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#5731 [Permalink] Posted on 12th May 2016 16:34

As posted by Icedude786

 

The Mataf - Haj 1431 December 2010



PHASE 1 - MUHARRAM 1434 / December 2012



Start demolition of Ottoman hallway in the Haram









March 2013







Ramadan 1434 - August 2013




October 2013


Hajj 1434 - October 2013
 

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#5732 [Permalink] Posted on 13th May 2016 11:39
Iran bans own citizens from performing Hajj

By Staff Writer

Al Arabiya English

Thursday, 12 May 2016

Iran will ban its citizens from going to Saudi Arabia this year to perform the annual Hajj pilgrimage, international news agencies quoted an Iranian official as announcing Thursday, According to the Associated Press (AP), the Iranian Minister of Cultural and Islamic Guidance, Ali Jannati, blamed travel to Saudi Arabia for failing to “resolve the issue of security” in the months-long discussions which took place between the two countries.

Jannati said in comments carried by AP: “They [the Saudis] did not accept our proposals concerning the issuing of visas or security and transport of the Iranian pilgrims.” .

Tensions between the two regional powers escalated even more last year when an accident occurred during the annual Hajj season, resulting in the deaths of a number of Iranians who were among the causalities of the accident.

Saudi officials, for their part, have called upon Iran to stop ‘politicizing’ this accident, however diplomatic ties were completely cut-off between the two countries when Iran failed to protect the Saudi Embassy in Tehran from mobs which attacked them in objection of Riyadh executing a Shiite, albeit a Saudi, convicted hate-preacher earlier this year.

The Iranian decision raises questions as Hajj is a religious duty and one of the “five pillars” of Islam, each able-bodied Muslim is required to perform this pilgrimage at least once in their life, and at no point did Riyadh ever signal that it won’t be welcoming Iranian pilgrims this year.

The Saudi Hajj ministry released a statement on Thursday stressing on Saudi Arabia’s keenness to serve the guests of the Two Holy Mosques, adding that the Saudi leadership and government are “honored” to provide services to pilgrims and visitors of all nationalities.

The ministry also said it extends an invitation every year to all those responsible for pilgrimage affairs in Arab and Islamic states, and countries with Muslim minorities, to discuss the arrangements and needs of the visiting pilgrims, including Iran.

The ministry’s statement added that it had met and discussed with the head of the Iranian Hajj committee last month the affairs, requirements and arrangements needed for Iranian pilgrims to perform Hajj this year.

But added that the Iranian delegation “refused to sign the agreement to finalize preparations for this year’s Hajj... insisting on their demands.”

It added that “those who have banned their citizens from this right (to perform the pilgrimage) will be held responsible for their decision in front of God and the whole world”.

english.alarabiya.net/en/2016/05/12/Iran-bans-own-citizen...
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#5733 [Permalink] Posted on 18th May 2016 09:12
KSA: Iran blocking its own Haj pilgrims 

 

Tuesday 17 May 2016

JEDDAH: The Council of Ministers said Iran is attempting to politicize the Haj by refusing to sign an agreement mandatory for all countries seeking to send pilgrims on the holy journey.

The Cabinet meeting, chaired by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman at Al-Salam Palace in Jeddah on Monday afternoon, was briefed about the controversy arising from a meeting last week between an Iranian Haj delegation and the Saudi Haj and Umrah Ministry, said Culture and Information Minister Adel Al-Toraifi in a statement carried by the Saudi Press Agency.

Al-Toraifi said that the Iranian delegation had refused to sign the agreement outlining the arrangements that would be made for the pilgrims, in reference to accommodation, visa and other issues.

This is a requirement for all countries sending pilgrims, he said.
He said that there was no question that the Kingdom wanted to refuse entry to Iranian pilgrims.

The country was honored to be hosting all pilgrims from around the world. He said the Iranian government would now have to face Almighty Allah and the world to explain why its representatives failed to sign the minutes of the meeting with the Haj and Umrah Ministry.

Al-Toraifi said the aim of the Iranian delegation was to politicize the Haj and try to create the impression that the Kingdom was at fault.

The Cabinet rejected these attempts and stated that it has been doing everything in its power to provide quality services for pilgrims, he said.

Arab News reported last week that the Iranians had sought to have visas issued in Iran for their pilgrims. The Kingdom was not prepared to do this because it had closed it missions in that country after they were attacked. The Kingdom had stated that the visas would be issued from Dubai.

At the outset of the session, King Salman had briefed the Cabinet on a message received from King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa of Bahrain, a telephone call received from President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey, and the results of his meetings with US Secretary of State John Kerry and US Central Command Commander General Joseph Votel.

Al-Toraifi said that the Cabinet was briefed on a number of regional and international reports, and reiterated it was committed to resolve conflicts peacefully, as expressed at a recent UN meeting. The government would also continue to support needy countries around the world.

He said the ministers took several decisions, including those based on reports from the Shoura Council, including that the Health Ministry provide imported milk free to children needing medical treatment up to 24 months in line with the requirements of the Saudi Health Council and Health Insurance Council.

It was also decided that all bodies involved must work out the quality specifications for the milk provided, and ensure that the products are not labeled with the name of the manufacturer. There should also be a campaign to promote breastfeeding in the country.

The Cabinet authorized Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to discuss with China an agreement to set up a high-level joint committee; the Ministry of Labor and Social Development to reach a labor cooperation pact with South Korea; and the Ministry of Education to reach an agreement with Belarus.

The Cabinet also approved the setting up of the Decision-Making Support Center, which would monitor, analyze and write reports on possible actions related to local, regional and international developments.

A further decision taken was the approval for the King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center to issue regulations about workers at the facility, provided this does not result in additional costs.

http://www.arabnews.com/news/ksa-ira...n-haj-pilgrims




Iran politicizing Haj: Cabinet

May 17, 2016

Jeddah — Iran is solely responsible for preventing its citizens from coming to Haj, the Council of Ministers said here on Monday.

The Cabinet, chaired by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman at Al-Salam Palace, said Iran was politicizing Haj and exploiting it to harm the Kingdom, which harnesses all its material and potential to serve pilgrims and ensure their safety and comfort during Haj and Umrah.

The Cabinet was briefed on what happened at the meeting held with those responsible for Haj affairs in Iran. The Iranian delegation refused to sign the minutes of the agreement on completing their pilgrims’ arrangements, the Cabinet was told.

“The decision of preventing Iranian citizens from coming to Haj was due to Iranian officials who will be responsible in front of Allah Almighty and the whole world,” the Cabinet said.

The Cabinet reiterated that the Kingdom, which has a duty and responsibility toward the guests of the Grand Mosque, welcomes and has the honor to serve pilgrims, who are the guests of Allah, and visitors of all nationalities. It did not prevent any Muslim from coming to the Holy Land.

Minister of Culture and Information Adel Al-Turaifi said in a statement to the Saudi Press Agency after the Cabinet session that it reiterated the Kingdom’s continuing policy on international peace and security to solve conflicts by peaceful means and respect human rights.

The Cabinet appreciated the impetus in relief and humanitarian work by the Kingdom, making it among the top donor countries. 

http://saudigazette.com.sa/saudi-ara...g-haj-cabinet/

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#5734 [Permalink] Posted on 18th May 2016 09:14
A bicycle in the Grand Mosque?



May 17, 2016

MAKKAH — The guards at one of the gates of the Grand Mosque stopped a visitor who tried to enter the mosque with his bicycle.

The incident took place early Thursday and the picture of the bicycle and its owner, who was an Arab expatriate, soon went viral on social media.

Director of the department of doors Muhammad Bati said it was obvious that the man did not know that bicycles were not allowed inside the Grand Mosque. “The man had fears that his bicycle might be stolen if he left it outside so he wanted to take it with him inside the Haram,” he added.

Bati said the guards at the door leading to the Masaa from the eastern side of the mosque explained to the visitor that bicycles were among the items which are prohibited at the Grand Mosque.

He said the cyclist was understanding and left peacefully.

According to Bati, the items which will not be allowed to be carried inside the Haram include, among others, clothes with indecent illustrations, heavy machinery, utensils and accessories, suitcases, soft drinks, mattresses and sleeping materials, all types of food, cameras and mobile beds.

saudigazette.com.sa/saudi-ara...-grand-mosque/
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#5735 [Permalink] Posted on 20th May 2016 13:57
Makkah train station to trigger growth



Makkah Haramain station model

Thursday 12 May 2016

MAKKAH: Makkans are looking forward to the new train station in Al-Rusaifa neighborhood, which they believe will benefit local hotels, restaurants and shops, and reduce traffic accidents that are costly for the country and individuals.

The station, on the Jeddah-Makkah Highway and Third Circular Road, is also expected to significantly reduce traveling times for pilgrims, residents and citizens, a media report said Wednesday.

“The dream is now a reality,” said public transport expert Abdullah Al-Hazmi, who believes that this would completely eradicate long queues, and standing on the sides of the road waiting for transport. 

Suleiman Al-Harbi, an investor in transport and a member of the Makkah Chamber of Commerce’s transport committee, said investors in hotels and apartments would benefit.

Brig. Mohammad Ali Al-Harbi, from the traffic department, said the new transport system would significantly reduce accidents and congestion. This is because the new station is on the main entry point into Makkah and only 3 km from the Grand Mosque.

http://www.arabnews.com/news/makkah-...rigger-growth#



Makkah Haramain station


Makkah Haramain station 3 km from the Grand Mosque



 
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#5736 [Permalink] Posted on 23rd May 2016 13:07
Iran’s dirty secret exposed 
 

Thursday 19 May 2016

JEDDAH: Despite the fact that trials are still in progress, Iran’s involvement in the planning of terrorist activities during Haj by exploiting the first pillar of Islam has been shown by the confession of the owner of the Iranian Haj office.

On trial are 30 Saudis, one Afghan and one Iranian, all accused of being members of spy cells related to Iranian intelligence. Evidence of a number of Iranian plots to target the peace and security of the Kingdom, create confusion and spread chaos during Haj has also come to light.

According to a report in a local publication, one of the accused had sent an audio message to the Iranian leader Ali Khamenei asking for financial support to set up a special Shiite center in Makkah. The center would instigate sedition and sectarianism, and provide key information about the Haj season to Iranian intelligence. The center would be helped by Iranian intelligence working with the OIC.

This confession leaves no room for doubt that Iran will not stop its criminal attempts to exploit Haj by spreading discord and hostile slogans. These are designed to divide the Islamic community as has been shown in the trials about other meetings between members of the cells and Khamenei.

Iran will not hesitate to use any means to achieve its nefarious objectives during Haj by instigating sectarian strife. It has held secret meetings with its cohorts in Lebanon, particularly the terrorist organization Hezbollah, in order to plan activities for Haj even if the costs are innocent lives and loss of property.

Tehran has tried to use correspondents of the Al-Alam channel which has its headquarters in Tehran. These correspondents were used in some regions of the Kingdom as was confessed by one of the accused of the spy cell. The aim was to distort the image of the Kingdom, support protests, disrupt activities and cause chaos during Haj.

The channel supported the training of a number of cell members in the use of computers, cameras, encrypted reports, and sending photographic intelligence about gatherings of Haj pilgrims, military sites and official speeches. This has all been conclusively proven. The cell also showed Iran’s serious efforts to obtain confidential information on the Kingdom’s defense installations, which could affect national security, unity and the safety of Saudi Arabia and its armed forces.

A number of elements of the cell confirmed their meeting with Khamenei, in coordination with Iranian intelligence, and admitted to their efforts to commit destructive activities against the interests of the Kingdom, and against vital economic facilities in the country, disturb peace and security, harm social unity by spreading chaos and indulge in hostile activities against the Kingdom.

Most of these elements traveled to Iran and Lebanon, held meetings with elements of Iranian intelligence and received training in espionage. These meetings were held in a number of different locations.

Despite Iran’s concerted efforts to shake the peace and security of GCC states, and particularly the Kingdom, there has been coordination between the heads of intelligence and the Ministry of Interior which led to the successful arrest of these elements of the spy network.

The ministry announced that the arrests were made in coordinated security operations in four regions of the country: Makkah, Madinah, Riyadh and the Eastern Province.

The statement said that the arrested were in contact with Iranian intelligence and had collected information about vital installations in Saudi Arabia.

http://www.arabnews.com/news/iran%E2...secret-exposed




Iran’s intent to politicize Haj exposed
 

May 19, 2016

RIYADH — A Saudi defendant, among the 32 people accused of spying for Iran, confessed that he had sent a voicemail message to Iranian leader Ali Khamenei seeking financial support to establish a special center for Shiites in Makkah.

The defendant, who owned a Haj service company, said he was planning to use the center to instigate chaos among various Muslim sects during the pilgrimage.

He said he had supplied Iran with security information about the 2012 Haj in collaboration with an Iranian intelligence element who was part of the Iranian permanent mission to the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).

The suspects — consisting of 30 Saudis, an Iranian and an Afghan national — were apprehended in March-May 2013. They are standing trial before a special criminal court in Riyadh.

According to observers, the confessions of the spies were proof of Iran’s nefarious designs aimed at exploiting Haj to undermine the Kingdom’s security and stability and sow dissension among Muslims.

A number of defendants admitted that they had traveled to Iran where they met the Supreme Leader himself and had also visited Lebanon for meetings with Iranian intelligence elements.

Iranian officials in charge of Haj affairs had refused to sign the minutes of the meeting with Saudi officials to facilitate the arrangements for pilgrims.

The Council of Ministers condemned this act and said Iran was politicizing Haj and is solely responsible for preventing its citizens from performing Haj.

During his trial, a Saudi defendant said he was assigned to look for correspondents to the Iranian Al-Alam space channel to send misleading reports against the Kingdom.

Another defendant confessed that he was asked to provide Iranian intelligence elements with classified information about the Kingdom’s military and economic institutions.

Some of the accused said they received training on the use of espionage equipment in Lebanon, Iraq and Indonesia.

http://saudigazette.com.sa/saudi-ara...e-haj-exposed/




Iran flayed for Haj antics
 

Saturday 21 May 2016

JEDDAH: The Kingdom’s Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Aziz Al-Asheikh has lambasted Iran for what he described as attempts to seek political gain from the Haj over the past 30 years.

In a phone interview with a local daily published on Friday, Al-Asheikh described the Iranian government as the “enemy of the House of God and the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him.”

Tehran created “a lie” that the Kingdom had prevented Iranian pilgrims from performing Haj. The agreement that the Iranian government’s Haj delegation had to sign last week was mandatory for all nations, he was quoted as saying.

He said Iran has been responsible for several attempts over the years to cause trouble at the Grand Mosque. “How many errors and abuses have been committed?” He said that the demonstrations sponsored by Iran in Makkah in 1987 had threatened the lives of innocent people, resulting in a ban on the country.

Al-Asheikh said Tehran was trying to “defame” the Kingdom in an attempt to hide the harm it had inflicted on its own people, who were now unable to perform Haj. Saudi Arabia was known for carrying out its duties toward pilgrims at the Two Holy Mosques, he said.

Meanwhile, a member of the Iranian opposition, Aref Bawa Jani, head of the Sirbitz Kurdistan Party, condemned the Tehran government for what he described as attempts to use religious occasions to incite tension.

He said it had used this method in 1987 when it sent a special group to Makkah to create problems during the Haj. It was part of the country’s attempts to cause divisions among countries to further its expansionist goals, he was quoted as saying.

He said the Iranian government’s domestic and foreign policies are aimed at creating problems between Shiites and Sunnis. It was also trying to make Iranians believe that visits to religious places in Iraq, particularly Najaf and Karbala, can replace the Haj in Saudi Arabia.

Iran came under further attack by Sheikh Saleh bin Abdullah bin Hameed at the Grand Mosque in Makkah during his Friday sermon, who said that Muslims must be wary of those trying to “wreak havoc” under the guise of the pilgrimage.

“When Muslims travel to this country as pilgrims they represent their unity and forget their differences. They recognize that the holy lands are not fields to address their differences and settle scores,” he said.

In comments carried by the official Saudi Press Agency, he accused “aggressors” of trying to exploit the pilgrimage to divert attention “from the suffering” in their own country.

“They want to take advantage of the worship season and the gathering of Muslims and the holy sites for political gain, to wreak havoc and cause chaos, and that leads to divisions and sowing of discord,” said the imam, who is also an adviser to the Saudi Royal Court.

On May 12, Iran said its nationals would miss the annual Haj in September this year and accused Saudi Arabia of “sabotage.” Riyadh cut ties with Tehran after demonstrators burned its embassy and a consulate following the Saudi execution of a Shiite terrorist.

In the first dialogue since ties were severed, a delegation from Tehran held four days of talks in Saudi Arabia last month aimed at reaching a deal for Iranians to join the pilgrimage. But talks became deadlocked.

Among the points of contention, the Iranians demanded to be able to hold their own rituals, including protests chanting “Death to America, death to Israel,” according to a statement from the Saudi Haj and Umrah Ministry carried by a local newspaper.

“Chanting slogans and gathering and rallying are not religious and not what God or the Prophet ordered,” Hameed said. “And so it is the Kingdom’s policy not to allow anyone or any entity to tamper with the security of the holy sites or the security of the pilgrims,” he said.

http://www.arabnews.com/node/927571/saudi-arabia

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#5737 [Permalink] Posted on 23rd May 2016 13:09
Makkah imam warns against 
gross misuse of holy sites

 

May 21, 2016

MAKKAH — Sheikh Saleh Bin Abdullah Bin Humaid, imam and khateeb of the Grand Mosque in Makkah, urged worshippers to be utmost cautious against those who seek to misuse the holy sites for their nefarious political designs as well as to create confusion, schism and sedition among the faithful.

In his Friday sermon, Sheikh Bin Humaid emphasized that the Saudi government won’t allow any individual or outfit to commit sacrilege on the holy sites and undermine the security and safety of Haj and Umrah pilgrims as well as visitors to the holy mosques, the Saudi Press Agency reported. “The government is keen to fulfill its responsibility and will take decisive and stringent measures to ensure the security of the nation, safety of citizens and expatriates,” he said.

Sheikh Bin Humaid, a former president of the Shoura Council, warned that there are some mischief makers who are trying to spread lies and baseless rumors in order to create confusion while spreading sedition among the ranks of believers. “They are attempting to target pilgrims and visitors to the holy sites by upsetting their safety, serenity and comfort while performing rituals, besides violating the sanctity of the holy places and the pilgrimage season through planning demonstrations, gatherings, calls and sloganeering that have nothing to do with the teachings of the Holy Qur’an and Tradition of the Prophet (peace be upon him),” he said.

Sheikh Bin Humaid urged believers to be wary against those who are engaged in spreading rumors through various means of media and other platforms, while not falling victim to such practices, which are a taboo in Islam.

http://saudigazette.com.sa/saudi-ara...se-holy-sites/

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#5738 [Permalink] Posted on 25th May 2016 13:15
Mina stampede street 
to be a direct road to Jamarat


 

May 23, 2016

MAKKAH — The street No. 206, which was a scene of stampede that killed a number of pilgrims during last year’s Haj, will be made a direct road to the Jamarat area to avoid any overcrowding of pilgrims.

Quoting informed sources, Makkah Arabic daily said on Sunday that pilgrims using this new road will not have to cross any intersections and will directly access the Jamarat area. The sources said the project, which is being implemented by the Authority for the Development of Makkah and the Holy Sites, will be completed on the first day of Dhul Hijja (September 2).

The street was a walkway for pedestrians which ended in a cul-de-sac at which pilgrims will either have to turn right or left to continue their path to the Jamarat. The sources said a number of pilgrims changed course last year reversing their path which resulted in the deadly stampede.




Work under way to link Street 206 directly to the Jamarat area. The project being implemented by the Authority 
for the Development of Makkah and the Holy Sites will be completed on the first day of Dhul Hijja


They said a number of tents which block the road will be dismantled and shifted to another area in Mina which has become spacious after government offices were relocated outside the tent city.

Meanwhile, the Makkah municipality has completed its operational plan for Haj by allocating 27 service centers in the Holy Sites consisting of 22 in Mina, three in Muzdalifah and two in Arafat. The centers will undertake the general cleaning, observe environmental health and ensure the safety of food being provided to pilgrims. They will also monitor the tents to curb the entry of outsiders.

On the other hand, temperature in the tents in Mina will be brought down from 33 degrees Celsius to 21 degrees during the year’s Haj thanks to a new type of air conditioners developed by an Australian company.

The company was contracted by the Public Investments Fund (PIF) of the Finance Ministry which has been responsible for the installation of air conditioners in the tents in Mina.

http://saudigazette.com.sa/saudi-ara...-road-jamarat/

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#5739 [Permalink] Posted on 25th May 2016 13:18
Iran delegation coming to kingdom for Haj talks 
 

Tuesday 24 May 2016

TEHRAN: The Ministry An Iranian delegation was traveling to Saudi Arabia on Tuesday for talks on the annual Haj pilgrimage despite a diplomatic crisis between the Gulf rivals, the official IRNA news agency reported.

“A delegation of six people will leave this afternoon for Saudi Arabia at the invitation of the Saudi Minister of Haj for negotiations,” it quoted Said Ohadi, head of Iran’s Haj Organization, as saying.

“The talks will be held on Wednesday in Jeddah.”

On May 12, Culture Minister Ali Jannati, who oversees the Haj Organization, said “arrangements have not been put together” for Iranians to make this year’s pilgrimage to Makkah at the end of the summer.

Saudi Arabia has denied Tehran's accusations of blocking Iranian pilgrims.
The two countries held an unsuccessful first round of talks last month in Saudi Arabia on organizing this year’s pilgrimage for Iranians.

http://www.arabnews.com/node/929116/saudi-arabia




Saudi Arabia accepts Iranian 
request to sign Haj 2016 agreement 

 

Wednesday 25 May 2016

JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia on Tuesday accepted an Iranian government request to sign the Haj agreement.

An Iranian delegation is due to sign the pact on Wednesday. The decision will allow Iranian citizens to perform the pilgrimage this year.

Hameed Mohammadi, assistant chairman of the Iranian Haj organization, said: “The Saudi authorities sent the invitation to the organization with regard to arrangements for Haj this year.”

According to an official Iranian online statement, an Iranian Haj delegation led by its director Said Awhadi is on its way to the Kingdom to complete what it described as “the second round of talks about the Haj season.”

The talks follow the refusal of the Iranian delegation last week to sign a Haj agreement with the Kingdom that is mandatory for all countries sending pilgrims this year. The Kingdom accused the Iranian government of playing politics and said it was responsible for blocking its own pilgrims in the eyes of Allah and its people.

The Saudi Council of Ministers last week accused Iran of attempting to politicize Haj by refusing to sign the agreement with the Saudi Haj and Umrah Ministry. It stated that there were no attempts made to block Iranian pilgr

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#5740 [Permalink] Posted on 25th May 2016 13:18
Iran delegation coming to kingdom for Haj talks 
 

Tuesday 24 May 2016

TEHRAN: The Ministry An Iranian delegation was traveling to Saudi Arabia on Tuesday for talks on the annual Haj pilgrimage despite a diplomatic crisis between the Gulf rivals, the official IRNA news agency reported.

“A delegation of six people will leave this afternoon for Saudi Arabia at the invitation of the Saudi Minister of Haj for negotiations,” it quoted Said Ohadi, head of Iran’s Haj Organization, as saying.

“The talks will be held on Wednesday in Jeddah.”

On May 12, Culture Minister Ali Jannati, who oversees the Haj Organization, said “arrangements have not been put together” for Iranians to make this year’s pilgrimage to Makkah at the end of the summer.

Saudi Arabia has denied Tehran's accusations of blocking Iranian pilgrims.
The two countries held an unsuccessful first round of talks last month in Saudi Arabia on organizing this year’s pilgrimage for Iranians.

http://www.arabnews.com/node/929116/saudi-arabia




Saudi Arabia accepts Iranian 
request to sign Haj 2016 agreement 

 

Wednesday 25 May 2016

JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia on Tuesday accepted an Iranian government request to sign the Haj agreement.

An Iranian delegation is due to sign the pact on Wednesday. The decision will allow Iranian citizens to perform the pilgrimage this year.

Hameed Mohammadi, assistant chairman of the Iranian Haj organization, said: “The Saudi authorities sent the invitation to the organization with regard to arrangements for Haj this year.”

According to an official Iranian online statement, an Iranian Haj delegation led by its director Said Awhadi is on its way to the Kingdom to complete what it described as “the second round of talks about the Haj season.”

The talks follow the refusal of the Iranian delegation last week to sign a Haj agreement with the Kingdom that is mandatory for all countries sending pilgrims this year. The Kingdom accused the Iranian government of playing politics and said it was responsible for blocking its own pilgrims in the eyes of Allah and its people.

The Saudi Council of Ministers last week accused Iran of attempting to politicize Haj by refusing to sign the agreement with the Saudi Haj and Umrah Ministry. It stated that there were no attempts made to block Iranian pilgrims.

Arab News reported last week that the Iranians had sought to have visas issued in Iran for their pilgrims. The Kingdom was not prepared to do that because it had closed its missions in that country after they were attacked. The Kingdom had stated that the visas would be issued from Dubai.

Among the points of contention, the Iranians demanded to be able to hold their own rituals and controversial protests. Saudi Arabia contented that these protests were not in the spirit of Haj.

Saudi Arabia is at odds with Iran over a raft of regional issues, notably the conflicts in Syria and Yemen in which Tehran is supporting terror groups.
On Friday, a senior Saudi scholar warned against those who would “wreak havoc” under the guise of pilgrimage.

http://www.arabnews.com/node/929476/saudi-arabia

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#5741 [Permalink] Posted on 25th May 2016 13:19
Zamzam production to rise this Ramadan 
 

Tuesday 24 May 2016

JEDDAH: The National Water Company (NWC), the main operator for the King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz Project for Zamzam Water, plans to raise production to meet a likely increase in demand because of the expansion at the two holy mosques and more visitors this Ramadan.

The company said that it had already started preparing for the increased production, including expanding maintenance, pumping and distribution operations at the Grand Mosque and Prophet’s Mosque, a local publication reported on Tuesday.

The company said that each family would be allowed to get two cans of Zamzam water. There would be additional bottles provided in the last 15 days of Ramadan, the report stated.

Zamzam water is produced by the King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Zamzam Water Project, operated mainly by the National Water Company, whose plant includes four production lines with a maximum production capacity of 200,000 cans a day.

The plant has a central warehouse that can accommodate 1.8 million cans. The Kudai and Al-Sabeel reservoirs can hold 26,000 cubic meters.

The project has some 300 regular workers, with additional staff hired for peak seasons to meet the increased demand from pilgrims and citizens.

http://www.arabnews.com/node/929086/saudi-arabia

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#5742 [Permalink] Posted on 25th May 2016 13:29
Electric carts for performing Saie


The carts for two persons can be rented for SR100
and those for single drivers for SR50.


MAKKAH — The Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques has introduced advanced electric carts for elderly and special needs pilgrims to perform Saie (walking between Safa and Marwa hillocks), reported Arabic daily Al-Madina on Tuesday.

The carts for two persons can be rented for SR100 and those for single drivers for SR50.

The presidency said it will start the project with 50 carts during Ramadan and added that the carts will only be given to people who can operate them by themselves.

The presidency said the carts will be handed over on formal receipts which contain the user’s name and the number of his ID or passport. The users will be held responsible in case of damage to the carts. In such a case they may be asked to pay compensation. 





The carts for two persons can be rented for SR100 
and those for single drivers for SR50.
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#5743 [Permalink] Posted on 25th May 2016 14:10
salam

quick question. where does saee begin and end? inshAllah i am going for umrah in ramanda and last year i was doing saee too and from where the wheelchair people do it, i didnt go up the ramp/slope. is it still valid? what exactly is ruling on it
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#5744 [Permalink] Posted on 25th May 2016 14:24
Please post questions such as the ones posed in this topic to the Ulamaa. Or click here for a vast library on islamqa.org. Alternatively, you can get support locating available answers online in the Q&A Support section of this form here
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#5745 [Permalink] Posted on 26th May 2016 09:31
More than 5m arrive for Umrah

MAKKAH — As many as 5,047,088 Umrah pilgrims have so far arrived in the Kingdom since the start of the season early November, local daily Al-Madina reported on Wednesday quoting official data.

According to the data, the number of Umrah pilgrims is five percent more than their number in the same period last year.

As many as 1,207,891 Umrah visas were issued to Egyptian pilgrims, of whom 1,077,761 have arrived.

A total of 864,409 visas were issued in Pakistan. So far 782,988 Pakistani pilgrims have arrived.

Some 611,238 Turkish pilgrims have arrived in the Kingdom marking a six percent increase over their number the same time last year. A total of 661,079 Umrah visas were issued in Turkey.

The revenues to be generated by the Umrah season are expected to rise to more than SR200 billion by the year 2020, according to an official.

The expansion of the Haj and Umrah services within the Saudi 2030 Vision will provide job opportunities for more than 30,000 young Saudi men and women.

At present there are about 50 Umrah companies but the Ministry of Haj and Umrah will license about 100 new companies after this year’s Haj season to cater to the increasing service demands.
http://saudigazette.com.sa/saudi-ara...-arrive-umrah/

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