Britons pedal from London to Makkah to perform Hajj, raise funds for charity
MINA: As if the trials of the Hajj weren’t physically taxing enough, one brave group of cyclists from London decided to cycle their way to the city of Makkah to perform the pilgrimage, pushing themselves to their limit to make the journey. Led by Tahir Akhtar, the “Tour de Hajj” team not only managed to complete their ride to Makkah to make it in time, but also managed to pass
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Saudi Arabia praised for successful Hajj season
MINA: King Salman received a phone call from Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan congratulating him on the occasion of Eid Al-Adha, the Saudi Press Agency reported. Erdogan also lauded the success of Saudia Arabia’s Hajj plans, praising the efforts under the king’s leadership to facilitate the annual pilgrimage for millions of Muslims. King Salman said the Kingdom would do
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8 births recorded in holy places during Hajj 2019
MINA: Hospitals in Makkah and the holy places in Mina and Arafat recorded eight births while the Hajj pilgrimage was in progress, the Ministry of Health said on Sunday. A ministry report carried by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) said the Makkah Maternity and Children Hospital registered 5 births, two in Arafat and one in Mina. The babies born in Arafat were delivered by
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Sheikh Mohammed bin Hassan Al-Asheikh, Saudi religious scholar
Sheikh Mohammed bin Hassan Al-Asheikh is a Saudi religious scholar and has been a member of the Senior Scholars’ Council since 2005. He gave a sermon on Saturday at Arafat’s Masjid-e-Nimra, with the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Call and Guidance, represented by the General Secretariat of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques’ Guests Program for Hajj and Umrah, transmitting the
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STC 5G network available at 196 sites in holy places
STC has deployed its 5G network at 196 sites in Makkah, Madinah and other holy places, such as Mina, Arafat and Muzdalifah. The company aims to provide superior services to the Hajj pilgrims, in addition to serving the participating sectors. STC is offering a range of services, technologies and digital solutions for Hajj 2019. The telecom giant is also providing 230 vehicles
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Jordanians enjoy digital Hajj
AMMAN: For three years, Dr. Emad Abu Safieh has been filling out online Hajj applications. Every year he fills out two: One for his father Ahmad and his mother Shukrieh, and another for his 71-year old uncle Yousef. Safieh, 44, a university professor and dean of the business department at the Arab Open University in Amman, told Arab News that he was happy to help with the
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Jamarat: Crowd management at the heart of Hajj
One of the biggest showpieces of Hajj infrastructure is Jamarat Al-Aqaba, constructed at a cost exceeding SR 4.2 billion ($1.12 billion) and capable of handling a flow of 300,000 pilgrims per hour. The 950-meter long and 80-meter wide structure is designed to support 12 floors and accommodate five million pilgrims in the future if needed. It is at this site that pilgrims throw
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A matchless spiritual experience
The Hajj is a demonstration of the solidarity of the Muslim people and their submission to Allah. The word Hajj means “to intend a journey,” which connotes both the outward act of a journey and the inward act of intentions.
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HAJJ LIVE: Stoning at Jamarat Al-Aqaba marks first day of Eid
MINA: At the dawn of the first day of Eid al-Adha – the third day of Hajj - hundreds of thousands of Hajj pilgrims walked together to Jamarat Al-Aqaba in Mina. It is at this site the pilgrims throw seven pebbles at a wall in a ritual that symbolizes the stoning of the devil. The pilgrimage is attended by Muslims from all countries, irrespective of political views, age or
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More than 327 million meals and bottles of water distributed among pilgrims
Since the first day of Dhul Hijja (Aug. 2) until Dhul Hijja 8 (Aug. 9) the day of Tarwiyyah (watering) in Mina, the Ministry of Commerce and Investment has been supervising the supplies which consisted of 225 million bottles of water, 67 million pieces of bread and pastries, 28 million containers of soft drinks, juices and milk, 5.5 million ready meals and 1.8 million ice slabs.
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Pilgrim reconnects spiritually with loved one as she performs Hajj
MAKKAH: The Hajj pilgrimage is an obligatory spiritual journey for Muslims around the world, but for many it also a time to connect with loved ones. “I feel my mother is with me on Hajj every step of the way,” Danyah Bennett told Arab News. The 25-year-old’s mother died four years ago, just a week after her daughter’s wedding. “I think about her a lot during Hajj. I wish she
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Saudi interior minister inspects security operations in Makkah
Interior Minister and chairman of the Hajj Supreme Committee Prince Abdul Aziz bin Saud bin Naif inspected the work of Makkah’s Unified Security Operations Center, the Saudi Press Agency reported. He reviewed the services provided by the center to pilgrims, and stressed the importance of contributing to their security, safety and comfort in line with the aspirations of King
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