Saudi Arabia Urges Muslims to Defer Hajj Plans as Uncertainty Looms over Coronavirus Pandemic
A cleric requires the prayer at an empty Al-Rajhi Mosque, as Friday prayers had been suspended following the unfold of the coronavirus illness (COVID-19), in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. “(Reuters)
Previous this month, Saudi Arabia suspended the year-round “umrah” pilgrimage over fears of the brand new coronavirus spreading to Islam’s holiest towns, an exceptional transfer that raised uncertainty over the once a year hajj.
- AFP
- Closing Up to date: April 1, 2020, 11:49 AM IST
Riyadh: Saudi Arabia’s hajj minister has requested Muslims to quickly defer arrangements for the once a year pilgrimage amid uncertainty over the coronavirus pandemic.
Previous this month, Saudi Arabia suspended the year-round “umrah” pilgrimage over fears of the brand new coronavirus spreading to Islam’s holiest towns, an exceptional transfer that raised uncertainty over the once a year hajj.
“Saudi Arabia is totally able to serve pilgrims and umrah seekers,” hajj minister Mohammad Benten informed the state-run Al-Ekhbariya tv on Tuesday.
“However underneath the present instances, as we’re speaking in regards to the world pandemic… the dominion is eager to offer protection to the well being of Muslims and electorate and so we’ve requested our brother Muslims in all nations to attend ahead of doing (hajj) contracts till the placement is obvious.”
Saudi government are but to announce whether or not they are going to continue with this 12 months’s hajj, scheduled for the top of July.
The pilgrimage – which remaining 12 months attracted 2.five million other folks – is a key earnings earner for the dominion. But it surely generally is a primary supply of contagion because it packs pilgrims intently in non secular websites.
Previous this month, Saudi Arabia suspended prayers inside of all its mosques except for the 2 holiest websites in Islam because it larger efforts to include the brand new coronavirus.
The bulletins chance riling fringe Muslim hardliners, for whom faith trumps well being concerns.
Saudi Arabia is scrambling to restrict the unfold of the illness at house. The dominion’s well being ministry has reported 1,563 coronavirus infections and 10 deaths from the sickness to this point.
