Saudi receives first foreign hajj pilgrims since before pandemic

Saudi Arabia on Saturday welcomed its first batch of hajj pilgrims since earlier than the coronavirus pandemic, which prompted authorities to sharply prohibit the annual ritual.

The group from Indonesia landed within the metropolis of Medina and was set to journey south to the holy metropolis of Mecca within the coming weeks to arrange for the hajj subsequent month, state media reported.

“In the present day we acquired the primary group of this 12 months’s pilgrims from Indonesia, and the flights will proceed from Malaysia and India,” Mohammed al-Bijawi of the nation’s Hajj Ministry informed the state-run Al-Ekhbariya channel.

“In the present day we’re glad to obtain the friends of God from exterior the dominion, after a two-year interruption as a result of pandemic,” he added, describing Saudi Arabia as “absolutely ready” to accommodate them.

One of many 5 pillars of Islam, the hajj have to be undertaken by all Muslims who’ve the means at the very least as soon as of their lives.

Normally one of many world’s largest spiritual gatherings, about 2.5 million folks participated in 2019.

However after the onset of the pandemic in 2020, Saudi authorities introduced they might solely let 1,000 pilgrims participate.

The next 12 months, they elevated the entire to 60,000 absolutely vaccinated Saudi residents and residents chosen by a lottery.

Barring abroad pilgrims prompted deep disappointment amongst Muslims worldwide, who usually save for years to participate.

In April, the dominion introduced it could allow a million Muslims from inside and outdoors the nation to take part on this 12 months’s hajj, which can happen in July.

The hajj consists of a sequence of non secular rites which can be accomplished over 5 days in Islam’s holiest metropolis, Mecca, and surrounding areas of western Saudi Arabia.

Internet hosting the hajj is a matter of status for Saudi rulers, because the custodianship of Islam’s holiest websites is essentially the most highly effective supply of their political legitimacy.

Earlier than the pandemic, Muslim pilgrimages had been main income earners for the dominion, bringing in about $12 billion yearly.

This 12 months’s pilgrimage can be restricted to vaccinated Muslims beneath age 65, the hajj ministry has stated.

These coming from exterior Saudi Arabia, who should apply for hajj visas, are required to submit a detrimental Covid-19 PCR consequence from a check taken inside 72 hours of journey.