Hajj homecomings and pilgrims’ gifts, past and the present
MINA: Since ancient times, there have been customs and traditions associated with Hajj, not least the joyous celebrations to welcome pilgrims home from their spiritual retreat and, of course, the gifts pilgrims bring back for relatives and neighbors. As larger numbers of people from the world began to participate in the Hajj, the customs spread to all pilgrims, not only Arabs.
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Makkah governor thanks everyone who helped make Hajj 2018 a success
JEDDAH: Makkah Gov. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal thanked King Salman, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Interior Minister Prince Abdul Aziz bin Saud bin Naif for supervising this year’s Hajj season. During the concluding press conference for this year’s Hajj, which was held in Mina on Thursday, Prince Khaled also thanked the media who covered the season, as well as those who
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Indian woman pilgrim airlifted on Arafat Day
When the medical team told her that the expense for the airlifting would be met by the Saudi government, she was so happy and wept for joy, according to a report, carried by the Saudi Press Agency.
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Indian goodwill delegation lauds Kingdom’s excellent services for pilgrims
“For the first time, a total of 1,171 women pilgrims, who came without a male Mahram (blood relative), performed Haj this year. A separate branch office and dispensary manned by lady officials have also been set up to provide assistance to them,” he said.
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Security of the Mashaer train begins on Arafat day and continues till end of Haj
Col. Salim Al-Subaie, assistant commander of the Masher train and stations in Mina, said the security of the establishments has started on Monday, Dhul Hijja 9 ( August 20) and will continue until Friday which is the third and final Tashriq day.
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Pilgrims continue to stone the Satan and doing tawaf Al-Ifada
On Wednesday, the first of the three Tashriq days, more than 2.3 million pilgrims continued to throw stones at the Satan replica and proceeding from the Jamarat area to the Grand Mosque in Makkah to do tawaf Al-Ifada.
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British charity chief praises improved Hajj services
JEDDAH: A team of volunteers from the Council of British Hajjis is working in Saudi Arabia to help and support pilgrims from the UK. In addition to general assistance, they can arrange medical treatment and are offering general health advice. Rashid Mogradia, the CEO and founder of the council, which is Britain’s national Hajj charity, praised the improvements made by Saudi
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Aviation Command sorties increased over holy sites during Hajj
MINA: The General Security Aviation Command has increased the number of daily sorties over the holy sites during this year’s Hajj. Assistant commander of the General Security Aviation Command. Col. Mizali Abdullah Abed Al-Wahab, said the missions are being implemented, including controlling the filtration points to prevent illegal pilgrims from entering the holy sites, along
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Hajj minister: Holy sites to get major upgrade
MINA: The holy sites will undergo a fundamental facelift in the near future, Saudi Arabia's Hajj minister said in an exclusive interview with Arab News. “There is a comprehensive, integrated plan to develop the Mina, Muzdalifah and Arafat altogether,” Mohammed bin Saleh Banten said. “We now know that there is a royal commission, chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, for
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Veteran pilgrim shares his experiences of performing Hajj in a wheelchair
MINA: Abbas Al-Mehdar, a veteran Hajj pilgrim from Jeddah, has a favorite moment from this year’s Hajj, which he undertook with his family. High temperatures and humidity were experienced at Arafat on Sunday evening as pilgrims gathered for Monday’s day of standing at Arafat. “This year when we entered Arafat it was a really nice moment. The second we entered our camp it
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Pilgrims praise efforts of Saudi authorities during Hajj
MINA: Many images of humanitarian actions performed by security men assigned to work in the holy places have appeared in different media over the Hajj season. These men have been entrusted to serve pilgrims from around the world, preserve their safety and help them to complete their rituals.
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US Olympic fencing medalist Ibtihaj Muhammad expresses her delight at performing Hajj
JEDDAH: The Olympic medalist and fencing champion Ibtihaj Muhammad has expressed her delight at performing Hajj. The female athlete first became a sensation as the first Muslim American to represent the US in the Olympics while wearing a hijab.
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