is expected on Thursday, July 30, and the first day of Eid Al-Adha will be on Friday, July 31, according to Abdul Aziz Al-Hussaini, a prominent Saudi astronomer and weather and climate researcher.
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No entry to holy sites without a Hajj permit
Maj. Gen. Zayed Al-Tawaian, commander of the Hajj Security Forces, said that only those who have valid Hajj permit will be allowed to enter the holy sites and penalties will be imposed on violators.
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Hajj 2020 pilgrims start 7 day quarantine
Pilgrims selected to perform the Hajj this year started a seven day quarantine on Sunday, the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah said. The measure is part of a series of safeguards taken to ensure the safety of pilgrims during Hajj, which takes place amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
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Arafat Day sermon to be aired in five languages
The Arafat Day sermon will be broadcast in five languages — English, French, Indonesian, Urdu, and Persian, the General Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques announced on Sunday.
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Saudi Arabia calls on people to sight Dhu Al-Hijjah crescent on Monday
Saudi Arabia’s Supreme Court has called on people to sight the crescent of Dhu Al-Hijjah on Monday evening. Dhu Al-Hijjah is the month during which the Hajj pilgrimage takes place and is the last month of the Islamic calendar.
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