A five-day Hajj registration deadline for expatriates
residing in Saudi Arabia ended on Friday as the kingdom is bracing for holding
a limited pilgrimage due to fears of the new coronavirus.
Saudi Arabia has announced that 70 percent of this year’s pilgrims will be
expatriate residents while the remaining 30 per cent will be Saudis. The
maximum number of participating pilgrims has been set at 10,000 to ensure a
safe Hajj for all. The expatriates wishing to perform this year’s Hajj, set to
begin later in July, were given five days starting from Monday to register
online. The applicants had to meet certain health conditions. They should not
be sufferers of any chronic diseases, and provide a negative PCR test proving
that they are free of coronavirus. The applicants should not have previously
performed the Hajj, should be aged between 20 to 50 years, and sign a pledge to
adhering to the quarantine period before and after performing the Hajj rituals.
The Saudi Ministry of the Hajj and Umrah has said that the health criteria will
mainly determine the selection of those permitted to attend this year’s Hajj.
The 30 per cent of Saudi pilgrims will be limited to Saudi health practitioners
and security men who have recovered from COVID-19. They will be selected from a
database of recovered patients, in recognition of their role during the battle
against the virus provided they meet the related health criteria.
Last month, Saudi Arabia announced holding this year’s Hajj with a very limited
number, confined to Saudis and non-Saudis of all nationalities who are already
residing in the kingdom.
More than 2 million Muslims usually perform the Hajj every year. The Hajj is
one of Islam’s five pillars. Muslims are expected to perform it at least once
in their lives if they can afford it and are physically able.
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