A pandemic of the coronavirus severely restricted access, causing a million Muslim pilgrims to gather in Mecca, the sanctuary ofSaudi Arabia, on Wednesday. One of the five pillars of Islam.
Starting Thursday, Saudi Arabia's decision to allow approximately 850,000 foreign Muslims to make annual pilgrimages has been significantly reduced over a two-year period limited to Saudi residents. After the Mecca pilgrimage, it shows a big step towards normality. ..
Read more: Masks, robots, bracelets: How COVID-19 changed the Mecca pilgrimage of Islamic pilgrims
The number of participating 1 million foreign and domestic pilgrims is far less than the 2.5 million Muslims who traveled for pilgrimages in 2019, and is usually the largest in the world. It is one of the pilgrimages. Those performing this year's ritual must be under the age of 65, vaccinated against the coronavirus, and tested negative for COVID-19 within 72 hours of travel. Pilgrims are selected from millions of applicants through the online lottery system.
The story continues below the ad
Saudi authorities visit the sanctuary on Wednesday and accept pilgrims for the purpose of "maintaining public health" "Preparation" was emphasized.
After the corona virus struck in 2020, Saudi Arabian authorities allowed 1,000 pilgrims already living in the kingdom to join and told historians on the site by religious militants in 1979. He urged us to compare the turmoil between the assault and the dramatic closure.
Trend Story
Last year, the Mecca pilgrimage was also restricted to 60,000 fully vaccinated Muslims living in Saudi Arabia. Was. The unprecedented curb sent a shock wave throughout the Islamic world, destroying many believers who had saved years for religious ceremonies.
Read more: Saudi Arabia says a "very limited" Mecca pilgrimage for the coronavirus
This year, however, Saudi authorities are keen to mitigate the suppression of the virus. Religious pilgrimages brought $ 12 billion before the pandemic. It accounts for the largest proportion of Saudi Arabia's gross domestic product after oil.
The story continues under the ad
In Saudi Arabia, virus cases are steadily increasing until more than 500 cases a day, but the government is indoors in the country The month when the mask obligation and other virus precautions were last lifted. About 70% of the country is vaccinated against the virus.
The Koran states that all physically and economically competent Muslims should make a pilgrimage once in their lifetime. Pilgrims from all over the world worship Mecca for five days and perform a series of rituals.
The Mecca pilgrimage is thought to follow the route that the Prophet Muhammad walked about 1,400 years ago, following the footsteps of the Bible-named Prophets Ibrahim and Ishmael, or Abraham and Ishmael. I am.
© 2022 TheCanadian Press