MAKKAH – The Central Hajj
Committee in Saudi Arabia is putting final touches on the ongoing preparations
in the two holy cities of Makkah and Madinah to welcome millions of Muslim worshipers
during the fasting holy month of Ramadan.
“As of May 6, a record number
of 5.4 million pilgrims performed Umrah, and this figure is an increase of
195,000 pilgrims compared with the same in 2017,” Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, Emir
of Makkah, advisor to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, and chairman of the
Central Haj Committee announced during a meeting earlier this week, Saudi
Gazette reported.
The Makkah Emirate, Presidency
for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques, mayoralties, Haram Security Forces
Command, police, traffic, Civil Defense, and all other departments and agencies
have swung into operation to offer the best ever services and facilities to the
pilgrims and visitors to the Holy Mosques during Ramadan, which marks the peak
annual Umrah season.
There are about 1,314 hotels,
with total beds of over one million, readied to host the pilgrims. As many as
82 transport companies will arrange more than 25,000 trips to the Grand Mosque
on a daily basis.
There will be shuttle services
to transport as many as 40 million passengers to and from the Haram and various
parts of the holy city for obligatory prayers as well as for performing Umrah
during the holy month.
“Around 2,000 buses will be
plying to transport eight million passengers thus reducing the number of small
vehicles on all streets leading to the Haram. The authorities have arranged
parking lots for 2.5 million vehicles at various spots in the holy city,” the
meeting’s official statement announced.
As part of the Ramadan plan,
the Haram presidency has come up with a comprehensive program to enlighten and
guide the pilgrims and visitors to the Two Holy Mosques with regard to the
performance of their rituals.
It will supervise the
performance of imams, hiring of scholars to offer Islamic lectures and guidance
classes, and distribution of copies of the Holy Qur’an, Islamic books, and
leaflets.
The presidency is also in
charge of total supervision of the cleaning and maintenance of the Holy Mosques
and their courtyards, as well as spreading out of prayer rugs, providing Zamzam
containers, surveillance and guarding of the gates of the mosques, provision of
wheelchairs for the worshipers with special needs, and making available of golf
carts for carrying elderly and disabled worshipers.
Ramadan is the holiest month in
Islamic calendar. It is expected to start this year on Wednesday, May 16.
In Ramadan, adult Muslims, save
the sick and those traveling, abstain from food, drink, smoking and sex between
dawn and sunset.
Muslims dedicate their time
during the holy month to become closer to Allah through prayer, self-restraint,
and good deeds.
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