JEDDAH: Islamic Affairs Minister Saleh Al-Asheikh said Iran is hostile toward Muslims and does not want to see the Haj season pass peacefully or without sectarian strife.
During an inspection tour of a mosque on the Makkah-Jeddah Expressway, he said the duty of Muslim scholars is to support the Kingdom and ensure the safety of the pilgrimage, adding that Haj and Umrah must only be performed for Allah, and not for slogans or political gains.
He said the ministry, by virtue of its relation with Islamic scholars, stands by the Saudi leadership.
“All Saudi people are united behind their leadership’s efforts to ensure the safety of pilgrims,” he said.
The ministry is proud of and appreciates the efforts of preachers and scholars inside and outside the Kingdom, he said, and works to protect the safety of all the pilgrims, including from Iran, he said.
Al-Asheikh said the Kingdom has always sought to ensure that the pilgrimage is free of hate-filled sloganeering, and believes that all Muslims are equal when performing the pilgrimage.
He said the Kingdom rejects enemies’ efforts to foment trouble, to spoil and politicize the pilgrimage and to incite hostility among Muslims.
Pilgrims circle the Kaaba at the Grand Mosque in Makkah on Thursday. Hundreds of thousands of Muslims have arrived in the Kingdom to participate in Haj, which starts Saturday.
Sep 9, 2016
MAKKAH — As many as 1,323,520 pilgrims have arrived from various parts of the world to perform this year’s Haj, which climaxes on Sunday with the Standing on Arafat.
According to Director General of the Passports Department (Jawazat) Maj. Gen. Solaiman Al-Yahya, 1,245,203 pilgrims have arrived by air through King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah and Prince Muhammad Bin Abdul Aziz International Airport in Madinah.
He said 65,594 pilgrims have arrived by land from neighboring countries and the rest by sea through various seaports, mainly the Jeddah Islamic Seaport.
Al-Yahya said that 216 foreign pilgrims who did not observe Haj instructions were sent back to their respective countries. The violations included forging of 52 passports.
Under the instructions of Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Naif, deputy premier, interior minister and the chairman of the Supreme Haj committee, any external pilgrim with valid Haj permit who arrives late for valid reasons such as flight delay will be received and rushed to Makkah.
Meanwhile, Hashim Al-Falih, chairman of the Haj Preparation Committee at the Makkah Governorate, said that 189,000 people who attempted to enter Makkah and the Holy Sites were sent back from checkpoints since the beginning of the Haj season until Thursday.
He said the violating Saudi pilgrims will face imprisonment and fines while expatriates will face the same punishment and deportation.
Falih, who is adviser to Makkah Emir Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, said 48,000 vehicles transporting illegal pilgrims were confiscated and 22 fake Haj companies sealed.
The Ministry of Haj and Umrah has warned that those domestic pilgrims who have registered for Haj and paid the fees but did not go for the pilgrimage will not get their money back.
“There will not be any reimbursement of fees for domestic pilgrims who are not in Makkah or the Holy Sites for Haj by Friday,” the ministry said in a statement.
However, those intending pilgrims who informed the ministry about their change of mind by Dhul Hijjah 3 (Sept. 5) will be reimbursed with a 40 percent deduction. But those who informed on Dhul Hijjah 6 (Sept. 8) that they won’t be performing Haj will be reimbursed with a deduction of 70 percent.
Nearly 2 million pilgrims seek forgiveness at Arafat
Monday 12 September 2016
ARAFAT: Nearly two million pilgrims, from all corners of the world, converged on the plains of Arafat, 15 km from the holy city of Makkah, on Sunday to perform the most important ritual of Haj — Wuqoof-e-Arafat.
A white sea of the faithful surged from Mina to Arafat as dawn broke on the second day of the five-day pilgrimage. Waves of men in seamless white garments and veiled women in long dresses joined voices in a crescendo chant of “Labbaik Allahumma Labbaik†(Here I am O Allah, answering your call). Standing at Mount Arafat in prayer before sunset on 9th Dul Hijjah is the high point of Haj.
The pilgrims were completely lost in their surroundings in a fervor of religious enthusiasm.
It was very hot, with temperatures often above 40 degrees Celsius. However, the harsh rays of the sun did not dampen the spirit of the pilgrims and they remained unperturbed and recited verses from the Holy Qur’an with even greater vigor.
Tears rolled down the cheeks of pilgrims as they climbed Jabal Al-Rahma or Mount of Mercy, where Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, delivered his final sermon more than 14 centuries ago.
The mount was crowded by pilgrims who sat or stood there for hours contemplating and praying.
Under multicolored umbrellas as protection from the burning sun, the mass of people moved through the broad streets of Arafat.
Egyptian pilgrim Mahmoud Awny said the feeling of being in Arafat was “indescribable.†“All Muslims wish they could be here today. Thanks be to Allah for enabling me to be here,†he said.
“I have prayed to God to have mercy on us, give us relief and resolve Syria’s crisis,†said Umm Fadi, wearing a traditional long black embroidered dress and head scarf native to her home in southern Syria.
“From the bottom of my heart, I pray that Allah will lift this agony from Syria and its people,†she said.
“Muslims come here from everywhere and we are all the same,†said Khadem Ndyaye, 47, from Senegal.
Indian pilgrim Mohammed Arefin, 40, said he felt “chosen by Allah†for being able to perform Haj. “It is very moving to see the Muslims of the world pray together here,†he said. “It’s the most beautiful moment of my life,†said Ahmad Salman, an Egyptian pilgrim.
Soon after sunset, the pilgrims headed to nearby Muzdalifa where they will spend the night under the open skies and collect pea-sized pebbles to perform the symbolic ritual of stoning the devil on Monday in Mina.
subhanAllah the pics look amazing, jazakALlah for posting. what happens to the tents now? they can be used to house refugees no? it has the space and stuff all saudis gotta do now is make a few amnesties and shops. os is there a palace in mina? iv never seen one when iv been,do you know where it is?
RIYADH: The Assembly of Disability for Adults (ADA) provided Haj service to 75 physically-challenged individuals this year.
Mohammed bin Saad Hammali, ADA director general, said the service was in accordance with the care and support for disabled individuals by the Saudi leadership.
He said that through the initiative, disabled individuals fulfil their dreams of performing the major ritual of Islam to enjoy the tranquility while traveling between the holy sites.
“The pilgrimage gives the disabled a chance to perform Haj easily and conveniently,” he said.
He expressed his thanks to the Sheikh Abdul Aziz Al-Rajhi Charity Foundation for its unqualified support and for being a partner in the Haj program for the disabled.
“This is not the first time that the foundation has cooperated with us. We have received support from the foundation in the past,” he said. “We’ll seek the foundation’s cooperation in future,” he said.
He also thanked the different civic groups and other individuals for making the Haj program a reality.
JEDDAH: The Directorate General of Passports will begin on Sunday, Oct. 2, 2016, the first of Muharram of the new Hijri year 1438 AH, the implementation of the new amendments earlier approved by the Council of Ministers this year.
The cabinet adopted these amendments after reviewing non-oil revenue initiatives submitted by the Ministries of Finance, and Economy and Planning.
The text of the new amendments to be applied starting from Sunday is as follows:
First: The one-time entry visa fee will be SR2,000, but the state will bear this fee if a visitor is coming to the Kingdom for the first time to perform Haj or Umrah.
Second: The multiple exit/re-entry visa fees will be as follows: • SR3,000 for the six-month visa. • SR5,000 for the one-year visa. • SR8,000 for the two-year visa.
Third: Clauses “first” and “second” shall not affect the bilateral agreements concluded between the Kingdom and other countries.
Fourth: The transit visa will be SR300.
Fifth: The departure visa fee will be SR50 for those leaving the Kingdom through seaports.
Sixth: The exit/re-entry visa fees will be as follows: • SR200 for a single trip for two months as maximum, and SR100 for each additional month, within the limits of the duration of the residence permit’s validity. • SR500 for multiple trips for three months and SR200 for each additional month within the limits of the duration of the residence permit’s validity.
A draft royal decree was issued for these amendments stipulate applying what is contained in the decision as of 01/01/1438 AH.
King keen on fast completion of Prophet Mosque expansion work
Oct 6, 2016
MADINAH — Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman is keen on completion of all the procedures with regard to the expansion of the Prophet’s Mosque and its associated projects in Madinah.
This was announced by Prince Faisal Bin Salman, emir of Madinah, on Wednesday. He said that the King is closely following up the procedures prior to the expansion of Islam’s second holy mosque. Prince Faisal has directed all agencies concerned to present him reports at the earliest possible about the adequate measures to be taken in this regard.
“The committee, which was constituted for the same, is completing its work, the details of which will be announced soon,” he said during a meeting with members of the Madinah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
On behalf of the people of Madinah, Prince Faisal thanked King Salman for his sublime service to Islam and Muslims as well as to the Two Holy Mosques and the pilgrims and visitors to the mosques.
During a visit to Madinah in July 2015, King Salman approved the revised designs for the Prophet’s Mosque expansion project which includes expansion of the mosque, Darb Al-Sunnah project (3km stretch between the Prophet’s Mosque and Quba Mosque) and rebuilding of the Quba Mosque. The Ministry of Finance said the King reviewed the proposals and the project’s designs within the scope of the large-scale expansion project of the Prophet’s Mosque and other related schemes, which also include the Dar Al-Hijra, King Salman Center for Conferences, and development of new central area in Madinah.
Meanwhile, Minister of Haj and Umrah Muhammad Saleh Bantan has completed his review meetings with officials concerned at his ministry as well as with representatives of Haj service providers and tawafa organizations about the last Haj operations, with an objective to embrace its positive elements.
He expressed satisfaction over the resounding success of the Haj operation of 2016.
This cannot be undone and I am sure it will be greatly appreciated.
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