Hajj Concludes Sunday, Pilgrims to Self-Isolate

Hajj pilgrims at the Grand Mosque in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. (SPA)
Hajj pilgrims at the Grand Mosque in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. (SPA)
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Hajj Concludes Sunday, Pilgrims to Self-Isolate

Hajj pilgrims at the Grand Mosque in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. (SPA)
Hajj pilgrims at the Grand Mosque in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. (SPA)

The Hajj pilgrimage will end on Sunday with worhsippers performing the final “farewell” tawaf, or circumambulation of the holy Kaaba, at the Grand Mosque in Makkah city.

The pilgrims will conclude their holy journey with home isolation as part of the ongoing precautions against the novel coronavirus.

The pilgrims will kick off the final day of the Hajj at dawn on Sunday with the ritual stoning of the devil, by collecting small, medium and large stones, said Saudi deputy minister of Hajj and Umrah, Dr. Abdul Fattah al-Mashat.

They will then head to Mina and at 4:00 pm, they will depart to the Grand Mosque for the final tawaf.

They will be tested for the coronavirus soon after concluding the rituals ahead of their departure from Makkah, he added.

The first day of the stoning of the devil began on Saturday amid heavy security and health measures. Authorities ensured that social distancing measures were adopted and the pilgrims were presented with a souvenir gift from the Hajj and Umrah Ministry on the occasion of the Eid al-Adha holiday.

The disinfection of the Grand Mosque continued on Saturday. The holy mosque has been disinfected at a rate of ten times per day.

The Saudi Health Ministry said there have been no cases of the COVID-19 illness among this year's pilgrims. Government precautions included testing pilgrims for the virus, monitoring their movement with electronic wristbands and requiring them to quarantine before and after.



Saudi Crown Prince Underscores Continued Efforts to Serve Hajj Pilgrims

Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, delivers his speech before the well-wishers in Mina on Friday. (SPA)
Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, delivers his speech before the well-wishers in Mina on Friday. (SPA)
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Saudi Crown Prince Underscores Continued Efforts to Serve Hajj Pilgrims

Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, delivers his speech before the well-wishers in Mina on Friday. (SPA)
Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, delivers his speech before the well-wishers in Mina on Friday. (SPA)

Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister, hailed on Friday the Kingdom’s ongoing success in serving Hajj pilgrims.

He stressed that the success is a result of collective efforts by state authorities, underlining that they will continue to ensure the pilgrims’ comfort.

He made his remarks as welcomed - on behalf of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz – commander of the armed forces, well-wishers on the occasion of Eid al-Adha, Pakistani Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, Saudi Arabia’s Grand Mufti and other senior scholars, guests from the Gulf Cooperation Council, ministers and heads of military units.

Crown Prince Mohammed congratulated the gatherers, citizens, residents and Hajj pilgrims on the advent of Eid al-Adha.

He praised various government sector workers on ensuring the success of the Hajj, which has allowed them to perform the sacred rituals safely and at ease.

He asked God Almighty to continue to protect Saudi Arabia and grant it continued success in organizing the Hajj.