Haj pilgrims converge on Mount Arafat to ask for forgiveness
With their palms facing the sky in supplication, and many with tears in their eyes, around 2 million people from around the world gathered Thursday in an effort to start anew, erase past sins and beg God for forgiveness and guidance in the peak day of the Haj pilgrimage.
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Nine Haj pilgrims give birth in two days
Nine pilgrims gave birth to healthy babies on Wednesday and Thursday, child and maternity officials in Makkah have said.
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104-year-old Indonesian pilgrim is king's guest
Mariah Marghani Mohammad, a 104-year-old woman from Indonesia performing Haj this year, is now the guest of Saudi King Salman Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud.
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Holy Kaaba joins Twitter
The Holy Kaaba, the holiest site for Muslims across the world, has joined Twitter. The timing of the launch of the Twitter account coincides with the Haj pilgrimage season in Saudi Arabia.
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Increased Hajj quota comes as relief for Indonesians despite mammoth waiting list
JAKARTA: There is a huge demand from Indonesians to perform Hajj, since they form the largest Muslim population in the world, but to be able to go on one is not an easy matter. Most of those who want to go have to endure tedious years of waiting, and much also depends on where they live. Residents in Bantaeng, a regency in Southeast Sulawesi, have to wait the longest — until
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Zul Hijjah crescent moon not sighted
The moon has not been spotted today according to a tweet sent out by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA). The Supreme Court said that the 'Zul Hija Crescent not sighted'.
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Fire breaks out in 15-story Makkah hotel, 600 pilgrims evacuated
Six hundred Turkish and Yemeni pilgrims survived a fire that broke out in a hotel in Makkah’s Al-Aziziyah neighborhood after they were evacuated by emergency response teams, Saudi state news agency SPA reported Monday.
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Pilgrims cycle 3,000 km on way to Madinah
A group of nine British pilgrims cycled 3,000 km on their way to Madinah in their six-week long journey from London. The group was accorded a warm welcome by Saudi authorities and cycling enthusiasts. Saudi Cyclist Association and Taibah Cyclist Association, under the patronage of Saudi Sports Authority, received the pilgrims at a traditional ceremony by beating drums and showering rose petals.
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Saudi Arabia expects 24 percent increase in Hajj pilgrims this year
Over one million pilgrims arrive through Saudi Arabia’s land, air and sea ports for Hajj this year. The numbers have totaled to 1,070,951 individuals as of Friday evening.
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Pilgrims visit Jabal Al-Rahmah before crowds arrive
Pilgrims from all over the world are enjoying uncrowded conditions at the holy places before thousands of pilgrims descend on the historical sites at Arafat, including Jabal Al-Rahmah (Mountain of Mercy) and Namirah Mosque.
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120,060 turned back from Makkah over Haj permits
Saudi security authorities have turned back 120,060 people who arrived in the vicinity of Makkah without proper permits to perform Haj.
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264,000 more pilgrims from abroad this year
THE number of foreign pilgrims performing Haj this year would be highest in history, according to sources at the Ministry of Haj and Umrah. Saudi authorities have made flawless and elaborate arrangements to receive the largest number of pilgrims in the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah and to ensure a hassle-free Haj. So far nearly one million foreign pilgrims have arrived in the Kingdom.
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