Saudi Arabia confirmed that Hajj pilgrimage will be held this year. However, only a small number of residents will be allowed to perform Hajj. Saudis, and expatriate residents from various nationalities can perform the Haj rituals this year. The decision comes as a precautionary measure to avoid crowds. Meanwhile, did you know This Is The World’s Only Place To Be Unaffected And Immune To Coronavirus
The pilgrimage it scheduled to take place in late July this year. It is one of the largest gatherings with 2.5 million pilgrims visiting the holiest sites of Islam in Mecca and Medina.
The Hajj is an annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, the holiest city for Muslims. This mandatory religious duty for Muslims that must be carried out at least once in their lifetime by all adult Muslims. A literal translation of the word Hajj means “heading to a place for the sake of visiting”. This journey symbolizes stripping away every social hierarchy and being one with all the Muslims brethren.
The UAE Will Not Participate In Hajj This Year
The UAE Hajj Affairs Office (HAO) announced on Monday that it will not participate in this year’s Haj. The decision was made in coordination with the Saudi Ministry of Haj and Umrah.
What Else?
In March, Saudi asked Muslims to shelf their Hajj plans and suspended Umrah until further notice. It was announced that after 200 years, this year the annual Hajj may be cancelled, which for many devout Muslims may signal the end of the world.
The looming cancellation led to some observers predicting an end-of-days prophecy. Shiraz Maher, a lecturer in war studies at King’s College London recently spoke about this development, “There are prophecies that say one of the signs of the day of judgment is the abandonment of the hajj. Some are saying a cancellation due to coronavirus is a marker that the end of days is drawing nearer”.
Besides, the Tokyo Olympics, scheduled for July, has been delayed by 12 months and another giant sporting event, the Wimbledon tournament may also be cancelled. Other smaller sporting events, like the Formula One Grand Prix in Bahrain and Monaco along with Football competitions across Europe, have all been scrapped.