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#421 [Permalink] Posted on 4th November 2011 15:28

Massive throng of Muslims begins hajj rites

4 November 2011

MECCA, Saudi Arabia - More than 2.5 million Muslim pilgrims began on Friday the rites of the annual hajj pilgrimage, leaving the holy city of Mecca for Mount Arafat, where the prophet Mohammed is believed to have delivered his final hajj sermon.

Dressed in white, they flooded the streets as they headed towards Mina, around five kilometres (three miles) east of the holy mosque.

The day is known as Tarwiah (Watering) Day, as pilgrims traditionally watered their animals and stocked water for their trip to Mount Arafat, some 10 kilometers further on.

Many pilgrims took buses, while others set off on foot for a village that comes to life for just five days a year.

Others were using the Mashair Railway, also known as Mecca Metro, to go to Mount Arafat and its surrounding plains where they will gather for the peak Day of Arafat on Saturday.

The Chinese-built railway will operate for the first time this year at its full capacity of 72,000 people per hour to ease congestions and prevent stampedes in which hundreds have been killed in past years.

The dual-track light railway connects the three holy sites of Mina, Muzdalifah and Mount Arafat -- areas that see massive congestion during the five-day pilgrimage.

It will replace 30,000 cars previously used, said project director Fahd Abu-Tarbush.

"The train this year is restricted to the pilgrims coming from inside Saudi Arabia and Gulf states, as well as 200,000 pilgrims coming from south Asia," Tarbush told AFP.

"Mashair Railway will transport 500,000 pilgrims from Mina, passing by Muzdalifah, reaching to Arafat, in addition to one million pilgrims on the Tashreeq days," which are on the 11th, 12th and 13th of the Muslim month of Dhul Hijjah.

Around 1.7 million Muslims descended on Mecca from around the world while between 700,000 and 800,000 pilgrims are coming from inside Saudi Arabia.

The hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam and must be performed at least once in a lifetime by all those who are able to make the journey, and it is a dream that can take years to come true.

"To me, this is a miracle. I've been dreaming of going to hajj for years, and this dream is now being fulfilled," 67-year-old Nigerian pilgrim Salahuldin Mohammed told AFP.

Another pilgrim, 58-year-old Mohammed Sadoreen from the Palestinian territories, said: "I couldn't believe the day has come when I would see this sacred place. This is the first time I come to hajj."

The hajj will end on Sunday with Eid al-Adha, or the Feast of Sacrifice.

Coping with the world's largest annual human assembly poses a security headache for Saudi Arabia -- guardian of the two holiest Muslim shrines in the cities of Mecca and Medina, the birth places of Islam.

Saudi authorities have numbered the buses and tents in Mina according to the countries from which the pilgrims have come to prevent chaos.

The oil kingpin has invested billions of dollars over the years to avoid deadly stampedes that have marred the hajj in the past.

In January 2006, 364 pilgrims were killed in a stampede at the entrance to a bridge leading to the stoning site in Mina, outside Mecca, while 251 were trampled to death in 2004.

In July 1990, 1,426 pilgrims were trampled to death or suffocated in a stampede in a tunnel, also in Mina.

The deaths prompted authorities to dismantle the old bridge and replace it with a multi-level with one-way lanes to ensure a smooth flow of pilgrims.

Saudi Arabia also launched a new $10.6-billion project for a new extension to Mecca's Grand Mosque to increase its capacity to two million worshippers.

"We haven't faced any problems. I didn't expect all these services to be available," said 55-year-old pilgrim Abdulhadi Badran.

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#422 [Permalink] Posted on 4th November 2011 15:36

Rituals and stages of the Haj

Mount Arafat - Arafat Day, on the 9th of Dhul Hijjah, is the climax of the Haj as all pilgrims
gather on the hill known as Mount Arafat and its surrounding plain.

4 November 2011

Makkah — More than 2.5 million pilgrims have gathered in Makkah for the Haj, which all able Muslims are required to perform once in their life and whose main rites start Friday.

Following are the rituals:

Ihram: a state in which pilgrims wear a special outfit: two-piece seamless garments for men and any loose dress for women, who are permitted to reveal hands and faces only. Sex is prohibited during Ihram and pilgrims must refrain from quarreling, covering the head (for men), cutting hair, clipping nails, wearing socks or shoes, except for sandals exposing the instep.

Tawaf: Once in Makkah, pilgrims perform Tawaf, or circumambulation, seven times counter-clockwise around the Ka’ba in the Haram. Each circle starts and ends at the Black Stone, placed in the southern corner of the Ka’ba.

Sa’y: Walking back and forth between the two hillocks Safa and Marwah in seven lengths. The distance between them is just below 400 meters. Pilgrims are emulating Hagar, wife of Ibrahim, who was desperately seeking water for her infant Ismail after they were left by Ibrahim in the barren spot.
The preceding rituals are considered Umrah made ahead of the Haj’s main rites. The combination is known as Haj Al-Tamattu.

The main Haj rites start on the 8th of Dhul Hijjah, meaning the month of Haj. Pilgrims camp in Mina, around five kilometers east of the Haram. The day is known as Tarwiah (watering) Day, as pilgrims traditionally watered their animals and stocked water for their trip to Mount Arafat, some 10 kilometers southeast of Mina.

Arafat Day, on the 9th of Dhul Hijjah, is the climax of the Haj as all pilgrims gather on the hill known as Mount Arafat and its surrounding plain. Pilgrims stay at Arafat until the evening reciting from the Qur’an and supplicating. Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) delivered his final Haj sermon on Mount Arafat.

Descent to Muzdalifa: After sunset on the 9th of Dhul Hijjah, pilgrims leave for Muzdalifa, halfway between Arafat and Mina, where they stay at least until midnight. Traditionally they gather pebbles in Muzdalifa to perform the symbolic “stoning of the devil.”

Stoning of the devil: After dawn prayer on the 10th of Dhul Hijjah, or the Eid Al-Adha feast, pilgrims head back to Mina. The first of three stoning rites, known as Jamarat Al-Aqabah, begins after sunrise. Traditionally, seven pebbles are thrown at a post representing the devil.

Sacrifice: Having done with the first stoning, pilgrims can proceed to offer sacrifice by slaughtering a sheep and the meat is distributed to the needy. This rite is to emulate Ibrahim who prepared to sacrifice his son Ismail on the order of Allah, who substituted a lamb in the boy’s place at the last moment.
Following the sacrifice, men shave their heads or just trim their hair. Women cut a fingertip-length of their hair. They can then end their Ihram and change into their usual clothing.

Pilgrims then head to the holy site in Makkah, perform Tawaf Al-Efadha, circumambulating seven times around the Ka’ba, then perform Sa’y between Safa and Marwah seven lengths. With that pilgrims free themselves of their state of Ihram completely.

On the 11th, 12th and 13th of Dhul Hijjah, the three days known as Tashreeq Days, pilgrims stay in Mina for two nights and leave on the 12th of the lunar calendar month. They perform the “stoning of the devil” at the three designated sites during the afternoon on the 11th and the 12th days and head to Makkah, which they can leave also on the 12th if they are in a rush.
When the Haj pilgrim has decided to travel home then he has to make a farewell Tawaf.

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index...20111104111674

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#423 [Permalink] Posted on 4th November 2011 16:01

19 Nigerian Pilgrims Die In Mecca, 5 Lose Pregnancies

3 November 2011

At least 19 Nigerian pilgrims have died in Saudi Arabia in the ongoing pilgrimage in the holy land.

One of those who died is a 75-year-old man who plunged to his death from a high-rise building in Mecca.

P.M.NEWS also gathered that five pregnant Nigerian women undergoing the hajj rites had miscarriage as a result of the rigours of the hajj operation.

Pregnant women have been barred from travelling to Saudi Arabia to take part in the hajj rites, but many of them dubiously scaled through the screening exercise to determine women's pregnancy status as those carrying out the test might have had their palms greased.

Over 88, 000 Nigerians are currently in Mecca, Saudi Arabia to perform the Muslim spiritual exercise, according to the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON.

Mr. Taiwo Olapade from Inspiration FM, who is currently in Saudi Arabia told P.M.NEWS on phone that the Nigerian embassy in Saudi Arabia confirmed that 19 pilgrims had died since the hajj began two weeks ago, saying that some of the deceased pilgrims died from road accidents and natural death.

The Nigerian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Ibraheem Minci, was quoted as saying on Wednesday during the pre-Arafa meeting, that some of the deaths were recorded from still birth.

While condoling with the families of the deceased, Minci prayed God to grant the deceased smooth passage to heaven.

He said the hajj exercise this year had been very successful and wished it would continue during the pilgrims' movement to Muna, Arafat and back to the country.

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#424 [Permalink] Posted on 5th November 2011 21:15

Illegal wheelchair trade earns teens SR1,000 a day

5 November 2011

MAKKAH - Saudi and expatriateteenagers living in Makkah, some barely 17yearsof age,makeasmuch as SR1,000 a day from pushing around the elderly and disabled during Haj. They are illegal operators and risk arrest by the police.

The youths can be seen on the roads leading to the holy sites including King Khaled, Tal'at Sidqi, Al-Ma'abidah and Al-Shisha roads. They charge up to SR200 a trip from Makkah to the holy sites.

Abdul Wahab Al-Ghamdi, 17, said he and his colleagues earn nearly SR1,000 a day by pushing pilgrimson wheelchairs from the exit in Makkah to the holy sites. He added that they exchange information by mobile telephone about places crowded with pilgrims."Weexploit the Haj season to get an additional income by transporting pilgrims in wheelchairs," he adds.

Meanwhile, Waleed Al-Zahrani said there are many Saudi and expatriateteenagers who earn a lot of money during the season offering privateservicesincluding transportation, guiding and selling prohibited items at the holy sites.

Waleed Abdul Hakim, Saad Al-Blushi and Anas Al-Blushi said they are expatriatesworking in Mina without any harassment from the authorities. They say the ban on the entry of vehicles into the holy sites has benefited them and their wheelchair business.

www.saudigazette.com.sa/index...20111105111711

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#425 [Permalink] Posted on 5th November 2011 21:16

Hajis from abroad hit a record high 5 November 2011

MINA - Pilgrims coming from abroad hit a record high this year, Crown Prince Naif Bin Abdul Aziz, Deputy Premier and Minister of Interior and Chairman of the Supreme Haj Committee, said Friday.

He said 1,828,195 pilgrimscamefrom outside the Kingdom this year, registering an increase of 27,274 from last year . Of these, 989,776 are males representing 54 percent of the total number of pilgrims,while838,419arefemales.

The Crown Prince said 1,684,876 pilgrimscameby air, 128,350 by land and 14,969 by sea, representing 183 nationalities.

Crown Prince Naif expressed his sincere greetings and heartfelt congratulations to King Abdullah,Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques,on theoccasion of thecompletion of the entry of pilgrims to the Kingdom.

Meanwhile, more than 2.5 million pilgrimsbegan Friday the Tarwiah (Watering)Day, named aftera tradition when pilgrims watered their animals and stocked water for their trip to Arafat.

Many pilgrimswill usetheMashairRailway to go to Arafat and its surrounding plains where they will gather for the peak Day of Arafat, Saturday.

The Mashair Railway will operateforthefirst time this year at its full capacity of 72,000 people per hour to ease congestion and prevent stampedes. The dual-track light railway connects the three holy sites of Mina, Muzdalifa and Arafat. The train will replace 30,000 cars previously used, said project director Fahd Abu Tarbush.

"The train this year is restricted to pilgrimscoming from inside Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states, as well as 200,000 pilgrims coming from south Asia," Tarbush was quoted as saying by a news agency.

The Mashair Railway will transport 500,000pilgrimsfrom Mina, passing by Muzdalifa, reaching to Arafat, in addition to one million pilgrimson theTashreeq days,which are on the 11th, 12th and 13th of the Muslim month of Dhul Hijjah.

"To me, this is a miracle. I've been dreaming of going to Haj for years, and this dream is now being fulfilled," 67-year-old Nigerianpilgrim Salahuldin Mohammed said.

Another pilgrim,58-year-oldMohammed Sadoreen from Palestine, said: "I couldn't believetheday hascomewhen I would see this sacred place. Thisis the first time I have come to Haj."

www.saudigazette.com.sa/index...20111105111700

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#426 [Permalink] Posted on 5th November 2011 21:17

Girl Guides help unite lost children with their families

5 November 2011

JEDDAH - Fifteen Girl Guides of Saudi Arabia are taking care of lost children attheholy sitesin Mina and Arafat during this year's Haj.

The guides, working under the slogan "Be ready, you belong to this homeland," will help reunite lost children with their families.

The head of the Girl Guides in the Kingdom, Maha Fitaihi, told Okaz/Saudi Gazette: "We were very successful last year and we plan to do even better this year."

She criticized society for not appreciating the role and tasks of Girl Guides who receive intensive training on Haj services.

Describing the process of reuniting a lost child with his or her loved ones, she said: "Once we receive a lost child, we pacify him and look after him until he is united with his family.

"The child isregistered and a report is sent out to various bodies viae-mails. Thechild'sclothesarechanged, heis fed and his possessions are put in a special box," she said, adding: "Our role finisheswhen we hand him overto his family member, who signs official documents and the authoritiesare informed."

The guides also receive lost, old and sick female pilgrims and co-ordinate with security patrols and guides to reunite them with their camps.

Fitaihi insisted: "Saudi women are capable of serving the Guests of Allahalong with the women Mutawwifs and guides stationed in the pilgrims' camps."

The girl guides have also provided assistance during disasters, such as the Jeddah floods, where they played a significant role in mitigating thesuffering of victims.

www.saudigazette.com.sa/index...20111105111707

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#427 [Permalink] Posted on 6th November 2011 15:05

20,000 buses for pilgrims: Prince Khaled

05 November 2011

MAKKAH - A total of 20,000 buses from 17 national transport companies have been allocated to transport Haj pilgrims this year, said Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, Emir of Makkah region and Chairman of the Higher Committee Overseeing Pilgrims' Transport.

In a statement to Saudi Press Agency (SPA), Prince Khaled said the government has also provided trains and other means of secure transport for pilgrims this year.

He said Allah has given the country "the honor of serving pilgrims" and visitors to the Two Holy Mosques and the government wants to ensure they have a safe Haj.

He said the Mashair Train will transport more than 420,000 pilgrims between the holy sites and the rest will be transported by shuttle buses. He said he does not expect any traffic bottlenecks because the small buses, which cause traffic congestion, have been barred from entering Makkah and have been replaced with jumbo buses.

In future, a field committee will be assigned annually to oversee the transport of pilgrims from the beginning of Dhul Qada to the end of Muharram. Members of the committee will be deployed on all the roads leading to Makkah and Madina. The committee will consist of representatives from Makkah and Madina emirates, and the ministries of Haj, Transport and Public Security and have support from seasonal employees, technicians and administrators.

To fulfill its task properly, the committee will be given a fleet of patrol vehicles equipped with modern telecommunications tools and supported by a fleet of ambulances.

Prince Khaled prayed to Allah to grant pilgrims good health.

www.saudigazette.com.sa/index...20111105111701

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#428 [Permalink] Posted on 6th November 2011 15:12

Haj Day 2
5 November - 9 Dhu al Hijjah
---
The Covering of the Kaaba replaced

HOLY KAABA COVERING REPLACED WITH A NEW COVERING (SPA) 9-12-1432 h

Makkah, Dhu-AlHijjah 9, 1432, Nov 5, 2011, SPA

The covering of the Holy Kaaba in Makkah was replaced today, Saturday the ninth of the month of Dhu-AlHijjah.

The customary annual replacement of the cover of the Kaaba was carried out by the personnel of the General Presidency of the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque.

They lowered the old dress of Kaaba and replaced it with the new dress which was made of pure silk at the factory of the covering of the Holy Kaaba.

The process to replace the dress took place in the presence of employees General Presidency of the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque and the factory of the covering of the Holy Kaaba.

It is worth mentioning that the total cost of the dress of Kaaba is 20 million riyals.

Changing of Kiswa - Hajj - 2011 1432

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#429 [Permalink] Posted on 6th November 2011 15:51

Female preachers for next year's Haj awareness program

6 November 2011

MAKKAH - Female preachers will be employed for next year's Haj awareness program, according to Hassan Al-Qurashi, Secretary General of the Secretariat General for Islamic Awareness in Haj.

He said the request for female preachers was made by the Minister of Islamic Affairs, Call and Guidance. The Secretariat General had carried out a study on the matter and referred its findings to the minister.

Al-Qurashi said there are now 873 male preachers employed for this year's Haj. He conceded that this was a small number compared to the millions of pilgrims.However, thereare plans to employ more preachers as more awareness centers are set up at the holy sites.

Al-Qurashi said the preachers assigned to enlighten pilgrims do not issue edicts,knownasfatwas,becausethisisthe function of the Ifta authorities led by the Grand Mufti. "We only answer questions from pilgrimson thebasis of the edicts issued by the scholars and specifically on Hajand Umrah only. We steer away from controversial matters. We abide by rulings on which there is general agreement," he said.

He said preachers are selected for the Haj awareness program by a committee consisting of the Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques, Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice (the Hai'a), Islamic University, Umm Al-Qura University, Al-Imam University and the Secretariat General.

He said the function of the commission is to select preachers and then continuously monitor and evaluate them. The commission is keen to have qualified and efficient preachers. Age is not a factor unless it hinders their work. The commission refers all confidential reports on every preacher to officials in charge.

Al-Qurashi said their preachers cover all the camps of domestic pilgrims.Hesaid theSecretariatGeneral submitsall the names of its preachers and leaves it up to the domestic pilgrims' establishments to choose the person they want.

As for pilgrimsfrom abroad, there is coordination with the Ministry of Haj to either offer them services at their residences in Makkah or the holy sites. He added that the ministry's preachers are instructed not to interfere in differences between sects.

He stressed that they do not enter pilgrims' residences unless asked to do so. "There are many pilgrims who come with their own preachers. We respect all the preachers of the Muslim world," he added.

www.saudigazette.com.sa/index...20111106111741

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#430 [Permalink] Posted on 6th November 2011 17:45

Hajj Live

http://www.youtube.com/hajjlive

6 November 2011

WASHINGTON — YouTube and the Saudi Ministry of Culture and Information have teamed up to provide a live-stream of the Haj pilgrimage.

“Millions of people from around the world will be able to experience and comment on the event by tuning in via video,” the Google-owned video-sharing site said in a blog post.

The live-stream from Makkah is located at youtube.com/hajjlive.

YouTube said it was being produced in cooperation with the Saudi Ministry of Culture and Information.

More than 2.5 million Muslims began the rites of the Haj Friday.

http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index...20111106111742

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#431 [Permalink] Posted on 6th November 2011 17:46

20,000 buses for pilgrims: Prince Khaled
05 November 2011

MAKKAH - A total of 20,000 buses from 17 national transport companies have been allocated to transport Haj pilgrims this year, said Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, Emir of Makkah region and Chairman of the Higher Committee Overseeing Pilgrims' Transport.

In a statement to Saudi Press Agency (SPA), Prince Khaled said the government has also provided trains and other means of secure transport for pilgrims this year.

He said Allah has given the country "the honor of serving pilgrims" and visitors to the Two Holy Mosques and the government wants to ensure they have a safe Haj.

He said the Mashair Train will transport more than 420,000 pilgrims between the holy sites and the rest will be transported by shuttle buses. He said he does not expect any traffic bottlenecks because the small buses, which cause traffic congestion, have been barred from entering Makkah and have been replaced with jumbo buses.

In future, a field committee will be assigned annually to oversee the transport of pilgrims from the beginning of Dhul Qada to the end of Muharram. Members of the committee will be deployed on all the roads leading to Makkah and Madina. The committee will consist of representatives from Makkah and Madina emirates, and the ministries of Haj, Transport and Public Security and have support from seasonal employees, technicians and administrators.

To fulfill its task properly, the committee will be given a fleet of patrol vehicles equipped with modern telecommunications tools and supported by a fleet of ambulances.

Prince Khaled prayed to Allah to grant pilgrims good health.

www.saudigazette.com.sa/index...20111105111701

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#432 [Permalink] Posted on 6th November 2011 17:47

Pilgrims in Mina have consumed 153,000 cu.m of water (SPA) 8/12/1432H

S-92 aircraft fleet protect pilgrims in Mina (SPA) 8/12/1432H

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#433 [Permalink] Posted on 6th November 2011 17:48

Youtube Video

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#434 [Permalink] Posted on 6th November 2011 17:54

Pilgrims settle on Plain of Arafat

Arafat, Dhu-AlHijjah 9, 1432, Nov 5, 2011, SPA -- Masses of pilgrims settled down on the plain of Arafat after arriving there this morning of the ninth day of current Dhul-Hijjah.

Spending the day in Arafat is the major ritual of Hajj.

The traffic to transport the pilgrims from Mina to Arafat was smooth due to efforts exerted by the Saudi government.

The mission of the Saudi Press Agency in the holy sites followed up the process of transporting the pilgrims from Mina to Arafat, which was characterized by using the train of Almashaer which transported two hundred and seventy thousand pilgrims with ease despite the large numbers of buses and pedestrians.