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#1471 [Permalink] Posted on 28th October 2012 18:15

Probe launched over ticketless

passengers boarding trains

Sunday 28 October 2012

The Haj and Umrah committee at Makkah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) complained yesterday to the Ministry of Haj that Mashair Railways trains allowed thousands of pilgrims without tickets to board while thousands more passengers holding valid passes were stranded.

Gov. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, deputy chairman of the Supreme Haj Committee and the chairman of the Central Haj Committee, said more than 150,000 ticketless and undocumented pilgrims rushed to the railway station yesterday causing a stampede at the station while licensed pilgrims waited for their turn to board trains.

“The situation caused suspension of trains for 90 minutes resulting in a delay in the movement of regular pilgrims. Officials also were forced to carry 680,000 pilgrims above the capacity of trains to carry 530,000 pilgrims,” the official said.

Usama Filali, head of Haj and Umrah committee at MCCI, filed the complaint with the Haj Ministry.

“The memo that we presented to the Haj Ministry called the train operating company to pay SR 500 million in compensation to the pilgrims,” said Saad Al-Qurashi, member of MCCI board council.

Although the train ticket’s price is considered high for many pilgrims, about 540,000 pilgrims bought ticket costing SR 250 each in order to move among holy areas easily for four days.

“The ticket’s prices are too high, but most pilgrims bought them aiming to move easily especially when the train transfer the pilgrims from one area to another within eight minutes,” said Al-Qurashi.

He added, “What happened yesterday was miserable as the train carried large number of pilgrims who don’t have tickets. However, more than 150,000 pilgrims who bought train tickets were left in the train station.

Pilgrims have been gathering at the train station for more than five hours, waiting for the train to return and transfer them, said Al-Qurashi.

“Due to crowded conditions and hot weather there were large numbers of fainting and loss of consciousness among pilgrims while they were waiting for five hours in the train station,” he said. “Until now we don’t know what happened to pilgrims who had been transferred to the hospitals yesterday,” said Al-Qurashi.

According to Al-Qurashi, the company that operates the train rented buses to transfer the missed pilgrims. About 70,000 pilgrims used those buses that take more than 1 1/2 hours to move among holy areas.

“We are trying our best to find out solutions for having more organized Haj,” he said.

Trains ferried 200,000 more pilgrims than their original capacity from Arafat on Thursday, a railway official said.

Mashair Railways trains carried 740,000 pilgrims instead of 540,000 trains from Arafat to Muzdalifa,” said Director General of the Mashair Railway Fahd Abu Tarbush in a statement on Friday.

He attributed the reason for the beyond capacity trains to the huge number of people remaining at the Arafat railway station. He also said the trains were operated until 2:45 a.m. instead of halting the services at midnight.
He also said authorities will examine why some tawafa establishments failed to organize their pilgrims to match to the train schedules.

Abu Tarbush said the guarding and security of railway gates would be handed to a specialized agency in future.

Prince Khaled Al-Faisal said a tawafa establishment is facing investigation for its involvement in the incident.

The situation also led to a stampede at the Station No. 3 in Arafat injuring 36 elderly and female pilgrims. None of the injuries were critical and 18 of them were given first-aid. Others were taken to hospital. Fifteen first-aid teams including five motor-cyclists rushed to the location.

While 18 cases were treated at a Arafat hospital, the remaining pilgrims were given first aid at the accident site, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
In another development an Iranian pilgrim was killed and 25 pilgrims injured when two buses carrying pilgrims had an accident close to the King Khaled tunnel in Mina. While injuries of 11 pilgrims are critical 15 others sustained medium level or minor injuries.

The train project is part of a costly program by Saudi Arabia to tackle massive traffic congestion in and around the city and facilitate access to all sites in Makkah. The train project initiated three years ago followed a series of incidents such as building collapses and other accidents during the few days of the Haj season.

http://www.arabnews.com/probe-launch...oarding-trains

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#1472 [Permalink] Posted on 28th October 2012 18:42

Pilgrims rush

to complete final Haj rituals

Muslim pilgrims cast stones at a pillar that symbolizes Satan

on the second day of Eid al-Adha in Mina on Sunday.

Sunday 28 October 2012

MINA: Pilgrims rushed to complete the final rituals of the annual Haj on Sunday, thronging a devil-stoning site on the penultimate day of the pilgrimage.

Most pilgrims will hurl rocks at three pillars representing Satan between noon and sunset, leaving the holy city of Mina before dusk.

But others will stay on in Mina until Monday when they will perform the stoning ritual one final time.

Worshippers living outside Makkah will have to perform the farewell circumambulation around the Kaaba, a cube-shaped structure in Makkah toward which Muslims worldwide pray.

The Haj officially ends on Monday but pilgrims who are in a hurry to conclude their journey can do so on Sunday.

“I hope I will be able to perform the Haj again in the future,” said Um Hassan, an Iraqi pilgrim. “It was a great experience.”

Able-bodied Muslims must perform the Haj at least once in their lifetime.
The devil-stoning in Mina, once the most dangerous phase of the Haj marred by deadly stampedes and fires in tent camps, has passed without incident this year.

Most tents are now fire-proof and gas canisters and cooking are banned. The stoning area has also been expanded to avoid overcrowding.
Saudi authorities have built a five-level structure around the stoning site, allowing for the smooth flow of pilgrims.

Over three million registered pilgrims took part in this year’s Haj, based on official figures. But many others also performed the pilgrimage without permits camping on roads and walking on foot between the holy sites.

http://www.arabnews.com/pilgrims-rus...al-haj-rituals

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#1473 [Permalink] Posted on 28th October 2012 18:45

Holy Mosque

in Hajj season 2012

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#1474 [Permalink] Posted on 30th October 2012 03:43

''4 million pilgrims''

performed Haj this year

Monday 29 October 2012

Nearly four million pilgrims have performed Haj this year, Makkah Gov. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal announced yesterday.

“This year’s pilgrimage was a resounding success,” he said.

Addressing a press conference here, Prince Khaled urged the international media to highlight the great Haj message that Muslims are a peace-loving people can coexist peacefully with others.

“Islam is a religion of moderation and service to humanity. It is a religion of peace and love and calls for peaceful coexistence with others,” the governor said. “Unfortunately only negative things about Islam and Muslims are highlighted by the media.”

Haj is a unifying factor, he added.

“Pilgrims wear the same form of dress, live in the same areas, move through the same places and perform the same rituals. They give a good message to the world that the unity of Muslims is not a danger to the world but it will be beneficial to the world.”

Referring to media criticisms, he said: “We welcome constructive criticisms from the traditional and social media. If we want reforms we have to begin it from ourselves.”

Speaking about measures to stop illegal pilgrims, he said: “There is a plan to construct a wall around the holy sites. It has been passed by the Cabinet last Ramadan.”

The Cabinet has approved three projects: A comprehensive development plan for Makkah, the public transport plan for the city and the development plan for holy sites.

Prince Khaled, who is chairman of the Central Haj Committee, said the entry of illegals through the main entrances of the holy sites would be prevented. “If we can prevent undocumented pilgrims coming through Arafat we can reduce their number to a great extent.”

He emphasized the possibility of promoting low-cost Haj services to reduce illegal pilgrims. “We have got a number of proposals to get rid of squatters in the holy sites. We have to be very strict in dealing with illegals,” he added.
He attributed the increase in undocumented pilgrims to a lack of punishment. “We have to set out punishments and implement them strictly next year. We should not allow them to abuse Haj and the regular pilgrims.”

According to the General Statistics Department, 3.16 million performed Haj this year. “But the latest report from Jamrat said that on the first day of Eid more than 3.65 million performed the stoning ritual. So about 4 million pilgrims have performed Haj this year,” he added.

“Unfortunately, there were a large number of undocumented pilgrims who created many problems and the majority of them are non-Saudis,” he said and estimated the number of undocumented pilgrims at 1.4 million.

Prince Khaled said the government had not made preparations for the undocumented pilgrims. “By the Grace of God, everything went well without any problems. And it is one of the most successful pilgrimages in recent years.”

He said more than 120,000 security officers were deployed on Haj duty.
He said the expansion project for the holy sites should be carried out in coordination with all related departments and should cover housing, transport and services.

Prince Khaled emphasized that pilgrims should obtain a high degree of civilization. They should respect and support one another, follow regulations,” he added.

“The Haj congregation is a unique incident in the world,” he said and commended all those who have participated for its success, including volunteers and scouts.

“This is not a political or economic meeting. It is a gathering to worship Allah. It brings together Muslims from all over the world, despite their race, language and color,” he said. He said he was not aware of any anti-regime rally carried out by Syrian pilgrims near Jamrat.

The prince emphasized the need to educate pilgrims before they come to the Kingdom in order to have better results.

“Awareness programs inside the Kingdom will have little effect if pilgrims did not receive proper Haj awareness in their countries,” he said.
Haj gives Muslims a big lesson. “If Muslims perform their Haj rituals with sincerity to receive the pleasure and reward of God, get rid of their differences and unite, they will become a strong nation and can achieve success.”

Speaking about problems faced by pilgrims at the Mashair Railway, he said it would take some time until we reach perfection in operating this transport system. He said action would be taken against those responsible for the delay in transporting pilgrims through the railway.

http://www.arabnews.com/four-million...ormed-haj-year

Illegal Hajis bane of successful Haj

29 October 2012 - 13 Thul-Hijjah 1433 H

MINA – Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, Emir of Makkah Region and the Chairman of the Central Haj Committee, admitted here Sunday that illegal pilgrims were the bane of an otherwise successful Haj season.

There were between 1,300,000-1,400,000 pilgrims with no Haj permits this year and they used services they were not entitled to, Prince Khaled said in a press conference.

Although the Central Department of Statistics and Information stated that 3,161,000 pilgrims performed Haj this year, there is other data based on the number of pilgrims who used the Jamarat Bridge on the first day of Eid Al-Adha, which shows that more than 3,657,000 pilgrims used the bridge, the Emir said.

This means that there is a huge difference in both statistics; the latter number is close to four million, he pointed out.

Unfortunately, this discrepancy in data shows that the number of pilgrims who performed Haj without permits was huge. These are the very pilgrims who sleep on the streets and result in many problems. Most of them are expatriates who live here, Prince Khaled said.

Regarding fencing the holy sites to prevent the entry of illegal pilgrims, Prince Khaled said the Council of Ministers approved a study to fence the sites and a Royal Decree was issued last Ramadan.

“If we can control the points of entry at Arafat, we’ll reduce the chances of pilgrims without Haj permits entering the holy sites. I announce that the study has been approved and we are going to implement it. We also have projects which we will implement immediately after Haj.”

He said penalties on illegal pilgrims were not properly implemented this year. Next year, penalties will be clearer and will be implemented sternly because illegal pilgrims affect the services provided to bona fide pilgrims. It also affects the entire Haj season and the services provided by the government, Prince Khaled said.

The Emir, however, said that despite the huge number of illegal pilgrims, this year’s Haj plan had been the most successful ever.

He said the real message the Kingdom wants to present through Haj is the fact that Islam is the religion of peace, love, and coexistence.

Regrettably, this message does not get enough focus.

The international media does not focus on the great message of Haj, the Emir noted.

“Haj committees don’t have to comment on everything the international media says. Sometimes there is false information. The most important thing is constructive criticism. We welcome it from everyone. We thank everyone who writes about us. If we want reform, we should start with ourselves first before reforming others. But if false and fabricated information seeks to distort the beautiful picture, it does not concern us,” he added.

Commenting on Haj packages, Prince Khaled said the Central Haj Committee would meet on Nov. 11 to assess the services provided to pilgrims and review the shortcomings.

When asked whether there was a management problem in operating the Mashair Train, the Emir said it was an operational problem. Any project takes time before it becomes complete.

Regarding the delay in transporting pilgrims at the terminals of the train station, Prince Khaled said there was a problem and a committee was formed to study it.

“We’re waiting for the results. I don’t know if we can call it an operational problem. But, no doubt, those responsible for the problem will be held accountable.”

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index...20121029141097

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#1475 [Permalink] Posted on 30th October 2012 04:06

63,000 security officers

oversee pilgrims’

movement to Makkah

29 October 2012 - 13 Thul-Hijjah 1433 H

MINA – Over 63,000 security officers from different sectors oversaw the transportation plan of 70 percent of pilgrims who headed to the Grand Mosque to perform the farewell tawaf amid tightened security measures. Once pilgrims complete their tawaf ritual, they will leave Makkah on board 18,300 buses.

Pilgrims pelted Sunday all three Jamarats while their movement was monitored by 3,000 surveillance cameras. No cases required the intervention of security officers who had been positioned at the entrances to Al-Jamarat building.

The Ministry of Health’s teams had mobilized their medical teams and put them on alert for any emergencies.

Maj. Gen. Khaled Al-Mahmmadi, commander of security forces at the Jamarat bridge, said security officers prevented pilgrims from sleeping on the streets. Over 13,000 officers organized the movement of pilgrims inside Al-Jamarat building and the roads leading it to, Maj. Gen. Al-Mahmmadi added.

Maj. Gen. Muhammad Al-Qarni, commander of Civil Defense forces, said the movement of pilgrims was smooth and no emergency cases were registered during the stoning ritual.

Maj. Gen. Abdul Rahman Al-Moqbil, assistant commander of Haj security officers in charge of traffic affairs, said the movement of pilgrims from Mina to the Grand Mosque was very smooth. Regarding the traffic plan at Al-Moaisim area near Mina, he said “we’ll continue to prevent vehicles from stopping on either side of the street or double-parking.”

Brig. Mishal Al-Maghrabi, Director of Makkah Traffic Administration, said vehicles carrying pilgrims were not allowed to enter the Central Area near the Grand Mosque during peak hours while King Abdul Aziz Road was turned into a one-direction lane leading to the Grand Mosque. The same thing was done to other major roads leading to the Grand Mosque.

“We decided to turn all roads into one direction lanes because the majority of pilgrims will leave for Jeddah, Taif, or Madinah once they have performed tawaf at the Grand Mosque. We wanted to make sure that no traffic congestion takes place.”

Brig. Yehya Al-Zahrani, commander of the Grand Mosque security forces, said the organization plan helped pilgrims perform the final Haj rituals smoothly and with comfort. “Our surveillance cameras monitor the movement of pilgrims all over the Grand Mosque, especially the ground floor, the first floor, the roof, and the tawaf area. We can also see what is going on in the courtyards surrounding the Grand Mosque.”

Although huge crowds of pilgrims flocked into the Grand Mosque, security officers organized their movement and prevented any crowding, he added. Over 10,000 officers participated in the plan.

Brig. Saud Al-Otaibi, assistant commander of Haj security forces in charge of organizing the movement of pilgrims in Mina, said 13,717 officers focused on preventing any crowding in Mina and were able to manage the huge crowds of pilgrims.

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index...20121029141098

Health Ministry declares

Haj free of diseases

Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeah, Minister of Health, addresses a press conference in Mina, Sunday.

29 October 2012 - 13 Thul-Hijjah 1433 H

MINA — Saudi Arabia has declared this year’s Haj season free of epidemic or contagious diseases.

Addressing a press conference in Mina on Sunday, Minister of Health Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeah said no cases of contagious diseases have been detected so far.

“So, I announce the Health Commission’s conclusion that the Haj season of 1433AH (2012CE) is free of any epidemic or communicable diseases, “ the minister said.

The current Haj season is winding down with the pilgrims starting to leave the Mina valley Sunday afternoon after a three-day stay following their return from Arafat at the peak of the Haj.

However, many pilgrims will stay back in the tent city to continue the Jamarat stoning for a fourth day, which is optional.

The minister said these results were achieved after a series of measures taken by the Ministry of Health over the past several months.

These measures included the application of the updated health requirements on all pilgrims, early epidemiological surveillance at all ports of entry, including land, sea and air, through its 16 health control centers.

The ministry also reinforced epidemiological surveillance teams at the Haj sites to take samples of patients and subject them to tests in local and international laboratories. This is in addition to developing and upgrading the therapeutic services at the holy sites, Makkah and Madinah.

Al-Rabeah said around 363,000 pilgrims visited the ministry’s facilities seeking medical help. Of them, 463 pilgrims had cardiac catheterization, 35 pilgrims had open-heart surgery, 2,024 received hemodialysis treatment, and 443 sick patients were assisted to perform Haj.

Al-Rabeah said the Kingdom would continue to follow the health status of pilgrims and visitors, including the results of laboratories for infectious diseases, until the last pilgrim returns to his home country.

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index...20121029141105

Meat of one million sheep

to be distributed

Sunday 28 October 2012

Coupons for nearly one million sacrificial animals have been sold among pilgrims during this Haj season under the sacrificial meat utilization project, said Dr. Ahmed Mohamed Ali, president of the Islamic Development Bank, which supervises the project.

He said 416,357 pilgrims have so far bought the coupons distributed by the IDB to help them carry out various forms of sacrifices. “We have also helped pilgrims to sacrifice 443 cows and camels,” the IDB chief said. The price for a sacrificial sheep this year is SR 450, which is equivalent to $120 or 96 Euros.

“The new slaughtering houses in Muaisem, which were established at a cost of SR 2 billion, would enable the project to make use of the meat of all sacrificial animals, by distributing them among the poor in Makkah and charitable societies across the Kingdom. A substantial portion of it will be sent to the poor in 27 countries.

The project intends to utilize meat of one million heads of sheep and 10,000 cows and camels during this Haj season. According to Dr. Ali, Syrian refugees in Turkey, Jordan and Lebanon will also receive the meat.

“This is a nonprofit Islamic service project. The bank does not receive any money for this work,” the president said. He urged pilgrims to make use of the bank’s services and keep away from sacrificing animals in a haphazard manner.

http://www.arabnews.com/meat-one-mil...be-distributed

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#1476 [Permalink] Posted on 30th October 2012 04:08

Kashmiri couple

describes 70-year wait

Muhammad and Saafya in Mina.

29 October 2012 - 13 Thul-Hijjah 1433 H

MINA – Muhammad and Saafya from Kashmir have had to wait for 70 years before performing Haj because they did not have enough money.

They spent the last 70 years of their life saving money for the journey of the lifetime. They are in their 90s now.

They put their savings inside a red box that had come to be known among their relatives and friends as the box of lifetime journey.

Saafiya said she and her husband did not have any children and they have lived alone.

When her husband Muhammad proposed to her and she agreed, he promised her 70 years ago that he would take her to Haj. The husband and his wife kept working to raise the money.

They both said they were ready to wait for another 70 years, if Allah prolonged their life, to raise the money to visit Makkah for another Haj.

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index...20121029141106

Myanmar pilgrims pray

for peace back home

29 October 2012 - 13 Thul-Hijjah 1433 H

MINA — The joy of Eid was short-lived for pilgrims from Myanmar after reports of at least 500 houses of fellow Muslims back home set ablaze by Buddhist extremists reached them.

The 2,000 Burmese pilgrims received the news with sorrow and sadness, as Muslims in that country welcomed the Eid with 500 of their houses burned near Kyaukpyu in Arakan region. The fires were started after Maghreb prayers on the day of Arafat, and the victims were forced to look for shelter between the sea and mountain, many with heart-breaking stories to tell.

As’ad Isma’il, a Burmese pilgrim, told Okaz/Saudi Gazette that Buddhists burned the houses of Muslims and prevented them from offering their sacrifices under false pretenses, and banned their Eid celebrations.

He added that after the convention of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in the Kingdom, the Myanmar government agreed to establish an Islamic organization in Arakan, but the Buddhist militants refused, and although the authorities reneged on the agreement, the Muslims were able to establish five organizations.

Kaleemullah, a Qur’an teacher in Myanmar, said they follow home news through Islamic communities and social media, as a Burmese Muslims site on Facebook was initiated lately. He added that there are only three Muslim members in the Parliament and 80 percent of the Muslim citizens of Myanmar do not have identification cards.

He said: “I will never forget the moments in Muzdalifah before Fajr, and the tranquility I felt in my heart; something that I have never experienced in my whole life.”

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index...20121029141107

196 relatives of fallen soldiers

hosted in Haj

29 October 2012 - 13 Thul-Hijjah 1433 H

MINA — “It is our duty to care for their sons and families.”

With these words, Brig. Sulaiman Al-Malik launched the Haj campaign for the families of soldiers who were killed three years ago fighting the Houthi rebels who infiltrated the southern borders of the Kingdom and killed a border guard.

The incident escalated into a three-month war between the Yemeni rebels and the Saudi troops who succeeded in suppressing the intruders. The Saudi forces also had a number of casualties in the fighting.

Okaz/Saudi Gazette visited the camp of the families at Majar Al-Kabsh, in Mina, which is equipped with the best facilities for their comfort, and spoke to some of them.

Saad Al-Shahrani, the father of Mubarak the Martyr, said he came from Khamis Mushayt with his brother for Haj. “Although losing a son is catastrophic, but dying for the country as a martyr alleviates our sadness, and we are thankful to King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, and Crown Prince Salman for their care of the families.”

Al-Haj Mohammad, the eldest son of Mar’ei Al-Asmari, came to Haj with his mother and sister. He said his father was killed on the first day of Muharram three years ago, and that he is following his father’s steps and will join the armed forces.

Martyr Mishal Al-Otaibi’s son said his father was an example of loyalty and love to his country. He beseeched God to unite them in paradise.

Brig. Dr. Sulaiman Al-Malik, director for pensioners’ affairs in the armed forces and supervisor for caring the martyrs’ families, said 196 people were hosted to perform Haj this year. They included the martyrs’ parents, sons, wives and brothers, with a maximum of five members per family.

He said services provided to the martyrs’ families include promoting the martyr, granting him the maximum retirement benefits, a SR3,000 monthly payment to the parents and wives, a royal gift of SR1 million, housing allowance for five years, payment of outstanding debts and a land grant. In addition, the martyrs’ family members will have priority in jobs, transfers, acceptance in colleges and scholarships.

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index...20121029141108

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#1477 [Permalink] Posted on 30th October 2012 04:09

Haj: A resounding success

29 October 2012 - 13 Thul-Hijjah 1433 H

HAJ operations are moving into the final stages. Mina is now practically deserted with pilgrims having left the holy site by Sunday evening, completing the three-day ritual of stoning the devil at Jamarat.

If standing at Arafat represents the essence of the Haj, Jamarat was, at one time, the yardstick by which the whole world measured the success or failure of Haj operations. Until recently, the Jamarat posed the most formidable challenge, in terms of crowd control and organization, to the Saudi authorities involved at various levels of Haj operations.

Given the limited space and the number of pilgrims (3,161,573 from 189 countries this year, eight percent more than last year), stoning had always been the most dangerous part of the pilgrimage. But the construction of a five-story bridge at Jamarat has made all this a thing of the past. Human ingenuity and the willingness of the Saudi authorities to invest heavily to enhance the comfort and safety of pilgrims has made it possible for so many more pilgrims to take part in the stone-throwing ritual without endangering each other.

In the past, panic sometimes ensued when a pilgrim fell on the bridge, and others tried to escape the push of the oncoming crowd. One tragedy occurred after pieces of luggage spilled from moving buses in front of one of the entrances to the bridge, causing pilgrims to trip. However, the expansion of the Jamarat bridge and newer and more efficient methods of crowd control have all but eliminated the chances for such mishaps.

Safety in the holy sites has been improving steadily. Studies are conducted on a regular basis to ensure that nothing goes amiss during the peak of pilgrimage.

The result can be seen in all fields connected with Haj operations including health care for pilgrims. The Ministry of Health monitors and follows up the health of pilgrims in the field and through its control center. Transportation of pilgrims from Mina to Arafat is becoming smoother and less time consuming.

This year large numbers of pilgrims preferred to walk from Mina to Arafat using pedestrian pathways in view of new regulations which banned vehicles with a capacity of 25 passengers or less. Four pedestrian pathways and seven roads for vehicles and buses were used for transporting pilgrims.

A larger fleet of helicopters was deployed in security operations this year. The number of helicopters now stands at 19. They include S-92 and Schweizer S-434 helicopters that carry out reconnaissance operations. Civil Defense helicopters transmit aerial pictures of the movement of pilgrims to and from the Grand Mosque so that authorities can monitor and deal with any problems that might occur.

Helicopters are also used in firefighting in crowded areas, such as tents and warehouses, in addition to rescue operations and airlifting of casualties to hospitals. They also help evacuate pilgrims trapped in dangerous or isolated areas.

Congratulations to all those who strove hard to make this year’s Haj a resounding success.

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index...20121029141096

Haj 2012 ends

on a high note of success

Monday 29 October 2012

The once-in-a-lifetime journey of faith undertaken by more than 3 million pilgrims reached its end yesterday with hundreds of buses and cars taking them out of the tent city of Mina before sunset.

Many pilgrims chose to walk their way to the adjacent holy city of Makkah where they performed Tawaf Al-Wida or the farewell circumambulation.

Makkah was packed with pilgrims and all three floors were filled with the faithful performing the same task. At the high-tech Jamrat Bridge, defense and military helicopters monitored pilgrim traffic that flowed smoothly throughout the last day. Chanting “God is Greatest,” the pilgrims threw seven small pebbles at each of the three gray stone walls before moving out of Mina.

Watched by alert, friendly and extremely polite security officers, pilgrims were directed to approach the stoning site in orderly waves. The stoning ritual tends to be the most animated, with pilgrims heaving their pebbles along with declarations against the evils they perceive in the world.

Pilgrims from Syria — especially those from Aleppo — were sought out by the media.

Haytham Abdullah was happy just to be alive. “I have come to perform Haj to show my gratitude to the Almighty Allah for saving me and my family members’ lives from bombings by our regime,” he said before saying goodbye to Mina. “Please continue praying for the Muslims of Syria; they are in big trouble.”

Syeda Jebeen Shah from New York was delighted at having completed all the rituals. An alumnus of India’s historic Aligarh Muslim University, she was searching for the right words to explain her experience at the Haj. She ended up saying: “Just wonderful, wonderful.”

This was the first time at the Haj for Shah and she promised it would not be the last. “Before coming here, I would wonder why would people come here again and again; I was kind of perplexed and would often deride the chronic Haj repeaters; but having experienced the glory and spirit of the Haj, I now know why they come here again and again, year after year,” she said. “I will come again too, InshaAllah.”

Abdi-Asis Salwe, an American of Somali origin, from Seattle, Washington, was equally delighted. “It went very well for me. I did not use the train at all. I kept walking all the time and enjoyed every moment of my stay in these holy places,” he said.

Salwe said peace and stability in Somalia was top on list of prayers. “I want peace to return to my homeland; it has seen far more bloodshed than what our people can endure. May Allah grant peace to my country,” he said.

Noorul Huda Khan, a former Indian Railway employee and his wife Farhat Bano from Bhagalpur in Bihar, said the act of stoning was nothing but an act of catharsis.

“To me these walls represented those men who either killed or are plotting to kill Muslims,” said Khan. “This is an act of self-purification,” he said as he completed his stone-throwing.

“I feel very comforted, like a new person, and I hope Allah will accept my pilgrimage,” said Khan’s wife Farhat Bano. “I feel spiritually at peace and everything went perfectly well.”

With his head shaved in a tradition dating back to Prophet Muhammad’s pilgrimage 1,432 years ago, Pakistani pilgrim Junaidur Rahman exchanged congratulations with friends and relatives. “Thank God, I completed the pilgrimage. I hope I live long enough to come back here again,” he said before leaving the tent city.

Pilgrims praised the Saudi authorities for the excellent arrangements.
“It is for no small reason that God has blessed them with all His bounty,” said Hatim Suleiman Al-Noor from Sudan. “Their services are unimaginable. We keep hearing people the world over talking ill of them. But we want to tell Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah that you are the real leader of the Ummah. Your services to the pilgrims cannot be described in words. May God bless you and your people,” added Al-Noor.

http://www.arabnews.com/haj-2012-ends-high-note-success

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#1478 [Permalink] Posted on 30th October 2012 04:12

Multicolored umbrellas

provide the ultimate

shade to pilgrims

Monday 29 October 2012

They came in all shapes, sizes and colors. The multicolored umbrellas were a source of relief and protection for the hundreds of thousands of pilgrims, especially the elderly, for whom the blistering sun was too much to bear.

“I don’t know where this umbrella came from,” said Mustafa Abdul Wadi, a Nigerian pilgrim. “Somebody handed it over to me at my camp. I was rather reluctant to take it, not really knowing its utility.”

Wadi realized its importance soon after the ferocious sun started beating down on him while he was on the way to performing the stoning ritual yesterday. “I am praying for that good person who gave me this Mobily umbrella,” he said, pointing at the bright blue umbrella.

Shahzada Munawwar Hasan, from Peshawar, was carrying an umbrella that was given to him by Pakistan International Airlines (PIA). “I never thought I would use this one. In Pakistan, we use umbrellas only during the rainy season.

I never imagined the sun would be this harsh here in Mina and Arafat. This umbrella has proved to be a Godsend,” he told Arab News.
Palestinian Fareed Shehata and his wife Rania were clinging to the umbrella that came from the Saudi Telecom Co.

“But for this umbrella, we wouldn’t have survived this heat,” said Shehata. “What has added to our discomfiture is that we are without hair. And the sunrays seem particularly harsh. We will keep this umbrella for the rest of our lives. It is our unforgettable Haj souvenir.”

Sajid Nawab, from New Delhi, India, was carrying the regular Indian-made black umbrella. “I got this from India itself. My brother, who works in Riyadh, had warned me about the high temperatures at Haj. He was right. This umbrella was extremely helpful,” he said.

http://www.arabnews.com/multicolored...shade-pilgrims

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#1479 [Permalink] Posted on 1st November 2012 04:32

Foreign pilgrims spent on average

more than SR20,000 each last year

Monday 29 October 2012

A recent study on the spending habits of Haj pilgrims has found that a foreign pilgrim spend an average of SR 21,622 for his Haj last year.

“About 77 percent of the cost of Haj went for his accommodation, travel, fees, and food and drink in 2011,” according to the study conducted by Ahmed Al-Naqa and Essam Al-Jefri of the Administrative and Humanitarian Studies Department of the Makkah-based Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Institute for Haj Studies.

The study, in which 3,546 foreign pilgrims of different nationalities participated, said 60.8 percent of the samples had a monthly income of between SR 1,000 to SR 4,900. Their maximum spending was SR 24,400 and minimum SR 16,000.

The study divided the samples to five categories on the basis of their monthly income, nature of job, educational qualifications and mode and class of travel. The income brackets are between SR 7,500 and SR 9,900, SR 10,000 and SR 14,970, SR 15,000 and SR 19,999, SR 20,000 and SR 29,999 and SR 30,000 and SR 148,000.

Pilgrims had to spend the highest amount for their lodging at an average of SR5,652 for a room accounting for 26 percent of their total spending followed by an average of 21.7 percent for travel expense at SR 4,706. Various Haj related fees came at the third place at SR 4,455 accounting for 21 percent of the total.

Their spending on food and drinks averaged at SR1,800 accounting for 8 percent of the total spending, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Sunday.
Accommodation, travel, food and fees needed SR 16612.22 accounting for 77 percent of a pilgrim’s spending.

The study also discovered a pilgrim spent 4.7 percent of the total spending to buy gifts to people back home, while he bought new cloths accounting for 5.4 percent.

They also spent 2.5 percent of the total cost of the pilgrimage on domestic transportation.

They also needed 3.5 percent to buy electrical devices at their lodgings and 2.3 percent for telecommunications costs.

The spending of each pilgrim was influenced by his monthly income, profession and educational level among other factors, the study said.

Recent media reports suggest that the cost of pilgrimage this year could be far higher than last year. It is because the basic factors that determine the cost of a Haj journey such as lodging, food and flight tickets have increased considerably this year. The cost of accommodation in Makkah has a tendency to become exorbitant during peak seasons of Haj and Ramadan. For instance, during Ramadan this year, hotel at locations close to the Grand Mosque charged SR 1,5000 for a room per night.

Most of the airlines companies have also hiked their ticket charges this year on the ground that fuel charges have increased. Food items particularly meat also have become more expensive compared to last year.

http://www.arabnews.com/foreign-pilg...each-last-year

Risala volunteers win

applause for Haj service

Tuesday 30 October 2012

MINA: There were many Indian volunteer groups that came to the help of pilgrims of all nationalities during the just concluded Haj. Notable among them was Risala Study Circle.

Its nearly 1,000 Indian volunteers came from different parts of the Kingdom and played key roles in helping many pilgrims, especially those from South Asia, complete the difficult and arduous Haj rituals.

“The primary job of the volunteers was to take care of the elderly pilgrims, especially those who get separated from their group in Mina,” said one of the group organizers.

Maloor Kuttipuram Kunjheen, a 50-year-old Indian pilgrim from India who came through the Al-Falah Haj Group in Kerala, had a severe asthmatic attack at the Jamrat complex two days ago. He was completely exhausted. Risala Study Circle volunteers rushed to his help and took him to the nearest clinic where he was put on nebulization. The volunteers sat by his side for two hours, got him food and then informed his wife and relatives of his condition.

The Risala volunteers similarly helped a 37-year-old Pakistani pilgrim Iqbal who had fallen unconscious at the Jamrat complex during the stoning ritual. The volunteers, along with the agile and alert Civil Defense personnel,
transferred him to a nearby hospital where he was treated with utmost care.

Among the Risala volunteers who came in for praise for their tireless efforts were Samad, Noufal Chirayil, Nisar Manakath and Nijam Vykkam.

http://www.arabnews.com/risala-volun...se-haj-service

Indian minister praises

Saudi efforts for Haj

Tuesday 30 October 2012

India’s Minister of State for External Affairs E. Ahamed praised the efforts yesterday of Saudi Arabian authorities in completing successful Haj of the year.

“This year’s Haj has been successful for all of India’s pilgrims as much for all others coming from other parts of the world,” said Ahamed.
He added that he represented India during the reception King Abdullah gave to prominent Muslim leaders and heads of Haj missions at his palace in Mina on Saturday.

Addressing press conference here yesterday, the minister, who is leading Indian Haj delegation, thanked Saudi authorities for allowing 152 Indian volunteers to serve Indian pilgrims in holy sites of Makkah.

As many as 169,971 Indian pilgrims performed the annual pilgrimage this year. They included 125,071 who came through the Haj Committee of India (HCOI) and 44,900 transported by private tour operators, said Ahamed who had a meeting with Minister of Haj Dr. Bandar bin Mohammed Hajar.

He said that 397 Haj pilgrims were initially reported missing and most of them have been reunited with their families. He also said that for first time that Indian pilgrims used the train service.

The minister said that 432 flights will operate to transport Indian pilgrims to India. Pilgrims are set to depart Nov. 1-29 from Jeddah’s King Abdulaziz International Airport.
Pilgrims will leave Madinah Nov. 11 to Dec. 1. From Jeddah, Air India and Saudi will together have 257 flights, and from Madinah AI and Saudi together will have 175. An estimated 836 personnel are being deployed by Indian Mission to assist Haj pilgrims.

Ahamed said that 170,000 Indian pilgrims have arrived in Kingdom to perform Haj this year mostly through private tour operators.
India Consul General Faiz Ahmed Kidwai said that Haj mission Hospitals in Makkah and Madinah has treated 264,199 pilgrims as outpatients that include several Non-Indian pilgrims. About 150 Indian pilgrims were admitted to various Hospitals.

He said that total 12,130 missing baggage cases were reported in addition to 622 reports of lost money.
Interim relief of cash was provided to pilgrims who had lost money. The consul general also said that there were no transactions of sales have found with bogus website of animal sacrifice for Indian pilgrims in Saudi Arabia. The fake website was launched in India, he said, and the Indian consulate has alerted the authorities in India about the alleged fraud attempt.
Indian pilgrims are set to return home after performing Haj.

Ahamed said, “This time there have been a drop in the number of deaths during the Haj season (through) Monday.”
There have been 109 deaths during the period as against 121 last year, said Ahamed.
“To date, two births took place — one in Makkah and the other in Madinah,” he said.

http://www.arabnews.com/indian-minis...di-efforts-haj

Filipino preacher helps

over 1,000 Asians embrace Islam

Tuesday 30 October 2012

JEDDAH: Ronaldo, a Filipino worker in Riyadh, has convinced more than 1,000 Asians, including his own family members, to embrace Islam during the past few years, Al-Sharq Arabic daily reported yesterday.

Ronaldo, who works at a broast restaurant in Riyadh, said he accepted Islam as his religion several years ago after understanding the meaning of a Qur’anic verse.

He still remembers the question asked him by one of his Muslim colleagues at the restaurant: “Why don’t you pray with us. Don’t you want to enter Paradise if you die tonight?”

Ronaldo said that question had inspired him to learn more about Islam. He later heard about a Qur’anic verse which means: “And whoever seeks other than Islam as religion it will not be accepted from him; and in the Hereafter, he will be among the losers.”

Ronaldo then accepted Islam as he believed that he would not be able to enter the Paradise without following its teachings. An Indonesian friend took him to the nearest Dawa Center in Rowda where he learned more about the Islamic faith and its teachings.

He later became a propagator of Islam. He visited companies and residential compounds of Asian workers and explained to them the salient teachings of the divine religion. Meanwhile, a Saudi group helped 50 newly embraced Filipino Muslims to perform Haj. “Many of these Filipinos had exerted great efforts to convince their families and friends to embrace Islam and most of them were successful in their noble endeavor,” said Saud Al-Rajhi, organizer of the program.

Al-Rajhi said they have coordinated with the Dawa centers in the Philippines to provide the new Muslims with necessary books on Islam and courses on the religion.

The pilgrims were brought by the Charitable Society established by Sheikh Abdul Mohsen bin Saleh Al-Rajhi in 1417H.

“Previously we were bringing less than 1,000 new Muslims for Haj. Now the project has expanded and we help a large number of new Muslims to perform the fifth pillar of Islam, meeting all their expenses,” he said.

Twenty-four-year-old Michael from Virginia was among the new Muslims who performed Haj with the group’s support. Michael said the participation in Haj has given him a feeling that he is part and parcel of the Ummah.

“It gave me an opportunity to live with Muslims from different countries, wearing the same form of dress and participating in the same forms for worships and rituals,” he said.

About 6,250 new Muslims performed Haj this year under the charity, which arranged 180 preachers and 180 supervisors to enlighten the new Muslims about Haj and Islam.

http://www.arabnews.com/filipino-pre...-embrace-islam

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#1480 [Permalink] Posted on 1st November 2012 04:34

Haj generates increased

revenue for Makkah

Wednesday 31 October 2012

The pilgrimage season is the backbone of the commercial and industrial sector in Makkah generating 70 percent of its total annual revenue.

Talal Mirza, chairman of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Makkah, said the pilgrimage season contributes to increased financial activity in the holy city, in the areas of real estate, industry, trade, and the hospitality industry.

Mirza said this season is particularly important to the inhabitants of Makkah who rely heavily on it, even though there has been a remarkable increase in sales in recent Umrah holidays.

“Haj also leads to thousands of seasonal jobs for students, the unemployed or those who are employed in the private or public sector and looking for seasonal work during their official leave,” he said.
He said many families particularly those in Makkah consider Haj the perfect time to generate an income.

Mohammed Al Yami, an economic expert, said sales around the Grand Mosque are up 300 percent during the pilgrimage season.
He said high rent charges have forced retailers to make every effort to attract pilgrims to their stores.

The shops and commercial centers in Makkah are inundated by large numbers of pilgrims buying gifts and souvenirs from the holy places.

Mirza stressed the need for a new industrial city in Makkah to replace its current location in a small residential area.
“The establishment of a new industrial city is urgently needed to encourage industry in a market where Haj and Umrah seasons are so important,” he said.

Mirza offered the support of the chamber to the Makkah Gov. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal for his “Made in Makkah” project offering products made in the region rather than imported from abroad.

http://www.arabnews.com/haj-generate...revenue-makkah

Saudia step up efforts to ensure

smooth flow of return Haj flights

Wednesday 31 October 2012

Saudi Arabian Airlines has stepped up efforts to facilitate the return journey of Haj pilgrims.

“We have mobilized all our resources in the service of the guests of God,” said Khaled Al-Molhem, director general of the airline.

Speaking to reporters after inspecting services at Saudia Terminal of King Abdulaziz International Airport (KAIA), he said the airline had operated several additional flights to meet the needs of growing passenger traffic during Haj and Eid Al-Adha.

Saudia operated 74 flights from Jeddah airport on the first day after Haj including 47 to carry domestic pilgrims and 27 to transport GCC pilgrims, the director general said.

On Monday, Saudia operated 577 scheduled and Haj flights to transport a total of 56,534 passengers.

“We have rented 30 wide-bodied aircraft to ensure smooth flow of flights without any delay,” he said.

As usual there were huge crowds of passengers at KAIA including pilgrims returning after Haj.

This situation encouraged authorities to shift some Haj flights carrying domestic and GCC pilgrims to the Haj Terminal and send their baggage using air cargo, Al-Yaum reported.

Saudia officials at the airport said they were prepared for the huge traffic of passengers after Haj. However, they pointed out that huge baggage carried by pilgrims had complicated the situation.

Abdul Hameed Abalarry, director general of KAIA, said more than 80 flights carrying pilgrims have been leaving the airport every day after Haj.
“We have transferred about 18 flights to the Haj Terminal to reduce congestion at the Southern Terminal,” he said.
“We have also set up an area to collect the baggage of pilgrims and transport them to their destinations by air cargo,” the director said. “This arrangement was made for the first time. It has helped speed up travel procedures of pilgrims.”

Meanwhile, Sahl Al-Sabban, assistant Haj minister for projects, disclosed the government’s plan to establish new projects worth SR 2 billion to facilitate the movement of pilgrims in the holy sites.

The new plan includes construction of three flyovers and four new roads to separate pedestrians from vehicles during the peak Haj days.

http://www.arabnews.com/saudia-step-...rn-haj-flights

Pilgrims head home after Eid

Wednesday 31 October 2012

As the Eid Al-Adha holidays draws to a close, many residents across the Kingdom look back on an uplifting and relaxing few days. A large number has just completed their farewell circumambulation around the Kaaba, the cube-shaped structure in Makkah toward which Muslims worldwide pray.
Hamad, an Egyptian residing in Jeddah, was among them. “My family and I performed Haj for the first time. It was a good experience and a peaceful Haj,” he said.

“Five members from my family performed Haj this year. The total amount I spent was around SR 27,500. Although it was expensive, the services provided to us were great. I am happy that the Haj went really well,” said Omair, a resident.

Many pilgrims were satisfied with the services of local agents who organized Haj tours. Hamza Anwar, a Pakistani residing in Dammam, expressed his happiness over realizing his dream. “The Haj tour we went with ensured us our smooth journey from Dammam to Makkah and a two-day stay in Madinah. They took care of everything during the Haj and helped us to concentrate on our prayers” he said.

Huma Ahmed, a teacher, said, “I performed Haj with my son and it was his first time. It was a spiritual journey with nothing to worry about. We were provided with all the services, from a comfortable stay to nice food.”
As the cost of pilgrimage for Kingdom residents was high this year, many illegal pilgrims made the journey and resided in camps throughout the Haj. Others managed to pay the amount.

Resident Ahmed Ali said he hoped for a cut in the cost of Haj next year, so the great majority of people whose earnings are low can afford to go. “Yet, there are people who paid thousands and received bad services, which affected their stay during the Haj,” he said.

Many people struggled to reconcile their spiritual needs with their wallets. “I pray that everyone gets to perform Haj once in their lifetime,” said Zayan.
Many of those who did not perform Haj, chose to travel to Madinah during Eid Al-Adha holidays. The crowd in the holy city reduced drastically by Sunday evening as most holidaymakers returned home, leaving the city to get ready and embrace another wave of pilgrims from Makkah after completion of Haj.

The road toward Jeddah was crowded with departing vehicles and there was a rush for taxis and SAPTCO buses going to Riyadh, Dammam and other cities. No seats will be available on Saudia airlines flights from Jeddah to Riyadh for the next six days.

Hill station Taif, a popular holiday destination about 130 kilometers from Jeddah, drew visitors from the Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates. Faruq Islam, front office manager of Ramadah Hotel, said the hotel would be fully occupied until Thursday.

At the Corniche in Jeddah, marking the Red Sea coastline, the sidewalk is densely packed with visitors while the smoke from barbecues pits leaves blue clouds for miles. Near the "floating mosque” one can hardly find space to sit down in the evening hours. Public parks across the city are packed with expatriates families until the late night hours and large amounts of garbage, empty bottles and food packets, are piling up, despite the intensive efforts of Jeddah Municipality.

http://www.arabnews.com/pilgrims-head-home-after-eid

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#1481 [Permalink] Posted on 1st November 2012 04:36

Muslim pilgrims rush to Mecca

for farewell circumambulation

28 October 2012

The annual hajj pilgrimage is soon coming to an end as Muslim pilgrims rushed to complete the final rituals, leaving the devil-stoning site of Mina and returning to Mecca for the farewell circumambulation.

Most pilgrims, who have been hurling rocks at three pillars representing Satan for the past three days, will be leaving the holy city of Mina before dusk.

But others will stay on in Mina until Monday when they will perform the stoning ritual one final time.

Worshippers living outside Mecca will have to perform the farewell circumambulation around the Kaaba, a cube-shaped structure in Mecca towards which Muslims worldwide pray.

The hajj officially ends on Monday but pilgrims who are in a hurry to conclude their journey can do so on Sunday.

"I hope I will be able to perform the hajj again in the future," said Um Hassan, an Iraqi pilgrim. "It was a great experience."

Able-bodied Muslims must perform the hajj at least once in their lifetime.

Devil-stoning safer than before

Men, women and children from 189 countries, many of whom had saved for years to make the trip, hurled pebbles at three vast stone pillars representing Satan, shouting "Allahu akbar (God is Greatest)."

The devil-stoning in Mina, once the most dangerous phase of the hajj marred by deadly stampedes and fires in tent camps, has passed without incident this year. The ritual began on Friday with the Muslim Eid al-Adha holiday as the faithful stoned the largest pillar, Jamrat al-Aqaba.

Most tents are now fire-proof and gas canisters and cooking are banned. The stoning area has also been expanded to avoid overcrowding.

Saudi authorities have built a five-level structure around the stoning site, allowing for the smooth flow of pilgrims.

Free supply still needs improvement

Nearby, many pilgrims struggled to reach a parked truck offering free food and water.

Early on Saturday, plastic bags of meat were gathered and sent to camps in Mina. On Eid al-Adha -- the feast of sacrifice -- sheep are slaughtered and the meat is distributed to needy Muslims.

The rite represents Abraham preparing to sacrifice his son before God provided a lamb in the boy's place at the last moment.

Piles of rubbish littered Mina's streets after pilgrims spent the night there, reported AFP.

Motorbikes replaced cars to become a luxury mode of transport amid the massive throngs, transporting pilgrims around Mina for between 150 and 200 riyals ($40-$53).

The stoning in Mina used to be the most dangerous phase of the hajj and the most problematic for the authorities, marred at times by deadly stampedes as well as fires in tent camps.

Security forces were heavily deployed in the stoning area and first aid teams remained on high alert at the pillars. According to the authorities, 168,000 police officers and civil defense personnel were mobilized for this year's hajj.

More than three million registered pilgrims are performing the rituals which end officially on Monday. Many pilgrims, however, conclude their pilgrimage on Sunday.

http://english.alarabiya.net/article...j94eqe90b0be61

Seminar sheds light

on social aspects of Haj

30 October 2012 - 14 Thul-Hijjah 1433 H

JEDDAH — Khak-e-Taiba Trust, a Jeddah-based community welfare group, organized a seminar to guide the pilgrims about the correct method and approach of performing various Haj rituals.

A large number of expatriates with intention to perform Haj attended the event at a local restaurant.

Scholars Mufti Syed Ziauddin Naqshabandi and Mohammed Omar Nadwi, with their in-depth research experience and analytical studies, spoke in length detailing every aspect of Haj.

The scholars underlined the fact that Haj provides Muslims around the world with the rare opportunity to forget their differences and unite for the sake of Allah. “The lessons from Haj are very significant to a Muslim’s daily life. It teaches generosity, kindness and the ability to share with the less fortunate,” Naqshabandi said.

The scholars maintained that Islam is the only religion that teaches its adherents to rise above all racist prejudices, and Haj is a true reflection of this aspect of the faith.

During Haj, millions of pilgrims with a multitude of ethnic and racial backgrounds from around the globe converge on Makkah and stay together on a single platform. Despite their divergent cultures and lifestyles, in the holy land they are dressed alike, recite the same prayers and perform the same rituals in a show of true solidarity.

“This strengthens the spirit of unity, equality and brotherhood. These are the values on which Islam builds human society. These ideals are tested at Haj, a religious duty that must be carried out at least once in the lifetime by every able-bodied Muslim who can afford to do so,” Nadwi said.

After the lectures, the speakers cleared the doubts of participants in an open question-and-answer session. The scholars suitably answered a wide range of questions from the audience.

President of Bazm-e-Ittehad Ahmeduddin Owaisi stressed the importance of visiting Madinah to pray at the Prophet’s Mosque and greet the Prophet (peace be upon him). “Of course, visiting Madinah is not an obligatory ritual of Haj, but anyone who comes for Haj and misses the Ziarah without any valid reason, believe me, is at a great loss,” Owaisi remarked.

Earlier, welcoming the audience, Aijaz Ahmed Khan, KTT’s Jeddah Center President, said, “KTT remains in the forefront of promoting Islamic and educational causes and the seminar is just a small step toward our commitment to the community.”

Syed Khaja Viqaruddin, the forum’s general secretary, anchored the program and Vice President Syed Mudassir Bukhari gave the vote of thanks. The seminar concluded with a special supplication by Mufti Ziauddin.

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index...20121030141194

Pilgrims all praises

for healthcare services

30 October 2012 - 14 Thul-Hijjah 1433 H

MINA — Shaheed Al-Islam, a British pilgrim, expressed his satisfaction while he was undergoing a dialysis in Mina Al-Wadi Hospital.

He said before coming to Saudi Arabia he was continuously worried about his two dysfunctional kidneys. He made use of the Internet to search for hospitals in the Kingdom specializing in dialysis. His search results indicated King Abdullah Medical City and some other hospitals.

The British national said, “I believed it would be difficult to find dialysis machines in the holy sites, especially in Mina. I dialed the numbers given on the Internet. When I felt reassured, I decided to perform Haj this year despite the fact that I have been suffering from kidney failure for the past 14 years.”

Al-Islam added, “The services here excel over those in British hospitals in terms of quality, free treatment and the diversity of the medical staff. I was astonished by the international standard services that helped me complete the Haj rites due to the availability of the machines at the hospitals in the holy sites.”

He was further impressed when he heard the stories on the rest of free services from which the pilgrims benefited. He said, “This is the conduct that Islam teaches.”

A 27-year-old Dutch national said, “The Internet was useful, as I searched for hospitals in Madinah and Makkah providing dialysis. From the websites I realized how advanced the medical services were in Saudi Arabia and the difference between the services in my country and Saudi Arabia,” he said.

Murtaza, a Pakistani national, said his appendix burst. Speaking about his experience, he said, the services he obtained were invaluable. He said the medical team provided him with free medical services, which he could not get in his country.

Meanwhile, the 65-year-old journalist Yahya Yusuf, Director General for News in the Egyptian Al-Yaum newspaper, said he used to undergo dialysis in Egypt at the rate of 500 Egyptian pounds per session. He said he was surprised that the dialysis sessions were free of charge in the Mashair Area.

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index...20121030141201

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#1482 [Permalink] Posted on 1st November 2012 04:39

Hajis required to report 6 hrs

before flight departure time

30 October 2012 - 14 Thul-Hijjah 1433 H

MAKKAH – All foreign pilgrims are required to be at the airport six hours before the scheduled departure of their flights, according to new regulations issued by the Ministry of Haj.

Haj companies have been instructed to double check the departure time and coordinate the transportation process.

The ministry also asked Haj companies to strictly observe the flight schedules and times of departure for ships and buses. Pilgrims are not allowed to move except in vehicles licensed by the General Car Syndicate (GCS).

Pilgrims who want to leave for Madinah by air should also be at the airport six hours in advance. Pilgrims who are leaving for home by sea should go to the seaport 18 hours ahead of the departure time.

Hatim Qadhi, spokesman of the Ministry of Haj, said these regulations were decided after extensive meetings between officials from the ministry and the General Authority of Civil Aviation.

He also said the ministry will be provided with flight schedules 24 hours in advance and will send the schedules to the GCS and all tawafa establishments.

“Non-compliance with the new regulations carries penalties,” said Qadhi.

Abdul Wahid Saiful Deen, chairman of the coordination commission for tawafa establishments, said the ministry’s mechanisms and departure programs were clear and accurate and that all establishments would comply with them.

The last remaining pilgrims performed the stone-throwing rituals Monday in Mina valley. They then headed to Makkah to perform the farewell circumambulation of the Ka’ba before either leaving the Kingdom or proceeding to Madinah.

The annual pilgrimage came to a close without any major incidents.

The Saudi authorities congratulated the pilgrims, who officially numbered 3.1 million, on a “successful” Haj season, despite a large number having entered the holy sites without proper permits.

Officials said about 120,000 police were deployed throughout the five-day pilgrimage, along with an equal number of health and sanitation employees, in what is considered the largest annual human gathering on earth.

According to Health Minister Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeah, Haj passed without the spread of any major illness or epidemic.

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index...20121030141192

Pakistani takes four wives

for Haj to fulfill dowry pledge

30 October 2012 - 14 Thul-Hijjah 1433 H

MINA – “Half of their dowries was memorizing the Holy Qur’an and the other half was taking them to the holy land,” said Mir Hussein, a Pakistani national, about his four wives who performed Haj with him.

Hussein is known among his folk for his beautiful Qur’an recitation to the extent that many of the town’s residents wish to marry their daughters to him.

Hussein, who hails from a remote Pakistani town, married his first wife Zainab, who is also his cousin, when he memorized the Holy Qur’an at the age of 15. She was his uncle’s gift to him.

He married Hafsa, his second wife, for a dowry of several rupees and a promise to take her for Haj. He gave the same promise to the brother of his third wife, Zulaikha, when he married her.

As to Sajidah, his fourth wife, he married her after he led Isha prayers in one of the mosques while visiting another Pakistani town for some personal work.

Hussein was reciting some verses of the Holy Qur’an. When he completed his recitation an old man came close to him and sat down. He praised Hussein’s melodious recitation. The old man was so impressed that he held Hussein’s hands and offered him his daughter in marriage provided he taught her the Qur’an, even after learning from their conversation that Hussein already had three wives and 15 sons and daughters from them.

While marrying Sajidah, who is 12 years younger than him, Hussein promised her that her dowry would be a copy of the Holy Qur’an from “the land of the two holy mosques”, apart from a pilgrimage. They have been blessed with five sons.

Hussein said he came to Haj accompanied by his four wives to fulfill his promise and pay off his dowry commitments.

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index...20121030141200

Prince Ahmad vows tighter

crowd control steps next Haj

30 October 2012 - 14 Thul-Hijjah 1433 H

Prince Ahmad receives security officials who served in Haj, Sunday
MAKKAH – Stricter measures will be taken next year to prevent any type of pushing and shoving accidents in the holy sites, said Prince Ahmad Bin Abdul Aziz, Interior Minister.

Once investigations are completed, penalties will be imposed on those responsible for the crowding incident at a train station in Arafat, added Prince Ahmad. “We’ll develop new action programs and design possible scenarios to deal with all possibilities next year.”

Pilgrims completed their final Haj rituals in Mina and Makkah on Monday as the annual pilgrimage came to a close without any major incidents.
The Saudi authorities congratulated the pilgrims on a successful Haj season, despite a large number having entered the holy sites without proper permits.

Officials said about 120,000 police were deployed throughout the six-day pilgrimage, along with an equal number of health and sanitation employees, in what is considered the largest annual human gathering on earth.

As for illegal pilgrims without Haj permits, new regulations will be in place next year to specifically deal with this phenomenon, Prince Ahmad said, but ruled out the possibility of fencing off the holy sites.

“It’s difficult to do that because we’re talking about a large area.

However, we hope that everyone realizes that performing Haj without permit is not legal. If someone could not perform Haj in a particular year, they should wait until the next year. Everyone should respect the laws and regulations so that legal pilgrims feel comfort and ease during Haj.”

Meanwhile, field teams of Makkah police led by Mohammad Al-Withyani, arrested a gang of Arab expatriates who were pick pocketing pilgrims in crowded areas near the Grand Mosque.

A number of mobile phones and cash was found in their possession, and were returned to their owners.

The media spokesman for Makkah police, Abdulmuhsen Al-Mayman, said the gang will be referred to the Bureau of Investigation and Public Prosecution.

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index...20121030141197

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#1483 [Permalink] Posted on 1st November 2012 04:41

Suspension bridges planned

at holy sites for pedestrians

31 October 2012 - 15 Thul-Hijjah 1433 H

MAKKAH – Three suspension bridges and four new lanes will be built over the next two years in holy sites to separate the movement of pedestrians from vehicles, announced Sahal Al-Sabban, the Ministry of Haj undersecretary for holy sites’ projects.

The roads currently being used by vehicles in Mina will be converted into pedestrian-only lanes.

Makkah and Holy Sites Development Supreme Commission has approved the design of the project which will cost SR1.8 billion and have a capacity to hold 1,050,000 pilgrims, Al-Sabban noted.

This is the fourth phase of the shuttle transportation project which will increase its capacity from 800,000 pilgrims to 1,850,000 pilgrims, he pointed out.

The project will help authorities reorganize the lanes of the holy sites. Several roads in Arafat will be redeveloped, as part of this project, and additional spacious lanes will be built which can accommodate 6,000 buses, he said.

The three suspension bridges will link King Abdul Aziz Road with King Khaled Road in Mina and King Faisal Bridge in Muzdalifah. The current roads in Mina will be used by pedestrians only in the future because it is difficult for vehicles to use them during Haj.

Once completed, the project will reduce the time pilgrims take to move from one holy site to another and will benefit a large number of pilgrims.

Haj this year concluded Monday with an unprecedented success.

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index...20121031141270

Calls to beef up security

at Mashair Train stations

31 October 2012 - 15 Thul-Hijjah 1433 H

MAKKAH — Security officers should be deployed next year at the train stations in the holy sites to control crowd movement and prevent any type of pushing and shoving accidents inside the stations, said Fahd Abo Tarboush, director general of Al-Mashair Train and executive director of pilgrims’ transportation program in the holy sites. He added that all operational plans for Al-Mashair Train would be reassessed.

Abo Tarboush dismissed reports that train tickets were sold on the black market to a large number of pilgrims, who caused the crowding at a train station in Arafat. “We sold over 530,000 tickets to Haj companies and Tawafa establishments. We don’t sell tickets to individuals. These reports are sheer lies,” he said.

Also, some Haj companies said they plan to sue the railway company for failing to transport 70,000 pilgrims holding tickets.

Abo Tarboush insisted that the train did transport all pilgrims holding tickets and did not cancel any trips. He was surprised by this huge number and wondered where those pilgrims were when the train was transporting passengers.

Moreover, he denied reports that claimed a technical failure caused the accident inside the station.

The accident happened because local Haj companies sent over 50,000 pilgrims without tickets to the station. This huge number wasn’t taken into consideration and disrupted train schedules and plans, he said.

“Those pilgrims were sleeping on the ground inside the station. We had to transport 150,000 pilgrims who did not have tickets. The absence of security officers to prevent those pilgrims from crowding the grounds of the train station was the main reason for the accident.”

A five-member committee set up to investigate the accident has yet to submit its report. However, some sources said several factors contributed to the crowding incident.

First, one of the Tawafa establishments sent all its pilgrims at the same time and this disrupted the plans and schedules. Secondly, a large number of pilgrims refused to get on the train and waited at the station because they wanted to go to a different destination.

Thirdly, several groups of pilgrims refused to get off, as they wanted to get down at a different station. Fourthly, many pilgrims slept on the grounds of the station blocking the movement of pilgrims to the train station. Fifthly, some pilgrims used emergency exits when they should not have.

Finally, many pilgrims who did not have tickets insisted on riding the train and they tried to force open the train doors. This made the train to stop for safety reasons.

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index...20121031141278

Female health workers

keen to serve pilgrims

31 October 2012 - 15 Thul-Hijjah 1433 H

MINA — Sara Al-Shaye, 29, a Saudi information technology engineer based in Riyadh, came for the first time to serve in Haj, with a team of Saudi female IT specialists in a pilot IT project that the Ministry of Health implemented in five primary healthcare centers in Mina.

“When I was offered the job I was given the choice, but I decided to go, especially because of the encouragement of my husband,” she told Saudi Gazette on her experience as a Saudi female serving in Haj.

“Once I arrived here, I was strongly moved with the sight of the giant crowds of devotees of varying ages who came from all over the world to seek the forgiveness of Allah through the most physically taxing religious ritual,” she said.

“The project I worked on was to install a system for the use of digital pens aimed at collecting patient data,” she added.

“The purpose of collecting this data was to generate as much accurate, reliable and thorough information as possible for planning and development of healthcare services provided to pilgrims at primary healthcare centers in the holy sites. Each pen can store the data of around 1,000 patients,” she pointed out.

Sara’s job falls in the category of non-traditional jobs held by Saudi females in healthcare settings in Haj.

Saudi women traditionally worked in Haj as nurses and, to a less extent, physicians. This year around 1,625 females served as nurses, according to the Assistant Deputy Health Minister for Support Medical Services, Dr. Munira Al-Osaimi.

“This figure represents 28 percent of a total of 5,900 male and female nurses, and 75 percent of all Saudi nurses, mobilized to provide healthcare services to pilgrims,” she said.

Deputy Health Minister for Planning and Development Dr. Muhammad Khushaim said: “In previous years, we used to recruit nurses from Egypt and Malaysia, but this year we stopped that and relied on Saudi and local nurse recruitment,” he said.

Suzan Kabawi, 33, deputy head of nursing services at Mina Emergency Hospital, said when she started working as a nurse in the hospital, Saudi nurses represented just 10 percent. “But now things have changed and we see plenty of them around here serving in Haj.”

Saudi Gazette met some Saudi nurses who were serving for the first time in Haj to learn about their experience in serving pilgrims.

Hila Al-Saeedi, 26, said she participated in the service by her own will and the encouragement of her colleagues who had served in previous years. Also, her husband encouraged her to participate. “It was an extremely wonderful experience. I felt a push from within which kept reminding me that what I was doing was serving the guests of Allah and not merely doing a job,” she said.

Sana Ghulman, 32, a full-time student and a nurse at King Faisal Specialist Hospital, said: “My sister suggested that I join the Haj service in the hospital. It sounded appealing, so I joined as a volunteer.”

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index...20121031141280

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#1484 [Permalink] Posted on 1st November 2012 04:55

Haj a great unifying force,

say MWL guests

31 October 2012 - 15 Thul-Hijjah 1433 H

MAKKAH — Around 500 prominent Muslim leaders, scholars, thinkers and intellectuals from across the world have performed Haj as guests of the Makkah-based Muslim World League (MWL).

While speaking to Saudi Gazette, they said in unison that the services and facilities being extended by the Saudi government for Haj pilgrims are remarkable and wonderful, and that no other country in the world could organize such an event.

They noted that Saudi Arabia and the MWL were instrumental in bringing together Muslim leaders at one point to perform their rituals as well as to discuss and exchange the problems facing the Islamic Ummah and explore solutions. The leaders thanked the Saudi leadership, led by King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, for implementing landmark projects to provide ease and comfort to the pilgrims.

Among the dignitaries hosted by the MWL for this year’s Haj were Yusuf Al-Qaradawi, President of the International Union of Muslim Scholars; Saleh Bin Humaid, senior imam of Makkah Grand Mosque and former President of the Shoura Council; Ekrima Saeed Sabri, imam of Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem and President of the Palestine Scholars and Preachers Organization; Maulana Muhammad Khan Sheerani, member of Pakistan Senate and chairman of the Pakistan Council of Islamic Ideology; Sufyan Al-Thawri, Rector of European Islamic University of Rotterdam, Netherlands; Nagip Suenderi, General Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Kosovo; Ameeruddin Saranjani, President of the Supreme Council for Coordination of Islamic Work in the Philippines and former member of MWL foundation committee; prominent Saudi scholar Sheikh Salman Al-Ouda; former Sudanese ministers Essam Al-Bashir and Abdul Basit Seerwaq; and Qutbuddin Hamidi, member of Turkish Parliament.

K.A. Hassan, senior lawyer of Kerala High Court and member of Waqaf Board, is among a five-member Indian pilgrim delegation hosted by the MWL.

Muhammad Seed Al-Majdouhi, public relations general manager of the MWL, told Saudi Gazette: “All our guests are fine and they were ecstatic about performing the rituals with ease and comfort, thanks to the landmark projects implemented, plus much improved services and facilities made available by the government in the holy cities and at the holy sites.”

Sheikh Sabri, who performed Haj for the eighth time, lauded the efforts being made by the Saudi government to extend the best possible services to the pilgrims. “It is amazing to see that Saudi Arabia, under King Abdullah, is rendering outstanding services to pilgrims. We see remarkable improvements in services and facilities every year,” he said.

Sheikh Sabri, who headed a 10-member Palestinian Haj delegation, specially noted that there have been no incidents while stoning for the past three years thanks to the landmark Jamarat Complex that provided much ease, comfort and safety for the pilgrims.

“The government has mobilized all its resources to do the excellent services for the pilgrims,” he said, while thanking the MWL for giving him an opportunity to have an interaction with a cross section of Muslim leaders from all corners of the world. “I found time to brief them on the latest developments in Jerusalem with the recent storming of Islam’s third holy mosque by Jewish extremists,” he added.

Maulana Sheerani thanked King Abdullah and the Saudi people for organizing a smooth and hassle-free Haj.

“I am very happy to say that the Saudi government spares no efforts to improve the services for pilgrims. However, there should be more focus on crowd control by minimizing the problems caused by squatters,” he said.

On his part, Al-Thawri said that Haj gives Muslims a valuable opportunity to learn values of unity, solidarity mercy and compassion. “It is high time for the Muslim Ummah to stand united in addressing its problems and alleviating the suffering of our brothers in various parts of the world,” he said, while emphasizing that Haj is a great unifying force for the Muslim Ummah.

Echoing similar views, Saranjani said Muslims from nearly 190 countries united in a single point irrespective of their nationalities, languages, color, as well as social and financial status.

“As if from a school, pilgrims get the opportunity to learn many good lessons and exchange their views during Haj, in addition to having exalted moments with a feeling of their proximity to Almighty Allah,” he said, while lauding the organization of the whole Haj experience.

Suenderi performed his first Haj as MWL guest. He has no words to express thanks to the Saudi government for organizing the Haj in a superb way. “It is amazing to see smooth conduct of Haj by facilitating everything for nearly four million pilgrims and ensuring their safety, ease and comfort. It’s a wonderful experience and a great source of inspiration for us,” he said, while hoping that the MWL would host more Kosovo Muslims, who are struggling to find out money for making pilgrimage to Makkah, over the coming years. The Islamic Community of Kosovo, the largest Muslim organization, funded most of the 875 Kosovo pilgrims to perform Haj this year, he added.

K.A. Hassan from Kerala was highly impressed by the uninterrupted flow of water to use by nearly four million pilgrims in the holy city and all parts of the holy sites.

“Needless to mention about the electricity, high-tech infrastructure facilities and above all the selfless services being rendered by tens of thousands of civilian officials and security personnel as well as volunteers,” he said, while expressing astonishment on the miraculous crowd control mechanism and smooth conduct of the largest religious gathering in the world.

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index...20121031141277

Ministry honors media personnel in Haj

31 October 2012 - 15 Thul-Hijjah 1433 H

JEDDAH — The Ministry of Culture and Information on Monday hosted a reception for media personnel invited to report this year’s Haj rituals.

Dr. Abdul Aziz Khoja, Minister of Culture and Information, and Dr. Abdullah Al-Jasser, Deputy Minister of Culture and Information, attended the event.

Media delegations from Asia, Africa and the Gulf region spoke about their experiences and thanked the ministry for its efforts to facilitate the Haj coverage this year.

They also expressed their admiration for the development projects that have been implemented in the holy sites and in Makkah and Madinah.

While praising the excellent facilities provided to the pilgrims as well as the good organization of the annual event, the speakers highlighted the huge human and material resources mobilized by the Saudi authorities to serve the guests of God.

In an address on the occasion, Khoja spoke in detail about the expansion plans of the two holy mosques and new projects in the holy sites, the high-tech Jamarat complex, Al-Mashair Train and other projects.

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index...20121031141281

Arafat cleanup to take a week

Advanced garbage disposal system sought in holy sites

Garbage left behind by pilgrims across the plains of Arafat exceeds 20 tons and could take up
to a week to clean up, according to municipal workers

31 October 2012 - 15 Thul-Hijjah 1433 H

MAKKAH — The holy sites of Mina and Arafat have been virtually deserted after hectic activity for the past several days except for the presence of hundreds of cleaning personnel picking up garbage left over by an estimated four million pilgrims who performed Haj this year.

The garbage left behind in Arafat alone exceeded 20 tons. The scene could be likened to an island hit by a hurricane leaving behind heaps of debris. During a tour of Arafat, Okaz/Saudi Gazette saw small tractors gathering the garbage from the streets, then emptying it into trash compactors. This in turn facilitated transporting the garbage to the garbage dump in Al-Okaishiyah in southern Makkah.

One of the laborers working at the site said the cleaning of Arafat might take five to seven days. He said the dumping ground is far away from the city and the traffic jams in Makkah are a hindrance to accomplishing their task.

Prince Mansour Bin Mit’eb, Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs, has directed the Makkah Mayoralty to formulate a system for cleaning contracts and setting conditions and standards that guarantee their efficiency.
This move has come following the piling up of garbage in Mina as well as in several Makkah districts during Haj.

In another development, the Haj Preparatory Committee has approved the garbage disposal system to places outside Mina. This will end the garbage accumulation crisis.

The project focuses on the automatic transportation of garbage. Final negotiations are going on with the Ministry of Finance for approval of its proposed budget reaching SR800 million.

Osama Al-Bar, Mayor of Makkah, said the project would be implemented next year as an experimental first stage if approved by the Ministry of Finance.
He said the cost of the project is SR700-800 million and it will be carried out in Al-Sha’bain Area, east of Mina, which includes the camps for pilgrims from Southeast Asia and Turkey and some domestic pilgrims as well as the Jamarat Area.

Al-Bar said if the experiment succeeds it will be implemented in all parts of Mina. He added that the project would greatly reduce the quantity of garbage in Mina.

As to the project’s work mechanism, Al-Bar said, “The project is in the form of suction pipes, mobile pipes and conveyor belts that carry the garbage to warehouses outside Mina. A study has been conducted on the project and completed. If implemented in the holy sites, it will create a qualitative change regarding cleanliness in the holy sites.”

He disclosed that a proposed city that will be constructed in the Mina holy site area is being studied by the Higher Authority for Development of Makkah and the Holy Sites, and will raise the capacity to nearly six million pilgrims.

The new city will take into consideration the existence of an infrastructure for all the services projects.

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index...20121031141282

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