Hajj 2013

[Bengal_Tiger]

I will be posting all news related to this year's Hajj in this thread.

Indonesia’s 1st Hajj Pilgrims Set Off as Govt Issues MERS Virus Advice

By SP/Dina Manafe, ID/Inneke Lady & SP/Deti Mega on 5:12 pm September 10, 2013.



Muslim

pilgrims sleep at the building where they will cast stones at a pillar that symbolises Satan, during the annual Haj pilgrimage in Mina, near the holy city of Mecca October 28, 2012. (Reuters Photo/Amr Abdallah Dalsh)




Indonesia’s first group of Hajj pilgrims departed for Saudi Arabia today from a total of 10 staging posts across the country.
Religious Affairs Minister Suryadharma Ali and Jakarta Governor Joko Widodo presided over the departure ceremony at Pondok Gede Hajj boarding house in Jakarta.
The government released the first batch of 4,004 pilgrims from 10 departing points — Medan, North Sumatra; Batam, Riau Islands; Pondok Gede, Jakarta; Bekasi, West Java; Solo, Central Java; Surabaya, East Java; Makassar, South Sulawesi; Mataram, West Nusa Tenggara; Balikpapan, East Kalimantan and Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan.
Some 168,800 pilgrims will make the journey from Indonesia this year — 155,200 of whom will travel on regular tickets while 13,600 pilgrims have paid for a more luxurious spiritual experience.
There will, however, be fewer Indonesian mustati this year. Saudi Arabia took the decision to cut hajj quotas worldwide — Indonesia’s quota dropped by 20 percent — because of the considerable restoration and expansion work currently being undertaken at Mecca’s Grand Mosque.
Due to the cut, some 42,200 Indonesian Muslims who were prepared to make the hajj will have to wait until next year.
“I apologize to those who could not go to Mecca this year,” Suryadharma said at the departure ceremony. “This is something that we did not expect, but we promise these [pilgrims] will be in our priority for next year.”
Groups of pilgrims from Indonesia travel to Saudi Arabia between Sept. 10 and Oct 9. They will return to Indonesia between Oct 19 and Nov. 4.
“I wish you all a safe trip,” Joko said to the pilgrims at the Pondok Gede Hajj boarding house.
Garuda Indonesia and Saudi Arabia Airlines are the only carriers licensed to fly pilgrims to Saudi Arabia for the hajj, while all other transportation and accommodation arrangements are handled through the Religious Affairs Ministry.
Crowd control has proved a longstanding difficulty at the hajj — a stampede on the last day of the 2006 pilgrimage killed 346 people — but the emergence of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), a novel coronavirus that has killed more than 40 people in Saudi Arabia, has led Indonesia’s health ministry to prepare thermal scanners for returning pilgrims as part of its efforts to preclude the spread of the virus in the archipelago.
Tjandra Yoga Aditama, the health ministry’s director general for disease control and environmental health, said the Port Health Office had installed thermal scanners and prepared information for pilgrims as they depart for the Middle East.
“We remind all pilgrims to take sufficient rest, eat and drink well so they do not get dehydrated and keep a clean and healthy lifestyle,” he said. “We also recommend the use of face-masks during the pilgrimage.”
This year marks the first time that pilgrims from Jakarta, West Java, Lampung and Banten will begin their journey from Halim Perdanakusuma airport in East Jakarta.
Iwan Krishadianto, general manager of Halim airport said Angkasa Pura II — the operating company —had allocated Rp7 billion to support the hajj operation. Funds have been used to improve taxiway and apron lighting, as well as other support facilities, he said.
The Religious Affairs Ministry chose to use Halim airport instead of Soekarno-Hatta because the latter faces serious capacity issues and also because pilgrims have to arrive at least six hours before departure when using the capital’s main airport.
“Now, from Pondok Gede hajj boarding house it takes only 15 minutes to get to Halim Airport through special Air Force access road and 45 minutes from Bekasi without police escort,” he said.

http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/news/...-virus-advice/

[Bengal_Tiger]

Do not harm Islam

PM calls for a halt to militancy using religion

Star Report

Pilgrim makes sure if he has packed everything he needs at the Hajj Camp near Shahjalal International Airport in the capital yesterday. Hajjflights, which would take them to Makkah, begin today. Photo: Anisur Rahman

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday expressed hope that those who are tarnishing the image of Islam by unleashing terrorism and militancy should be refrained from such crimes.
“I feel very sorry when I see that the image of Islam, the greatest religion in the world, is being tarnished by creating terrorism and militancy through using Islam,” she said.
“I hope that those who are engaged in this crime would be refrained from doing it,” she added.
The premier made the remarks while inaugurating this year’s Hajj programmes at Ashkona Hajj Camp in the capital’s Uttara, reports BSS.
The first Hajj flight from Bangladesh begins today and it would end on October 8. The returnflights from Saudi Arabia will commence on October 19.
A total of 88,911 pilgrims will perform the holy ritual of Hajj this year. Of them, the Biman will carry 45,000 pilgrims, while Saudi Arabian Airlines will ferry the rest.
Of the total intending Hajj pilgrims, 1,548 will perform Hajj under the government management while 87,363 under the private sector management, reports our staff correspondent.

Hasina, at the Hajj camp, said Bangladesh has been recognised as a model of communal harmony across the globe. “We have to maintain this tradition.”
The Awami League is always devoted to the welfare of Islam. “My government has been working tirelessly for preaching and expansion of Islam,” she said.
The government, for the first time, has made arrangement for preaching and expansion of Islam in Arabic, Bangla and English languages through digitisation.
It has been providing training to religious leaders including Imams through the religious affairs ministry.

“They [religious leaders] have been involved with the development of human resources to create awareness about terrorism, militancy and drugs” she told her audience.
Hasina said the number of pilgrims has increased many times in the last four years as the government restored discipline in Hajj management.

In this context, she mentioned that the present government has framed the five- year (2010-2014) National Hajj Policy to ensure smooth Hajj management.
“The Saudi Hajj Ministry has recognised Bangladesh as the best South Asian country in developing Hajj management for the consecutive four years.”
Special attention has been given while renting the houses in Makkah and Madinah to ensure betterhousing arrangements for the pilgrims, Hasina said.
“As many as 47,983 Hajj pilgrims performed Hajj in 2006, the last year of the BNP- Jamaat alliance government.

“While the number was 1,05,617 in 2011 and 1,09,952 in 2012,” she said, hoping that the success in Hajj management would continue in future.

The premier said the number of pilgrims has declined slightly this year as a provision has been made that those who performed Hajj in the last five years could not go to Hajj.

Besides, she said, the Saudi government has curtailed the quota of pilgrims by 20 percent which would be applicable for all the countries.
A prayer was offered at the camp seeking continued peace, prosperity and development of the nation as well as peaceful performing of Hajj by the Bangladeshi pilgrims.

With State Minister for Religious Affairs Shahjahan Mian in the chair, the function was addressed, among others, by Civil Aviation and Tourism Minister Faruq Khan and Saudi Ambassador Abdullah Al Nasser Abdullah Al Bushairi.


http://www.thedailystar.net/beta2/ne...ot-harm-islam/

[Bengal_Tiger]

Bangladeshi hujjaj (plural of Hajji) will get free sim cards from a Bangladeshi company.

Free mobile SIMs for hajj pilgrims


Star Business Desk

Intraco Ltd, a sister concern of Intraco Group, will distribute 90,000 SIM cards to the hajj pilgrims this year free of cost, which will help the pilgrims to contact with their families during their stay in Saudi Arabia.
The travellers will be able to know their Saudi mobile numbers before leaving Bangladesh and make phone calls to the near and dear ones for free just after reaching Saudi Arabia.
The SIMs will also help them receive calls from Bangladesh for free and make calls at a cheap rate, Intraco Group said in a statement yesterday.
Distribution of the SIM cards has begun with the first hajj flights taking off this year at all international airports and hajj camps of the country, according to the statement.

http://www.thedailystar.net/beta2/news/free-mobile-sims-for-hajj-pilgrims/

[Bengal_Tiger]

Hujjaj in Indonesia and Malaysia recieve training and a course before going on Hajj. The picture above is from Indonesia.



Indonesian Hujjaj set off.





Indonesia suggests Saudi government to have signs in bahasa Indonesia

Tue, September 17 2013 14:21


Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The Indonesian Hajj Pilgrimage Organising Committee has urged the Indonesian consulate general in Jidda to send a letter to the Saudi government, requesting the installation of road signs in Bahasa Indonesia around Haram Mosque.

Due to the ongoing renovation, roads around Haram Mosque have become narrower and directions to the mosque are complicated, said Ahmad Kartono, the director of hajj and umroh (minor hajj) affairs at religious affairs ministry.

Because of the renovation, some routes have been diverted and it is quite confusing even for officers who are familiar with the area, he added.

Road signs would be helpful to Indonesian hajj pilgrims, who are mostly first-time visitors to Haram Mosque, he noted.

Indonesia hopes that the Saudi government would make announcements in Bahasa Indonesia because Indonesia sends the highest number of hajj pilgrims annually.

http://www.antara.co.id/en/news/90764/indonesia-suggests-saudi-government-to-have-signs-in-bahasa-indonesia

[Bengal_Tiger]

Hajj 2013: Saudi Arabia Installs 1,700 CCTV Cameras to Monitor Mecca Pilgrims


By HANNAH OSBORNE : Subscribe to Hannah's RSS feed | October 06, 2013
Hajj is the largest gathering of Muslims in the world (Reuters)
Authorities in Saudi Arabia have installed 1,700 CCTV cameras in Mecca to monitor the millions of pilgrims visiting the holy city this month.

More than one million pilgrims will visit Mecca from 13 October for the Hajj, with hundreds of thousands already in Saudi Arabia.

The five-day pilgrimage is the largest gathering of Muslims in the world. Able-bodied Muslims who can afford to do so must carry out Hajj at least once in their lifetimes.

Pilgrims walk from Mecca to Mina to the Plain of Arafat, where they stand near the Mount of Mercy to ask Allah for forgiveness.

This year, visitor numbers have been reduced because of the ongoing construction of the Haram Mosque. The Saudi Arabian government announced a 20% reduction in pilgrim numbers from each country earlier this year.

Miksib Al-Omairi, assistant head of operations at Mecca's civil defence brigade, told the Saudi Gazette that the kingdom has upped its security ahead of this year's Hajj.

Hajj
Over a million pilgrims will gather in Mecca for Hajj in the coming weeks (Reuters)
Mohammed Bin Abdullah Al-Qarni, director general of Civil Defence, told the Al-Madinah newspaper that improved security will allow them to evacuate pilgrims more efficiently in an emergency.

He also said the security would allow them to monitor transport and accommodation being provided.

"Thanks to the project, we can make emergency plans to deal with any accident that may take place at pilgrims' accommodation," he said.

"We will also be able to monitor any violations that may be committed by the Tawafa establishments."

The 1,700 cameras have been installed all around Mecca. There is also an information system that allows security officials to pinpoint the exact location of a call, while a wireless system means better communication with government bodies.

Abdullah Al-Qarsh, head of safety, said that safety patrols have been increased to monitor all public areas.

Hajj 2013: Saudi Arabia Installs 1,700 CCTV Cameras to Monitor Mecca Pilgrims - IBTimes UK

[Bengal_Tiger]

Hajj authorities gear up for transportation of 1.3 million pilgrims


Sunday, 6 October 2013
Between them, the pilgrims will make about 3.3 million trips to Makkah, Madinah and Jeddah.


Al Arabiya

Saudi Arabia’s hajj authorities are gearing up to ensure the safe transportation of more than 1.3 million pilgrims expected this year.
Between them, the pilgrims will make about 3.3 million trips to Makkah, Madinah and Jeddah and about 4.6 million trips to other holy sites.
In order for the trips to and from the holy sites to run smoothly, the ministry has readied special buses for the comfort and safety of the pilgrims.
It has also prepared a host of technical, operational and administrative equipment and fully-trained staff to see through the hajj season.
Infographic: Hajj: A spiritual journey

(Design by Farwa Rizwan/ Al Arabiya English)
The operational plan was implemented in mid-August. It plan covers Makkah, Madinah, Jeddah and the roads connecting these cities and the holy sites.
According to the plan, Jeddah will receive and transport nearly 800,000 pilgrims from the Hajj Terminal at King Abdul Aziz Airport to their accommodation in Makkah and Madinah.
Saudi security forces on Thursday conducted a successful fire drill on a bus which can carry around 50 pilgrims from Madinah towards holy sites in Makkah.
The fire drill tested the response of the emergency units in the case of a fire, examining how they would intervene to help protect the pilgrims.
The Saudi Minister of Health Abdullah al-Rabeea said on Wednesday that his ministry has devised a thorough plan to ensure the safety of pilgrims during this year’s hajj season.
“We expanded the presence of healthcare workers, a total of 22,000, at all facilities in Mecca, Medina and (other) holy sites in order to follow up on all cases that may (medically) pose a threat to pilgrims,” Rabeea told Al Arabiya.
He also said that the ministry's preparations for this year's hajj season began at the end of last year's season, adding that the aim of early preparations is to detail all previous mistakes and thus avoid them during this year.
“We seek to provide the best healthcare services to pilgrims. We do this through coordinating with the World Health Organization and [other] international health organizations to gather information about all the countries from which pilgrims come,” he said.

http://english.alarabiya.net/en/special-reports/hajj-2013/2013/10/06/Hajj-authorities-gear-up-for-transportation-of-1-3-million-pilgrims-.html

[Bengal_Tiger]

15,000 personnel to help organize hajj pedestrian flow

Monday, 7 October 2013




Abdullah Al-Dhibyani, Okaz/Saudi Gazette

The hajj security forces for administering and organizing pedestrians have begun organizing the movement of pilgrims, who have arrived in Mina with the help of 15,000 personnel who contribute to streamlining the movement of traffic and pilgrims.
Assistant Commander of the Hajj Security Forces for the Management and Organization of Pedestrians Brig. Gen. Masoud Faisal al-Adwani said contingency plans have also been prepared.
Among the options is the existence of alternative routes in case of large numbers of pilgrims. Their movement will be transferred to these routes.

(Design by Farwa Rizwan / Al Arabiya English)
This year witnessed the addition of new command stations and the numbers of these stations have reached 25, while the centers under them are 140 and are distributed along Mina. The “no entry” points at the gateways to Makkah have been supported via a point at al-Nawariyah checkpoint and another at al-Behaitah checkpoint east of the holy capital in which a force comprising of privates and students from the Department of Public Security training cities has been included so as to prevent infiltration across these points.
The personnel have received training in several courses, programs, seminars and theoretical and applied training aiming at acquainting the privates with the sanctity of the place and time and the duties he has been assigned so as to serve pilgrims.
They are trained to adapt themselves to prevent squatting, arresting infiltrators, controlling the flow of pedestrians, maintaining the flow of pilgrims in one direction, dividing and managing the masses of pilgrims and organizing the pedestrians in the northern and western courtyards of the Grand Mosque.

http://english.alarabiya.net/en/special-reports/hajj-2013/2013/10/07/15-000-personnel-to-help-organize-hajj-pedestrian-flow.html

[Bengal_Tiger]

Iraqi forces secure passage of hajj pilgrims crossing border

Saturday, 5 October 2013




All Iraqi pilgrims heading to Saudi Arabia through the Arar border had to do so by first arriving at Anbar province. (Al Arabiya)


Al Arabiya
Around 14,500 hajj pilgrims have crossed to Saudi Arabia from Iraq in recent days through the Arar border crossing after Iraqi forces secured their passage.

The desert roads which link Iraq to neighboring countries, including the Saudi kingdom, have witnessed several security incidents due to the presence of outlaws who have found refuge in the desert.

Amid the security fears, Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki has requested that hajj authorities not grant special permission for anyone to enter Saudi Arabia, other than those who have been selected to perform the hajj pilgrimage.

Army and police forces, special forces battalions, intelligence forces and helicopters have secured the pilgrims’ crossing to Saudi Arabia.

All pilgrims heading to Saudi Arabia through the Arar border had to do so by first arriving at Anbar province, an area which has seen unrest in recent months.
The Anbar police chief said security forces within the province had “devised a thorough plan to secure the passage of pilgrims from Anbar and other provinces.”
Hajj, attended by millions of pilgrims each year, is the fifth and final pillar of Islam. It takes place in the month of Dhul Hijjah which is the 12th month of the Islamic lunar calendar.
During the religious event, those Muslims who make the journey are required to spend five days in the desert surrounding the city of Makkah in modern-day Saudi Arabia. They travel between specified points to perform rites laid down in Islam’s holy book, the Quran.

http://english.alarabiya.net/en/special-reports/hajj-2013/2013/10/05/Iraqi-forces-secure-passage-of-hajj-pilgrims-through-border-crossing-.html

[Bengal_Tiger]

Hajj 2013: Grand Mufti Condemns Terrorism as Millions Head to Mount Arafat for ‘Most Important Day’ of Pilgrimage




By HANNAH OSBORNE : Subscribe to Hannah's RSS feed | October 14, 2013 2:49 PM BST



Muslim pilgrims gather atop Mount Mercy on the plains of Arafat

The Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia has condemned terrorism and preached peace among Muslims ahead of the "most important day" of Hajj.

Sheikh Abdul Aziz Al-Asheikh, who has been the religious leader of Saudi Arabia for almost 15 years, told the millions of pilgrims gathered in Mecca for the annual pilgrimage that Islam does not allow terrorism and that Muslims should practice peace and love.

According to the Lahore Times, he said: "Hell is the final abode for those who spill the blood of an innocent human.



The Grand Mufti condemned terrorism in his Hajj Sermon on Mount Arafat (Reuters)

"Islam does not allow terrorism at any cost. Islam condemns all violence and terrorism plaguing the world today. Muslims should demonstrate a love for peace and unity."

Before Hajj, Al-Asheikh had said wealthy pilgrims should help the poor instead of performing Hajj twice.

Delivering the Hajj Sermon, from Masjid e Nimra at Mount Arafat, Al-Asheikh said Muslims across the world are facing a difficult time because many had forgotten the teachings of the Holy Prophet, adding that success lies in unity and urging an end to sectarianism.



"The Holy Quran is an ultimate guidance for the entire humanity which should be implemented and acted on.

"Oh Muslims be God-fearing, adopt the taqwa (fear of Allah), shun from earning money through un-Islamic means, hold fast the rope of Allah and don't be divided into diverse schools of thoughts, get united against injustice."

He made his comments ahead of the most holy day of Hajj, the Day of Arafat. Pilgrims will today gather on the desert planes of Arafat to pray.


Around two million Muslims are expected to descend onto Mount Arafat after walking 14 miles from Mina to the site. According to Al-Arabiya, many Muslims believe the Day of Arafat is when their sins can be forgiven.

Bilal Philips, founder of the Islamic Online University, said: "Arafat represents the essence of hajj. If one pilgrim misses Arafat, there is nothing you can do to repair your hajj. Arafat is so vital that missing it invalidates hajj altogether. So, from the perspective of those making hajj, it is the most important pillar."

Hajj will end on 15 October. It is thought around one million fewer Muslims took part in the pilgrimage this year because of concerns over the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (Mers-CoV).

Hajj 2013: Grand Mufti Condemns Terrorism as Millions Head to Mount Arafat for