Makkah News and Updates

 

Zamzam full of minerals

that give it healing quality

Friday 29 August 2014

The Ministry of Health has made elaborate arrangements to check incoming Haj pilgrims and provide them with health care in the holy city of Makkah and at the main entry points of King Abdulaziz International Airport and the Jeddah Islamic Port.

“The Health Ministry is also equipping all hospitals in Mina Arafat and other holy sites in Makkah with the requisite facilities and medicines to attend to pilgrims,” said Abdulsalam Noorwali, director of Ministry of Health in the Makkah region. He added that maintenance and renovation jobs had been completed at all the health facilities at the holy sites in Makkah.

A special team from the ministry has inspected emergency wards and operation theaters in hospitals which will be in operation during Haj, he said.

The director also said that the ministry is in the process of establishing temporary health centers on all roads leading to Makkah. Special arrangements have been made at the health centers on Taif Road in addition to six health centers on roads connecting Makkah.

Noorwali said that these centers are working around the clock in two shifts equipped with all facilities and enabled with ambulances to move pilgrims to nearby hospitals in the event of complications.

A team of experts visited Hera General Hospital in Makkah on Wednesday to gauge the standard of services offered to patients by hospital staff.

In Jeddah, the Ministry of Health has made effective and elaborate arrangements at King Abdulaziz International Airport and Jeddah Islamic Port to screen incoming Haj pilgrims for the Corona and Ebola viruses.

“We are on the alert for corona and Ebola viruses and fully equipped to screen any pilgrim suspected of carrying the infections at the two main entry points,” Sami Badawood, director of Ministry of Health said in a statement on Wednesday.

He said the ministry has installed thermal cameras and state-of-the-art technology at the ports of entry and deployed a number of staff working around the clock to process the entry of pilgrims from abroad.

“Around 620 personnel have been posted in the health and surveillance center at Jeddah’s King Abdulaziz International Airport and another 100 at the Jeddah Islamic Port for screening the pilgrims and provide them with medical aid,” Badawood said.

He added that any suspected case of coronavirus or Ebola will be referred to specialized hospitals in Jeddah for quarantine.

The Health ministry’s team is also checking arriving pilgrims for vaccinations against meningitis. Furthermore, another team from the ministry is conducting inspections of aircraft at King Abdulaziz International Airport to ensure that they have appropriate certification and are equipped with antivirus disinfectants.

The director asserted that the Ministry of Health is determined to keep Haj free from any epidemic in line with the directives of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah.

http://www.arabnews.com/saudi-arabia/news/622201 Saturday 30 August 2014

Health authorities in Makkah have begun training their personnel, including nurses and doctors, in dealing with prevention of infection of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome-coronavirus (MERS-CoV) during the Haj season.

The infection control management and effective preventive measures are needed for such a massive gathering, said Dr. Abdul Salam Noorwali, director of the Ministry of Health in the Makkah region.

He said in a statement that wearing a special mask is crucial, and training is being conducted for nurses and doctors according to international standards at Hera General Hospital in Makkah.

Nearly 3,800 personnel are being provided training in dealing with coronavirus-related cases and preventive measures, the director said, adding that the extensive training that began last week will last for three more weeks.

All doctors and other paramedic staff are being deployed for Haj in Makkah, Noorwali said, and emphasized the importance of effective measures for infection control methods in view of corona and Ebola viruses.

He added that all deployed staff must pass the infection control management tests conducted by the MoH in the holy city.

“The MoH is determined that pilgrims should return to their homes in a safe and healthy state and free from any virus infection during their pilgrimage in the Kingdom,” he said.

In preventing and controlling any suspected Ebola cases, the MoH has made mandatory the spread of information about suspected symptoms to health authorities within 24 hours.

The ministry organized a workshop at Jeddah’s King Fahd Hospital on Thursday in which all provincial directors from the ministry participated through a video link.

In another development, Jeddah’s King Abdulaziz University held a lecture on the coronavirus by a Japanese scientist.

As part of a research program, professor Wataru Kamitani of the Research Institute for Microbial Diseases (RIMD), Osaka University, Japan, was received by professor Adnan Zahed, vice president for Graduate Studies and Scientific Research.

According to university sources, during the visit, Kamitani paid a visit to King Fahd Center for Medical Research to share his expertise with its scientists.

The purpose of the visit, according to Zahed, was to discuss aspects of mutual cooperation in scientific research in line with KAU’s policy of seeking to provide high quality education and taking advantage of the capacity and expertise of other local and foreign universities and scientists.

http://www.arabnews.com/saudi-arabia/news/622571

Saturday 30 August 2014

The government is focusing this Haj season on better crowd management to prevent congestion and facilitate pedestrian movement around the Grand Mosque.

With this view, a recently concluded Ramadan traffic plan is to be implemented for the Haj season where private cars and vehicles will be banned in the vicinity of the mosque and only a limited number of public transport buses allowed to operate in the area.

Owing to the demolition of many residential buildings in areas near the Grand Mosque, the accommodation for most foreign pilgrims this year has been shifted to the Aziziah district where a million pilgrims are expected to stay, according to officials.

A similar traffic plan is being considered for the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah but it’s not clear whether it will be implemented during this Haj as it is still under study.

A shortage of buses means that it will be an uphill task to ferry pilgrims to and from the holy mosque, according to foreign Haj missions.

“We are preparing a plan to prevent excessive vehicular movement around the Grand Mosque but we must also have an alternative transport arrangement to ferry pilgrims,” said Col. Ali Al-Zaharani of Makkah traffic police, adding that there is another plan under way to introduce a public transport system from the pilgrims’ accommodation to the Grand Mosque and back.

“It will be a challenge to provide transportation facilities for the pilgrims from their accommodation to the Grand Mosque for all five prayers,” commented Saad Jamal Qureshi, a Makkah-based businessman.

An expert committee comprising several stake holders met and reviewed the plan to implement the Ramadan traffic plan which will exclude the entry of private vehicles and only allow public transport to navigate in the vicinity of the Grand Mosque.

“Taking into account the limited number of buses, we have advised the Ministry of Haj to make alternative transportation arrangements for pilgrims from their accommodation to the Grand Mosque,” said Essam Tunsi of the study committee.

He said that all buses ought to be roadworthy and only 2004 or later models will be approved by the authorities.

http://www.arabnews.com/saudi-arabia/news/622551

Friday 29 August 2014

A top official of the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) met with officials in charge of Haj missions and Haj affairs at embassies and consulates on Thursday to discuss ongoing awareness initiatives on a Kingdom-based project aimed at helping pilgrims fulfill their sacrificial obligations while ensuring hygiene standards in and around holy sanctuaries.

Ahmad Muhammad Ali, IDB president, said the aim of the meeting was to shed light on the Kingdom’s Project for the Utilization of Haj Meat (ADAHI) and sign potential memorandums of understanding in that domain.

Amad Rukan, a member of a services committee at the Haj Ministry, and Musa Al-Akasi, general supervisor of the ADAHI program, were also present.

The project aims to provide Shariah-compliant livestock, he said. Livestock are inspected by veterinarians and scholars periodically.

“There are almost 40,000 butchers and 800 veterinarians working in the project to ensure high standards,” he said.

The project, established in 1983 by the Kingdom, aims at utilizing Haj meat during the pilgrimage to avert waste while ensuring cleanliness around the holy sites.

The project essentially acts as a mediator for pilgrims in helping them tick off a religious obligation from their list.

The government also facilitates the distribution of meat to poor Islamic nations, he said.

“The project ensures meat distribution to Muslims most in need, both domestically and regionally. Pilgrims also find it much easier to fulfill their religious obligations through this program.”

Several Haj missions have already signed MoUs with the IDB for the use of this facility and program during Haj, he said.

Ali warned against random slaughtering. “Slaughtering animals outside of the designated area is illegal,” he said.

Pilgrims can either visit the slaughterhouse or buy vouchers or coupons, which are available on www.adahi.org.

Pilgrims can also purchase sacrificial animals through credit cards on toll-free number 800-430-6666.

A single coupon costs SR490, down from the previous SR600.

http://www.arabnews.com/saudi-arabia/news/622206

Saturday, 30 August 2014 - 4 Thul-Qedah 1435

RIYADH — The best muezzin competition in the Islamic world will soon be held in the capital.

Titled Bilal Bin Rabah competition, Muslim youth and scholars will take part in the competition, which aims to gather the Islamic world's youth and promote moderation by renouncing violence and terrorism, and emphasize that the Azan or call to prayer is a call for success and a rejection of extremism and intolerance.

The competition will see participants between the ages of 25 to 45 years compete before a jury of three scholars. Anyone wishing to take part in the competition can obtain the necessary forms by visiting www.belalbnrabah.com.

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index...20140830216348

Bilal ibn Rabah

Bilal ibn Rabah Arabic: بلال بن رباح‎ (580–640 AD) also known as Bilal al-Habashi, Bilal ibn Riyah, and ibn Rabah was one of the most trusted and loyal Sahabah (companion) of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. He was born in Mecca and is considered as the first muezzin, chosen by Muhammad himself.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bilal_Ibn_Rabah

Sunday 31 August 2014

There is good news for thousands of expatriates and citizens who intend to perform the Haj pilgrimage this year.

Authorities have announced that it would accept application for low-cost Haj schemes from Monday.

This is the first time that the Haj Ministry has made this announcement in advance, hoping to reach the largest number of pilgrims within the Kingdom.

“This is the result of sincere efforts made by the ministry to facilitate Haj for the less fortunate at an affordable cost,” Ali Al-Ghamdi of the Haj Ministry told Arab News.

“This is cause for celebration among residents for whom cost matters,” said Taher Shawali of the South Asian Haj Establishment in Makkah.

Several expats have voiced their relief over the news. The announcement is a boon for numerous expatriates in the Kingdom, said Mohammed Ali Azad, an Indian expat.

The online system will undoubtedly stop Haj operators from cheating pilgrims.

“We can now perform Haj for SR2,500; what more can we ask for,” said Bangladeshi expat Mizanur Rahman.

More details are available on locallowfare.haj.gov.sa.

Applications would be accepted online only, said Hussein Al-Sharif, Haj Affairs secretary.

“Applicants should review registration steps and services provided by the website, as well as eligibility conditions, before applying,” he said.

“Applicants should also choose categories befitting to their budget and answer honestly when deciding whether they meet the conditions,” he said.

“Registration steps include entering the ID numbers of both applicants and companions,” he said in a statement.

http://www.arabnews.com/news/623036

JEDDAH — The Ministry of Haj has announced that it will start receiving applications for the low-cost Haj scheme beginning Monday, Sept. 1, to allow pilgrims enough time to prepare for the journey.

Deputy Haj Minister Husain Al-Sharif said applicants will be allowed to register in the scheme online until 50 percent of the capacity is met.

"Registration steps include providing the ID number of the applicant and his companions, if any, and specifying the city where the applicant resides and the company he wishes to contract with," he said.

Al-Sharif added the applicant will receive an SMS message confirming receipt of his application and notify him to pay the required fees within 48 hours.

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index...20140831216459

AL-DAWADMI — The Society for Disabled Adults is preparing to implement a scheme allowing 100 disabled adults to perform Haj, including 100 companions to assist them during their journey.

The secretary-general of Al-Ibrahim Charitable Foundation, Abdullah Al-Hawwas, said the disabled will be provided with all requirements including airfare, housing, transportation and medical care.

He added that Haj rituals will be explained to the companions and a medical team will be available to accompany them during their trip in coordination with the Makkah governorate, the Ministry of Haj, and other related bodies.

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index...20140831216463

Sunday 31 August 2014

More than 1,000 preachers and interpreters will work round the clock to guide and instruct pilgrims on appropriate practices and correct rites during Haj.

Tawfiq Al-Sudairy, undersecretary at the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, said the ministry planned to launch a number of programs for the enlightenment of pilgrims on the correct Islamic creed and to eliminate incorrect religious notions about the rites.

“The ministry is currently recruiting more than 1,000 preachers and interpreters to undertake Islamic awareness activities,” he said. “The Islamic Awareness Commission for Haj, which was constituted by a royal decree, is dealing with the recruitment process.”

The awareness programs include appointing preachers to answer questions posed by pilgrims on various religious issues in Makkah and Madinah and other places where pilgrims gather.

“The preachers will use materials and tools that will ensure the most effective guidance for the pilgrims,” he said, adding that eminent preachers and interpreters will explain correct Haj rites and Islamic rulings on various issues to the pilgrims in Arabic as well as in many other world languages.

Members of the awareness commission are drawn from the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, the Presidency of Scholarly Research and Iftaa, Ministry of Haj, the Presidency of the Two Holy Mosques Affairs, Presidency of the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice, Imam Muhammad ibn Saud Islamic University, Madinah Islamic University and the Umm Al-Qura University, he added.

When selecting candidates for preaching and interpretation, the commission will examine their educational achievements, skill in communicating with people, and their past experience in the field.

If the candidate is new to the field, his works, online and media contributions and other qualifications and skills will be taken into account, he said. Interpreters will accompany the preachers when dealing with non-Arabic-speaking pilgrims.

In the past, the ministry sought help from students in Islamic universities to work as interpreters in 20 languages, to prepare media materials in 13 languages, telephone conversations in eight languages and prepare publications in 32 languages, he said.

He said the services provided by the Secretariat of the Islamic Awareness in Haj and Umrah included free telephone clarification of doubts on religious matters.

The service is undertaken by competent scholars 24 hours a day. They receive thousands of calls from the Kingdom and abroad. The questions are answered in French, Turkish, Urdu, Indonesian and Bengali as well as Arabic and English.

http://www.arabnews.com/saudi-arabia/news/622996 Sunday 31 August 2014

The Shoura Council is slated to resume sessions following the summer holidays on Monday.

The house will take up the annual report from the Ministry of Haj on Tuesday, among other topics that have been put on the agenda for discussion.

Some 2 million pilgrims performed Haj last year and the council will review the services offered to pilgrims on the basis of the annual report.

The house will make its observations and recommendations to improve services offered by the Haj Ministry. The Haj report will be presented to the house by the committee on housing, water and public services.

http://www.arabnews.com/saudi-arabia/news/623006

Friday, August 29, 2014

The Ministry of Hajj will start to receive applications for reservations for the Low-Cost Hajj Program on Monday, 06/11/1435 A.H., by virtue of its role in preparing in advance for the Hajj season. The Ministry desires to offer this program for the Saudi citizens and residents within the framework of its direct supervision of the domestic Hajj companies and establishments.

The Deputy Minister for Hajj Affairs, Dr. Hussein ibn Nasir Al-Sharif, stated that the capacity of the area allocated for the pilgrims who will join this Program has been raised from 19,000 pilgrims during the previous year’s Hajj season to 41,000 pilgrims during this year’s Hajj season, i.e. a 22,000-pilgrim increase which is equivalent to a 116% increase. This has been implemented with the approval and personal follow-up of His Highness the Minister of Hajj, Dr. Bandar ibn Muhammad Hajjar. Dr. Al-Sharif stated that it has been decided that registration for 50% of the capacity of the camps allocated for the Low-Cost Hajj Program will be online via the website www.locallowfare.haj.gov.sa round the clock.

He stated that all the steps that should be taken to register for the Program will be available the website’s electronic systems which have been designated by the Ministry for this purpose. The applicant should review the registration steps and the services which are provided by the website, as well as the conditions that should be met by the applicant and the services specified for the Low-Cost Hajj Program. The applicant should also review the prices set for the Program’s different categories and confirm his approval for them if he meets the conditions of registration.

Dr. Al-Sharif stated that the registration steps include entering the ID number of the applicant and his companions – if he has any companions – in the fields specified for this, and also selecting the city or governorate in which the applicant resides. He should also select the company with which he desires to conclude a contract for Hajj from the drop-down menu after selecting the city or governorate, because the webpage will display only the cities and governorates which lodge the companies that participate in this Program for which registration is still available, according to the number of the applicant’s companions. The applicant will be immediately referred to the registration web page for the Hajj company he chose after selecting a company.

Dr. Al-Sharif asserted that the applicant should enter his personal information and that of his companions in the fields specified for this purpose on the web page, including his name, ID number, and mobile number, in order for the application to be submitted in the electronic system for the sake of communicating with him if the need arises. The application which does not include this data will not be handled. Dr. Al-Sharif indicated that as soon as the data is registered, the applicant will receive a message (SMS) in order to emphasize that the application has been received, and to notify him of the reference number of the reservation. The applicant will be given a 48-hour respite in order for him to pay for the Program by sending the appropriate amount to the company’s bank account number which will be displayed after he registers his data. He can pay via any means of payment available to him (bank transfer or cash deposit), provided that he obtains a payment voucher in order to submit it to the Hajj company.

The Deputy Minister for Hajj Affairs explained that after the applicant makes the payment, he should visit the same website he visited when he first started to register for the reservation, www.locallowfare.haj.gov.sa. After that, he should choose the “Confirm payment” button, enter the reservation number which he received, and register the required data according to the fields which will be displayed to him. After finishing the steps, the applicant should finalize the conclusion of a contract with the Hajj company within not more than 48 hours by signing the service contract and receiving the schedule of the Hajj journey from the nearest office to him. He should bring with him a clear copy of his valid ID card or residence permit and that of his companions, and also the payment voucher and a certificate of the vaccinations specified for Hajj.

Dr. Al-Sharif indicated that according to the general rules and the instructions of the Ministry of Interior, the Saudi citizens and residents are allowed to be given a Hajj permit once every five years, and anyone who performed Hajj during the previous five years will not be permitted to make a reservation for this Program. He further explained that the services specified by the Ministry of Hajj for the Low-Cost Hajj Program are relevant to housing in Mina in modern tents, in `Arafat in regular air-conditioned tents, and in Al-Muzdalifah, as well as transportation by air-conditioned tourist buses and Al-Masha`er Metro, and catering. The Ministry has specified prices for the Program according to the camp categories (A1: 5000 riyals, A2: 4800 riyals, C: 4150 riyals, D1: 3600 riyals, D2: 3100 riyals, and H: 2500 riyals). It is worth mentioning that the value of the tickets for Al-Masha`er Metro will be added to the companies which will utilize the service of Al-Masha`er Metro. The specified prices include transportation to and from the Sacred Sites by only land routes.

Dr. Al-Sharif stressed that the person who has made an online reservation for the Low-Cost Hajj Program should meet the deadline set, because in the event that he missed the deadline the reservation will be electronically cancelled, regardless of the circumstances which prevented him from meeting it. If he still desires to join the Program, he should try to make another reservation. The Ministry of Hajj portal provides all the information of the licensed domestic Hajj companies and establishments, such as the addresses of their camps at the Sacred sites, the camp categories, the addresses of their headquarters and branches, and their telephone numbers. The Ministry also provides the information of the companies which participate in this year’s Low-Cost Hajj Program.

Dr. Al-Sharif expressed his hope that the Program will achieve the Ministry’s aspirations with regard to facilitating the provision of its services for the greatest possible number of pilgrims. This will be implemented by increasing the areas allocated for it and providing the online reservation this year, for the first time. He also expressed the Ministry’s deep apology for the Program’s inability to have a capacity for a larger number of pilgrims this year, as this matter is related to the area available for housing in Mina.

http://www.haj.gov.sa/en-US/SitePage...px?newsid=1673

Monday, 01 September 2014 - 6 Dhul-Qedah 1435

MAKKAH — The head of projects at the Presidency of the Two Holy Mosques, Sultan Al-Qurashi, said all development work at the Grand Mosque (Masjid Al-Haram) would be temporarily halted from the middle of this month.

He added this was due to the Haj season, which witnesses huge numbers of worshippers and pilgrims, but all maintenance work would continue as usual.

He pointed out the contracting company is finalizing the installation of escalators, lifts and bridges before the break, while work will resume after the end of the Haj season.

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index...20140901216586

Monday 1 September 2014

The first Haj flight arrived in Jeddah from Peshawar on Sunday carrying pilgrims under the official Government of Pakistan Scheme.

The pilgrims were received by Charge d’Affaires Khayyam Akbar. He was accompanied by Aftab Khokhar, consul general in Jeddah, and Syed Abu Ahmad Akif, director general of Haj Affairs.

The flight marked the beginning of the official Haj operation for 2014 in which 56,684 pilgrims under the official government scheme will arrive on 191 flights via 10 gateways in Pakistan.

Aside from the government scheme, another 86,684 pilgrims will come through nearly 730 private Haj organizations in Pakistan, bringing the total number of pilgrims to 143,368 to perform Haj this year.

A total of 108 buildings have been rented in Madinah at the rate of SR500 per person for a stay of eight days for pilgrims under the government scheme. This year, 80 percent of the Pakistani pilgrims will stay in the Markazia or central area of Madinah.

These pilgrims will also enjoy the facility of the Mashair train in addition to the food catering which will be provided throughout their stay.

In order to make the inter-city journey more comfortable for the pilgrims, they will be provided with a fleet of buses with models of 2012 and later. They will also have access to the toll free number 800 11 666 22.

http://www.arabnews.com/saudi-arabia/news/623471 Sunday 31 August 2014

Political disturbances in Pakistan will not affect the country’s preparations for the coming Haj season, said Khayyam Akbar, charge d’affaires at Pakistani embassy, here Sunday.

Akbar said arrangements to ensure the smooth travel of about 143,368 Pakistani pilgrims to Makkah and Madinah are on track.

“All flights carrying pilgrims are operating normally,” said Akbar.

Akbar said that “a group of 1020 welfare personnel, including Pakistani doctors, have arrived in Makkah and Madinah to man three make-shift hospitals.” This is in addition to about 600 workers locally hired by the Pakistani diplomatic missions in Saudi Arabia to serve the pilgrims, said the diplomat.

Akbar said several shuttle buses have already been put into service for pilgrims in Makkah and Madinah. Moreover, pilgrims have also been provided with high-tech gadgets, including SIM cards and smart tags, which will help them find locations of Haj rituals. These gadgets will also help Haj officials locate pilgrims in distress.

Pakistani pilgrims this year will also be flown by PIA, Shaheen Air, Air Blue, Air Arabia and other Middle East-based airlines at their regular flights.

http://www.arabnews.com/saudi-arabia/news/623506