The one million pilgrims from abroad and within the country are still a small fraction of the 2.5 million Muslims who traveled for the pilgrimage in 2019, which is generally one of the biggest gatherings on the globe. This year, participants in the ceremony had to be younger than 65, have received a coronavirus vaccination, and have tested COVID-19-negative within 72 hours of travel. Through an online lottery system, the pilgrims are selected from among the many millions of applicants.
On Wednesday, Saudi officials visited the holy site and emphasized that they are “ready” to welcome pilgrims in order to “protect public health.”
Historians have compared the interruption to the site’s siege by militants and dramatic closing in 1979. After the coronavirus struck in 2020, Saudi officials only permitted 1,000 pilgrims who were already living in the country to attend.
The Hajj was limited like last year to 60,000 Saudi Arabian Muslims who had received all their COVID-19 vaccinations. The unusual restrictions devastated many Muslims who had spent years saving for the Islamic ceremony and sent shockwaves throughout the Muslim world.
However, Saudi authorities are eager to ease virus restrictions this year. Before the outbreak, religious travel brought in $12 billion, making it the second-largest contributor to Saudi Arabia’s GDP beside oil.
The administration dropped the country’s indoor mask mandate and other viral safeguards last month, despite the fact that the number of virus cases has consistently increased to over 500 per day in Saudi Arabia. Approximately 70% of the populace has received the viral vaccination.
This year, unlike the previous two, visitors visiting the sacred site are not compelled to wear masks or maintain a certain level of social distance. Muslim pilgrims who have completed the Hajj may circle or perform tawaf at Mecca’s Kaaba, the symbolic home of God, but they are not permitted to kiss or touch it.
As per the words of Quran, all Muslims who are financially and physically competent should make the pilgrimage once in their life, according to the Qur’an. For five rigorous days of prayer, pilgrims from all over the world journey to Mecca to perform a number of rites.
The Hajj is thought to trace the steps of Prophets Ibrahim and Ismail (Peace Upon Them), or Abraham and Ishmael as they are known in the Bible, along a path that Prophet Muhammad (Peace Upon Him) trod over 1,400 years ago.
