Masked Haj pilgrims on Mount Arafat pray for Covid-free world This year pilgrims, dressed in ihram, had to observe social distancing and wear face masks on Mount Arafat
July 20, 2021
Thousands of face-masked pilgrims performing this year’s Haj gathered on Mount Arafat on Monday to atone for their sins, expressing hopes for peace and an end to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Saudi Arabia, home to Islam’s holiest sites in Makkah and Madina, has barred worshippers from abroad for a second year running and has restricted entry from within the kingdom under special conditions to guard against the coronavirus and its new variants.
60,000 fully vaccinated Muslims begin hajj rituals
Afp, Makkah
Mon Jul 19, 2021 12:00 AM
Hajj pilgrims streamed out of the holy city of Makkah and into the Mina valley yesterday, launching the rituals of the great pilgrimage which Saudi Arabia is holding in a scaled-down form for a second year.
Only 60,000 fully vaccinated citizens and residents of the kingdom are allowed to take part, far from the vast crowds that descend on Makkah in normal times when the ritual draws some 2.5 million pilgrims.
Since Saturday, groups of pilgrims have been performing the tawaf at Makkah s Grand Mosque, circling the Kaaba, a large cubic structure draped in golden-embroidered black cloth towards which Muslims around the world pray.
Saudi Arabia stages second scaled-down hajj of coronavirus era
Issued on:
18/07/2021 - 20:14 Groups of pilgrims have been performing the tawaf at Mecca s Grand Mosque, circling the Kaaba Fayez Nureldine AFP 4 min
Mecca (Saudi Arabia) (AFP)
Hajj pilgrims streamed out of the holy city of Mecca towards Mina on Sunday, the second day of a massively scaled-down version of Islam s greatest pilgrimage, held in the shadow of coronavirus for the second year running.
Authorities in Saudi Arabia are only allowing 60,000 fully vaccinated citizens and residents to take part, far from the vast crowds of some 2.5 million pilgrims who descend on Mecca in normal times.
Saudi Arabia holding second scaled-down Hajj of Covid era Only 60,000 fully vaccinated citizens and residents of kingdom are allowed to take part this year
July 19, 2021
Hajj pilgrims streamed out of the holy city of Makkah and into the Mina valley on Sunday, launching the rituals of the great pilgrimage which Saudi Arabia is holding in a scaled-down form for a second year.
Only 60,000 fully vaccinated citizens and residents of the kingdom are allowed to take part, far from the vast crowds that descend on Makkah in normal times when the ritual draws some 2.5 million pilgrims.
Since Saturday, groups of pilgrims have been performing the “tawaf” at Makkah’s Grand Mosque, circling the Holy Ka’aba. After that, they have been making their way to Mina, where they will spend the night. Mina sits in a narrow valley surrounded by rocky mountains, some five kilometres from the Grand Mosque, and is transformed each year into a vast encampment for pilgrims.
Pilgrims head to Mina as Hajj 2021 officially begins msn.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from msn.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.