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1.2m Pilgrims Arrive In Saudi Arabia

The General Directorate of Passports has assigned students who speak English, Spanish, Indonesian, Japanese, Persian, Urdu, Turkish and other languages to the airports in Jeddah and Madinah in order to facilitate communication and dealing with Hajj pilgrims. (SPA)
The General Directorate of Passports has assigned students who speak English, Spanish, Indonesian, Japanese, Persian, Urdu, Turkish and other languages to the airports in Jeddah and Madinah in order to facilitate communication and dealing with Hajj pilgrims. (SPA)
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1.2m Pilgrims Arrive In Saudi Arabia

The General Directorate of Passports has assigned students who speak English, Spanish, Indonesian, Japanese, Persian, Urdu, Turkish and other languages to the airports in Jeddah and Madinah in order to facilitate communication and dealing with Hajj pilgrims. (SPA)
The General Directorate of Passports has assigned students who speak English, Spanish, Indonesian, Japanese, Persian, Urdu, Turkish and other languages to the airports in Jeddah and Madinah in order to facilitate communication and dealing with Hajj pilgrims. (SPA)

The total number of pilgrims who arrived in Saudi Arabia by Wednesday reached 1,249,95, according to the Saudi General Directorate of Passports (Jawazat).

The Directorate noted that the pilgrims coming by air reached 1,169,204 and by land 67,198 - reflecting an increase of 10 percent compared to the same period of last year.

Director-General of Jawazat Major General Sulaiman al-Yahya said that they are working on upgrading the quality of services provided to guests, facilitating their arrival to the sacred sites and working on completing their procedures the soonest.

Yahya told Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper that the directorate has a reserve force to meet urgent conditions in portals.

He noted that to facilitate procedures, the directorate intended to increase the number of passports' counters around 208 in the halls of King Abdulaziz International Airport and 132 counters in Prince Mohammed Bin Abdulaziz International Airport.

The major general also said that the portals are of a total of 12, and their maximum capacity has been enhanced according to the field plan. The plan is being implemented over two stages: arrival and departure.

Speaking about improving the Hajj program, Yahya noted that Jawazat prepares a new work-plan each year while monitoring the stages of work and mechanisms for implementation.

Human Factor

In this regard, the major general said that the plan takes into consideration any updates on annual basis and monitors all expected needs, including the number of human factors in portals in addition to activating technology as another element in facilitating the entrance of pilgrims.

Makkah Road Initiative

Yahya stated that Makkah Road Initiative is a Saudi one which is being implemented within the National Transformation Programme 2020 in the achievement of Vision 2030, to upgrade the services provided to pilgrims.

For the third year in a row, Jawazat is implementing this initiative in participation with other government parties.

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Scholars’ Gathering Affirms Islamic Consensus on Women’s Right to Education

The exclusive Scholars’ Session, part of the “Girls’ Education in Muslim Communities” initiative, was held in Islamabad. Asharq Al-Awsat
The exclusive Scholars’ Session, part of the “Girls’ Education in Muslim Communities” initiative, was held in Islamabad. Asharq Al-Awsat
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Scholars’ Gathering Affirms Islamic Consensus on Women’s Right to Education

The exclusive Scholars’ Session, part of the “Girls’ Education in Muslim Communities” initiative, was held in Islamabad. Asharq Al-Awsat
The exclusive Scholars’ Session, part of the “Girls’ Education in Muslim Communities” initiative, was held in Islamabad. Asharq Al-Awsat

Bringing together representatives from Fiqh academies, organizations, councils, and religious committees, along with a distinguished assembly of muftis and senior scholars from various schools of thought and sects across the Islamic world, the Scholars’ Session reaffirmed the enduring consensus in Islam—both historically and contemporarily—on the legitimate right of women to education.

The exclusive Scholars’ Session, part of the “Girls’ Education in Muslim Communities” initiative, was held in Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan, under the leadership of Sheikh Dr. Mohammed Al-Issa, Secretary-General of the Muslim World League and Chairman of the Organization of Muslim Scholars.

At the conclusion of the extensive scholarly dialogue, which lasted several hours, all participants unanimously affirmed—with enlightened judgment—the Islamic consensus, both historically and contemporarily, on the legitimate right of women to education.

This consensus is based on the comprehensive Islamic texts concerning the matter, affirming that women possess the same rights as their male counterparts to education at any age, level, or field of study, provided it aligns with Islamic teachings.

The discussion underscored that this right is rooted in the fundamental Islamic obligation of seeking knowledge, which applies equally to both genders, in accordance with Islamic teachings.

The dialogue included a thorough refutation of all misconceptions surrounding women's education, whether these were complete or partial. Participants emphasized that their religious declaration is intended for all individuals, institutions, and both public and private entities across the Islamic world and minority communities, adhering to the appropriate Islamic methodology for such declarations.

The scholars’ statements praised the comprehensive principles related to the legitimate empowerment of women in general, and their education in particular, as outlined in the Charter of Makkah and the Charter of Building Bridges between Islamic Schools of Thought and Sects.

Both international conferences, which issued these charters, were supported by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz.