Only 1,000 people are taking part in the five-day hajj pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
By
KOMPAS TEAM
·5 minutes read
MECCA, WEDNESDAY— Only 1,000 people are taking part in the five-day hajj pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, due to the Covid-19 pandemic. A limited number of people are allowed to take part in this year’s pilgrimage, which carries strict health protocols to prevent Covid-19 transmission.
On Wednesday, after performing tawaf (circumambulating the Kaaba seven times at Masjid al-Haram as a pillar of the hajj) and sai (walking seven times between the Safa and Marwa hills, located next to the Grand Mosque), the pilgrims left for an overnight stay ata Mina. Today (Thursday, 30/7), the pilgrims will return to Arafat to perform wukuf, another pillar of the hajj.
"I did not expect, among millions of Muslims, I would be blessed to [receive] permission to perform the hajj," Abdullah al-Kathiri, a pilgrim said in a video released by the Saudi Arabian Media Ministry. "It is a feeling that cannot be described, especially because this is my first pilgrimage."
The Saudi authorities initially said that only about 1,000 Muslims in Saudi Arabia would be allowed to perform the hajj this year. About 70 percent of worshipers are expatriates, while the rest are Saudi Arabian nationals.
However, local media reported that the final number could be 10,000 pilgrims. Despite the increase, this is still far lower than the 2.5 million pilgrims who performed the hajj last year.
The Saudi Hajj and Umra Ministry said that expatriates from 160 countries residing in Saudi Arabia had been selected through an online screening. However, the ministry did not mention the total number of expatriate pilgrims who had been registered.
Those allowed to perform the hajj this year must be aged between 20 and 50 years and may not have serious illnesses or show symptoms of Covid-19. In addition, they may not have performed the hajj before.
International hajj services director Subhan Cholid at the Indonesian Religious Affairs Ministry’s directorate general of hajj and umrah said on Wednesday that 13 Indonesian residents in Saudi Arabia had taken part in this year’s hajj pilgrimage.
The various hajj rituals were also performed in small groups of up to 20 pilgrims to maintain physical distancing. The pilgrims were also required to wear masks.
The very small number of pilgrims this year presented a stark contrast with the hajj of previous years. There was no pushing or pilgrims crowding shoulder-to-shoulder during the tawaf. The various hajj rituals were also performed in small groups of up to 20 pilgrims to maintain physical distancing. The pilgrims were also required to wear masks.
Prior to and after performing the hajj, all pilgrims were required to quarantine for a week.
In the Stoning of the Devil ritual, the pilgrims were provided with jamarat (pebbles) that were presterilized and wrapped in bags, as well as disinfectant, masks, prayer mats and ihram robes.
This year, pilgrims were only allowed to drink Zamzam water in plastic bottles. The pilgrims were also given electronic bracelets for local authorities to monitor their movements.
"There were no security concerns during the hajj season this year, but the number of pilgrims was reduced sharply in order to protect them from the dangers of the pandemic," said Saudi Arabian public security director Khalid bin Qarar al-Harbi.
Because of the Covid-19 pandemic, pilgrims from outside Saudia Arabia were not allowed to perform the hajj this year, a first in hajj history. International media were also prohibited from covering the event. The Saudi Arabian government instead broadcast the pilgrimage directly from the Grand Mosque. Access to the holy city of Mecca was tightened.
Saudi Arabia, with more than 272,000 cases, has one of the highest numbers of Covid-19 cases among Middle Eastern countries.
According to analysts, the decision of the Saudi Arabian government to limit the number of pilgrims this year was appropriate, because it could reduce the risk of Covid-19 transmission. "The Kingdom (of Saudi Arabia) and the world will learn together the best ways to mitigate transmission in these types of events (religious gatherings)," said Hanan Balkhy, Saudi Arabia\'s infectious disease expert and an official with the World Health Organization (WHO).
Local Preparations
As the hajj proceeded in Mecca, Muslims in Indonesia made preparations to observe the Friday congregational prayer for Idul Adha (Day of Sacrifice) and the qurban (ritual animal sacrifice) for up to three days after the holiday. Vice President Ma\'ruf Amin said that Idul Adha was the appropriate occasion for Muslims to emulate the Prophet Ibrahim.
Idul Adha was an occasion for sharing with fellow citizens affected by Covid-19 while complying with the health protocols. "It is time for us Muslims to follow the example of the Prophet Ibrahim, who was willing to sacrifice his beloved son. This is an exemplary value for us, that to achieve a noble goal requires sacrifice," the Vice President said in a prerecorded video on Wednesday.
Religious Affairs Minister Fachrul Razi also called on Muslims to abide by the health protocols when observing the Idul Adha congregational prayer and the qurban as outlined in the ministerial circular. The circular contained guidelines on how to observe the Idul Adha congregational prayer and qurban in order to prevent the spread of Covid-19, including the requirement to maintain physical distancing and wear masks, to have a health check and maintain good hygiene.
Earlier, the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), as well as Indonesia’s two largest mass religious organizations Nahdlatul Ulama and Muhammadiyah, warned that the Idul Adha congregational prayer and the ritual slaughter of sacrificial animals should follow the health protocols.
MUI Fatwa Commission secretary Asrorun Ni\'am Sholeh said that the Idul Adha congregational prayer could be held in areas with a low risk of Covid-19 transmission. Meanwhile, he asked that people who lived in areas of high transmission to observe the Idul Adha prayer at home.
The Covid-19 task force is monitoring the Idul Adha congregational prayer and the qurban in a number of areas to ensure that the religious activities comply with the Covid-19 health protocols to prevent further transmission. (AP/AFP/FLO/DKA/WER/CIP/VA/INA/MTK/ADH)