Hajj pilgrims from Indonesia Most Orderly And Liked; Anticipation Robbery in Makkah, 50 security guards deployed; Saudi Arabian govt's initiatives make Haj pilgrimage more comfortable
Indonesian Religious Affairs Minister, Suryadharma Ali asked the pilgrims Indonesia maintains the title as well as preferred orderly pilgrims pilgrims from other nations. This was stated by the Minister when removing 445 prospective pilgrims kloter an origin region of Jakarta.
The minister also said the pilgrims not to spend money during the holy land. He also asked them to be alert to the security of luggage. Because those two things, prone to make the prospective Haj pilgrims not solemn.
Do not forget to remind the Minister that the pilgrims maintain his physical fitness. Currently, Saudi Arabia experience extreme weather quite so prone to make the prospective Haj pilgrims prone to diseases. To anticipate this, the minister said the government has prepared a variety of health facilities to serve the pilgrims during the holy land, such as ambulances and clinics located in three places namely Mecca, Medina, and Jeddah.
Jamaat Nonkuota Officers Make Busy, Some Dead, corpse Had Neglected
The existence of non-quota pilgrims are expected to reach 5,000 pilgrims indeed affect the Hajj ministry officials. They often ask for help officers to pose as a special pilgrims.
''Organizing this year's Hajj pilgrims, including special handling (ONH) plus runs better. However, on the one hand we acknowledge the persistence of the disorder in the form of pilgrims nonkuota because it is always called as a special pilgrimage. Their presence is always a hassle for the Holy Land, "said Head of Control and Supervision Special Hajj (PIHK) Ahda Barori Saudi Arabia, Saturday (19/11).
Which sometimes caused concern, he added, the pilgrims who are victims of having to pay up to hundreds of millions that exceeds the cost that has been officially stated by the government. In addition, he continued, the congregation nonkuota when arriving in the Holy Land is also always asked for money again.
''The amount of money that was asked when he got in the holy land is also pretty good, facilities are not received as promised. To that end, to the community in the country is very careful in choosing the pilgrimage,''he said.
He pointed out, after arriving in the holy land of pilgrims mostly non-quota abandoned travelnya officials. This condition would be very concerned if they are lost then pilgrims, sick, or died.
'The majority no one care. If a stray left. If the dead for days no one taking care of his body. Well, if they lost official troublesome because it was recognized place of residence,''he said.
One tragic example of non-quota pilgrims struck Khair Abdul Muttalib, who departed from Samarinda, East Kalimantan. When the sick pilgrims none travelnya steward who came to his aid. In fact, until several days after death, his body was stranded in Indonesia Makkah Hajj Medicine Center.
Travel officials who dispatched him, just found out after the party announced the Mecca pilgrims Daker Indonesia without identity through a variety of pamphlets distributed in various regions of Indonesia lodge pilgrims. It was just the managers who came from Al Arsyad Travel Tour & Travel, knew of the existence of that congregation.
''That was after we were called to the Daker. Apparently these are also people who in the past year has been our calling for cases of non-quota of pilgrims as well,''said Zainal Abidin, Staff PIHK Daker Mecca.
Anticipation Robbery in Makkah, 50 security guards deployed
A total of 50 security officers from Indonesia is ready to anticipate any looting and crime in the holy land of Mecca, and some other cities in Saudi Arabia.
"Already there are 50 security personnel dispatched to Saudi Arabia to maintain security and to anticipate all crimes, in particular that struck pilgrims from Indonesia," said Minister of Religious Affairs Suryadharma Ali in Jakarta, Tuesday (11/10).
The security officer who served in Saudi Arabia came from members of the Army, Police and some are also members of the Boy Scouts, as well as some other task force members. He said the Indonesian government could not send the security personnel in large numbers.
There, he continued, in addition to keep worshipers from Indonesia, officers also assist the security team to Saudi Arabia anticipate all forms of evil.
"We expect no help from the Government of Saudi Arabia to help the security of Indonesian pilgrims. Although the amount is not large, officials from Indonesia is ready to find actors who dare to do evil," said the official who is also Chairman of the PPP DPP.
In 2010, according to him, some pilgrims from Indonesia became the victim of theft and robbery. But thanks to the alertness of the authorities, the perpetrator can be arrested and some money could be returned to their owners.
As for this year, pilgrims from Indonesia have become victims of robbery in the Prophet's Mosque, Medina, on October 4, 2011. Indicated, three players whose numbers came from Indonesia because it can speak Indonesian.
"It seems that the robbers had schools of security personnel from Indonesia is a bit. We are very concerned and regretted once because the perpetrators allegedly also Indonesia's own people," said Suryadharma Ali.
"Officers will make every effort possible to find the culprit. Hopefully no more criminal acts that occurred in the holy land," he added.
It also appealed to all pilgrims from Indonesia so as not to bring excessive valuables when on the road. In addition, food and beverage factors should also be wary of.
"Eat nutritious foods and drinking enough so as not to fall ill, the result will be disrupted worship. Be careful in crowds, because it is very vulnerable and not everyone is doing good there," he explained.
Twelve Tunisian Hajj Pilgrims Die in Saudi Arabia
he Ministry of Religious Affairs announced that twelve Tunisian pilgrims passed away close to the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia, the land of the holy Muslim shrines during the annual Hajj celebration.
Every year, some pilgrims die during the pilgrimage to Mecca. While some pass away due to natural reasons, others die during the stoning of the devil ritual in Mina. On that day almost three million people gather and some people at the front of the crowd are crushed to death or mortally wounded by stones that are thrown.
The Saudi Press Agency reports: “As a result of pushing at the stoning point, several pilgrims, most of whom were elderly, fell to the ground, resulting in the deaths of 35 persons…as a result of suffocation and stampede.”
As for the Tunisian pilgrims that passed away, a spokesperson from the Ministry of Religious Affairs stated that all of the deaths were due to natural reasons such as heart attacks or illnesses.
Seven Tunisian passed away during the first days and the other five during the last days, three of whom died in Mina the day of “devil stoning.”
The Ministry of Religious Affairs forwarded the names of the dead pilgrims to the Ministry of Interior, which has the addresses of the families and is entitled to inform the families of the deceased.
According to Islam, Muslims who can afford it are required to make a pilgrimage to Mecca, Islam’s holiest site, at least once in their lives.
Massive throng of pilgrims begin hajj
More than 2.5 million Muslim pilgrims began yesterday the rites of the annual hajj pilgrimage, leaving the holy city of Makkah for Mount Arafat, where Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) delivered his final hajj sermon. Dressed in white, they flooded the streets as they headed towards Mina, around five kilometres 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 km further on. Many pilgr
ims 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 Makkah Metro, to go to Mount Arafat and its surrounding plains where they will gather for the peak Day of Arafat today. 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 Makkah 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 tomorrow 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 Makkah and Madinah, 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 Jan 2006, 364 pilgrims were killed in a stampede at the entrance to a bridge leading to the stoning site in Mina, outside Makkah, 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 one 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 Makkah'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.
Iran's Shiite pilgrims are another headache Saudi authorities are faced with during hajj season. However, Crown Prince Nayef bin Abdul Aziz has dismissed any threat from pilgrims coming from Iran, despite rising tension between Tehran and Riyadh over an alleged Iranian plot to kill the Saudi envoy to Washington and past confrontations. "The Iranians have always shown their respect for the hajj," he said. A total of 97,000 Iranians - the maximum allowed for Iran under a Saudi system apportioning pilgrim quotas among the world's biggest Muslim countries - are in the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah, Iranian media said Monday.
We hope this year's hajj (pilgrimage) will take place in a very calm and spiritual atmosphere," the representative of Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei at the pilgrimage, Hojatoleslam Ali Ghazi Asgar, said last week. Saudi security forces have several times in the past confronted Iranian pilgrims holding anti-US and anti-Israeli protests. In 1987, Saudi police efforts to stifle such a demonstration sparked clashes in which 402 people died, including 275 Iranians. An Iranian official told AFP th
at Iranian pilgrims are this year going to hold their demonstrations within the boundaries of their own camps as they did in the past few years, to avoid confrontations with Saudi security forces.
Muslims gather on Arafat for peak hajj day
Saudi Arabia: More than two million Muslims gathered Saturday on Saudi Arabia's Mount Arafat and its surrounding plain, marking the peak day of the hajj, the world's largest annual pilgrimage.
Dressed in white garments, the pilgrims filled the Namera Mosque in Arafat and the nearby streets and camps for collective prayer, led by Saudi Arabia's top cleric, Sheikh Abdul Aziz al-Sheikh.
"Islam is the solution for the problems" of Muslims, he said in a speech before the prayer began, warning the faithful of "a media and cultural invasion that seeks to weaken (their) faith."
He urged Muslims to solve their problems "without interference from their enemies," condemning those who want to "provoke hostility between you and your leaders."
This year's hajj coincides with the Arab Spring democracy protests that have swept many nations in the region and led to the ouster of the autocratic leaders of Tunisia, Egypt and Libya.
Saudi Arabia has been spared the unrest despite small-scale, sporadic Shiite-led protests that took place in its Eastern Province, which the Sunni-majority kingdom quickly controlled.
There were no immediate reports of major incidents as security officials focused on crowd control.
"Things are going well and according to plans," interior ministry spokesman General Mansur al-Turki told AFP.
Many went on buses, while others set off on foot from Mina, a tent-village that comes to life only during the five-day pilgrimage.
Others took the Mashair Railway, also known as the Mecca Metro, to go to Mount Arafat and its surrounding plains, where the Prophet Mohammed is believed to have delivered his final sermon.
The Chinese-built railway is operating for the first time this year at its full capacity of 72,000 people per hour to ease congestion 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 a massive influx of pilgrims during the hajj.
After sunset, pilgrims move to Muzdalifah, half way between Mount Arafat and Mina, to spend the night.
On Sunday, they return to Mina after dawn prayers for the first stage of the symbolic "stoning of the devil" and to make the ritual sacrifice of an animal, usually a lamb with the beginning of Eid al-Adha, or the Feast of Sacrifice.
On the remaining three days of the hajj, the pilgrims continue the ritual stoning before performing the circumambulation of the Kaaba shrine in Mecca and then heading home.
However, the gathering in the plains around Mount Arafat symbolises the climax of the hajj.
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.
Mukhtar al-Rahman, who is more than 100 years of age, told AFP that "this is the dream of my life which took a century to come true."
"The crowds have tired me and as you can see I can't stand properly because of the huge crowds flooding" into the area, the elderly Bengali said panting as he looked for a small chair to sit on.
Meanwhile, Indonesian Noor Laila said: "I'm so happy to have set foot on Arafat's sacred soil."
"I want to wash away all my sins and ask God to forgive my mistakes. This is the first time I come to hajj and I hope it won't be the last," said the 36-year-old.
Malaysian Abdullah Wali al-Deen, 45, said he had been working for years for this day.
"I came here with my family after we managed to save enough money," he said.
"Everyone in here is equal. There are no differences between various nationalities. This is the religion of peace, love and brotherhood."
More than 1.83 million pilgrims have arrived in the kingdom from abroad, marking a 1.5 percent increase from last year, said Mecca governor Prince Khaled al-Faisal.
Several hundred thousand Saudis and foreign residents in the kingdom were also granted permits to join them, he added.
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.
To help prevent chaos, the authorities have numbered buses and tents in Mina and Arafat according to the countries from which the pilgrims have come.
Oil-rich Saudi Arabia 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 walkway 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.
For the first time this year, the hajj is being streamed live on video-sharing website YouTube in cooperation with the Saudi government.
Over 2 million pilgrims to conclude Hajj; Eid tomorrow
A sea of pilgrims estimated to be 2.5 million in number, including 100,000 from India, converged on the vast plains of Arafat in Saudi Arabia for the final day of the annual Hajj on Sunday.
Wearing white seamless robes, the millions of Muslims from every part of the world, started descending on the plains of Mount Arafat early yesterday after spending the night in the city of Mina, that lies 10 kms from Arafat.
The people took buses or the new Mecca Metro and some even came on foot to flock to Arafat where Prophet Mohammad delivered his famous final sermon.
The Chinese built Metro is operating for the first time this year at its full capacity of 72,000 people per hour to ease congestion and avoid stampedes which have previously killed hundreds.
The gathering on Arafat symbolises the peak of the pilgrimage which concludes with Eid al-Azha that will be celebrated tomorrow.
The Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam and is a duty of every able-bodied Muslim who can afford to perform it.
Pilgrims in white seamless clothes started heading for Arafat early yesterday after finishing other rituals, including the 'tawaf' or moving seven times around the Kaba in Mecca, treading back and forth between the hills of Safa and Marwah, and stoning the symbolic 'satan'.
The chants of 'Labbaik Allahumma Labbaik' (Oh God, here I am answering your call) resonated as the sea of humanity descended on Arafat.
This last leg of the Hajj pilgrimage will culminate into the 'Day of Sacrifice' when Muslims all over the world celebrate Eid Al Azha. Eid will be celebrated in the Gulf region tomorrow.
"A total of 1,24,948 pilgrims have arrived from India," said the office of the Consulate General of India in Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia has in recent years stepped up preparations to avoid any stampedes that have marred the Hajj in the past.
Around 63,000 Hajj security forces in addition to the 17,000 traffic policemen and tens of thousands of officials have been deployed for the largest annual gathering of Muslims in the world.
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.
Pilgrims relieved after second day of stoning
Pilgrims performed the stoning of the Satan ritual, chanting “Labbaik” for the second day on Monday and returned to their tents in Mina to relax after a hectic day.
They will repeat the ritual again Tuesday. Since morning pilgrims started descending on the Jamarat Complex from all sides and moved toward the three pillars symbolizing Satan.
Security personnel kept a constant vigil on pilgrims’ movement from the ground as well as from helicopters in the sky. The arrangements were so elaborate and organized that the second day of stoning ritual was also very smooth, organized and incident-free.
“We did not face any difficulty and performed the stoning in an exceptionally smooth and organized manner. It was so easy that we were able to capture the whole thing in our cameras for quite long,” said Jamal Mohammad Ahmad Sayeed, a colonel from the Sudanese Army.
Ahmad Raza, who performed the rituals with his mother and sister, said: “I was very worried about the safety of my family, my mother is old and sick. But thanks to the new Jamarat facilities, all of us performed the ritual without any problem at all. It was smooth and very satisfying.”
A pilgrim from Bihar, Farhat Ahmad, was equally happy with the arrangements, particularly at the Jamarat. “I have come with my daughter, Fauzia, who is a doctor, and had instructed her to be with me all the time during the stoning period. This is my second Haj and I have seen the rush at the old Jamarat Bridge, but was amazed to see the new magnificent complex there. Now even a small child can do this ritual without anybody’s help. It’s so big, safe and modern,” she said.
Squatters and pilgrims with baggage have been effectively checked this year, which resulted in the smooth passage of hundreds and thousands of pilgrims from all over Mina to the Jamarat Complex.
Security personnel were in full action and politely told pilgrims with baggage to keep their belongings at camp and then go for the ritual. However, they were strict in dealing with pilgrims carrying mats and tarpaulin tents and were confiscating such items immediately.
“We are taking away mats and tents so that they do not sit on the roadside to cause inconvenience to pilgrims’ movement,” said Abdullah Al-Zahrani, a police official.
Al-Zahrani said that as of now no incident has been reported from any part of the tent city. “Traffic movement is smooth and organized and pilgrims performed the stoning ritual comfortably without any fear or anxiety.”
Saudi Arabian govt's initiatives make Haj pilgrimage more comfortable
Various initiatives implemented and planned by the Saudi Arabian Government will make the haj pilgrimage even more comfortable in future, said Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom.
He said the obvious improvement was the development of the multi-tiered jamrat for the symbolic 'Stoning of the Devil' to make the ritual more convenient.
He said the introduction of specific timing for pilgrims from various continents of the world had also facilitated the process of the ritual.
"I am confident, with the various initiatives and infrastructures being planned such as the expansion of Masjidil Haram mosque and the development of better train network, pilgrims would be provided with greater comfort in future," added Jamil Khir.
He was speaking to reporters here when met on his way to the symbolic 'Stoning of the Devil' early Monday, the 11th of Zulhijjah which witnessed about three million pilgrims performing one of the obligatory rituals of the haj.
Pilgrims were also much relieved with the provision of a few hundred thousand tents, courtesy of the Saudi Arabian Government.
Jamil Khir said he was confident the Saudi Arabian Government would find the best initiatives to reduce congestion at the site, which in turn, would enhance the beauty of its surroundings in the Holy Land.
Saudi Arabia are using high technology in the Hajj 2011
The annual pilgrimage which attracts millions of Muslims to Mecca have implemented high-tech this year, with the government of Saudi Arabia asked for help last electronic equipment to control the huge crowds that.
Reduction of human gathering in the world's largest annual raises its own security headaches for Saudi Arabia - two guards at the Muslim holy places in Mecca and Medina, where Islam was born.
Ministry of religious affairs has sent 3.25 million text messages to mobile phones every day of the congregation to inform them about the correct procedure hajj rituals in order to "prevent dangerous thing," the ministry official said Sheikh Talal al-Uqail, quoted by news agency official Saudi SPA.
The message was carried by more than 3,000 scholars, translators and administrators, aims to correct the "errors" committed by the congregation, the report said.
At the same time, the government of Saudi Arabia to follow and regulate the movement of pilgrims crowd with electronic surveillance equipment that keeps track of every congregation during the five-day pilgrimage, said Saudi Hajj Minister Fuad al-Farsi.
Religious police, meanwhile, broadcast video and documents to guide the pilgrims on the Internet page with YouTube videos, which can be accessed at http / www.youtube.com / user / movieshajj.
And for the first time this year, the pilgrimage was broadcast live youtube working with the Saudi government. The broadcast can be viewed at youtube.com / hajjlive.
More than two million Muslims on Saturday to flow into the Jabal Arafat and the surrounding plains, marking the culmination of the pilgrimage.
There are no immediate reports of major incidents when security officials focused on crowd control. "Everything went well and according to plan," said interior ministry spokesman General Mansur al-Turki.
Pilgrimage is one of the five pillars of Islam and must be done at least once during the life of all Muslims who can make the trip.
Pilgrims impressed by Haj hospitality, improvements
Saudi Arabia, its leadership and people came in for special praise for the excellent service and impeccable organization of the largest gathering of Muslims every year.
At Arafat, the pilgrims instinctively raised their hands and prayed for the well-being of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah, Crown Prince Naif and other members of the establishment for pumping billions of riyals into creating massive infrastructure at the holy sites. Those who have been here before say things have changed phenomenally, all for the good of the pilgrims.
Ayub Athman is a Kenyan Muslim. He has been to Haj before. He spoke to Arab News minutes after arriving in Mina from Muzdalifah via the newly introduced Mashair train service.
“This is unbelievable,” he said. “I came here seven or eight years ago. At that time everybody would talk about stampedes and getting stuck in truck for hours. I remember not being able to reach Muzdalifah for seven hours after leaving Arafat that year. We would run in circles and our driver had no idea what to do next. He them dropped us off in Mina and vanished. We had to go back to Muzdalifah on foot and collect the mandatory pebbles to complete the stoning of the devil ritual.”
That was then, he says. “It is a totally different story. Nobody would have believed that we would one day have a train service here. Who would have imagined that a train service could run in this massive throng of people? Who would have thought of these elevated train tracks? It is simply a modern-day wonder. I kept gawking at the overhead trains as they zoomed past Mina on their way to Arafat,” said Athman.
Mohammad Imran, a 25-year-old Pakistani pilgrim from Bahawalpur, says credit must go to the Saudi leadership. “They never shied away from committing billions of riyals into such grand projects. It is because of their service to the Ummah that this place is heaven on earth. The general perception in the outside world is that Muslims are not capable of anything. But Saudis have proved all the skeptics wrong. This train service is the best example of their visionary zeal to help the pilgrims and make their stay comfortable.”
Imran says his elderly parents never miss an opportunity to pray for Saudi Arabia. “This is a citadel of Islam, and that is why there are many people in the outside world who get jittery when this nation progresses. All eyes are on this nation of Islam. May Allah protect it and may Allah shower all His bounties on this Kingdom and its people. We Pakistanis have a special bond with this country.”
Junaid Sajjad, an American pilgrim of Indian origin, says it is not easy to manage 3 million pilgrims. “This is a logistical challenge, and it is not for just one year, it takes place every year. It is an unending exercise. It is a daunting challenge. But look, the Saudis have pulled out all stops to make the journey of pilgrims as easy as possible. I am impressed. Very impressed,” he told Arab News.
Journalist Masoom Moradabadi agreed with Sajjad's views. “Saudi Arabia is a source of strength for the Muslim world. Whenever there is a crisis facing the Muslim world, it looks in this direction. Saudi Arabia has, through its wisdom and practical steps, made us hold our heads high. The Western media can say anything; the Saudis have earned the gratitude and prayers of all Muslims. Their hospitality is legendary. They go out of the way to help us. God bless them.”
Pictures:
1.Pilgrims look out of their bus window while travelling towards the holy city of Mecca for their Hajj pilgrimage
2. Indonesian pilgrims take part in training before departing for the hajj pilgrimage in Mecca
3. The Hajj in Makkah
4. The group was on a pilgrimage to the holy cities of Mecca and Medina
5. Muslim pilgrims perform prayers upon their arrival in Mecca, during the annual haj pilgrimage in Mecca
6. Women sell goods to pilgrims at the road to the Grand Mosque in Mecca during the annual haj pilgrimage in Mecca
7. Syrian pilgrims gather in the Saudi holy city of Mecca
8. Muslim pilgrims perform prayers upon their arrival during the annual haj pilgrimage in Mecca
9. More than 1.83 million pilgrims arrived for the Hajj marking a 1.5 percent increase from last year
10. Muslim pilgrims make their way to perform prayers at the Grand Mosque upon arrival in Mecca, during the annual haj pilgrimage in Mecca
11. A general view shows the Saudi holy city of Mecca in 2010
12. A Muslim pilgrim carries an older pilgrim during the annual haj pilgrimage outside the Grand Mosque in Mecca
13. Muslim pilgrims walk to perform prayers at the Grand Mosque upon arrival in Mecca, during the annual haj pilgrimage in Mecca
14. Hajj pilgrims cry as they prepare to depart for Mecca from the Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu
15. Muslim women pilgrims walk to perform prayers at the Grand Mosque upon arrival in Mecca, during the annual haj pilgrimage in Mecca
16. Muslim pilgrims arrive on a vehicle for prayers at Mena during the annual haj pilgrimage outside the holy city of Mecca
17. A Muslim pilgrim sits on Mount Al-Noor during the annual haj pilgrimage in Mecca
18. Rain and hail hit Mina valley and Mecca as hundreds of thousands of pilgrims headed to Mecca
19. Muslim pilgrims perform evening prayers in the Saudi holy city of Mecca
20.A young Muslim pilgrim
21. Muslim pilgrims walk outside the Grand Mosque during the annual haj pilgrimage in Mecca
22. Muslim pilgrims walk on their way to the Grand Mosque in the Saudi holy city of Mecca
23. Muslim pilgrims arrive on a vehicle for prayers at Mount Arafat during the annual pilgrimage of the haj, outside the holy city of Mecca
24. Muslim Hajj pilgrims arrive to pray at Mount Arafat near the holy city of Mecca
25. A Muslim woman pilgrim walks past pigeons to perform prayers at the Grand Mosque upon arrival in Mecca, during the annual haj pilgrimage in Mecca
26. Muslim pilgrims pray at the foot of Mount Arafat, southeast of the Saudi holy city of Mecca, on November 4, 2011. More than 2.5 million pilgrims gathered in Mecca for the annual hajj, which all able Muslims are required to perform once in their life. AFP
27. Muslim pilgrims gather to pray at Mount Arafat near the holy city of Mecca, early on November 5, 2011. More than two million Muslims began massing on Saudi Arabia's Mount Arafat and its surrounding plain, marking the peak day of the largest annual pilgrimage. AFP/FAYEZ
28. Muslim pilgrims pray on Mount Arafat near the holy city of Mecca, early on November 5, 2011. More than two million Muslims began massing on Saudi Arabia's Mount Arafat and its surrounding plain, marking the peak day of the largest annual pilgrimage. AFP/FAYEZ
29. Muslim Hajj pilgrims perform the noon prayers at the Nemra mosque near Mount Arafat on Nov. 5, 2011. More than two million Muslims began massing on Saudi Arabia's Mount Arafat and its surrounding plain, marking the peak day of the largest annual pilgrimage. AFP
30. Pilgrims head to the Jamarat Complex for the stoning the devil ritual in Mina on Monday. (AN photo by Ghazi Mahdi)
Subhanallah :)
ReplyDelete