Pilgrims to be granted 3 hours to complete Umrah

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From October 4th, the first phase of resuming Umrah will be initiated when local pilgrims can perform Umrah which have to be booked in advance through a special application called اعتمرنا which would be released on IOS and android on 27 September, Haramain Sharifain has said.

According to details by Arab News, during the first phase Umrah pilgrims will be granted a 3 hour time to complete their rituals of Umrah i.e circumambulating the Ka’bah seven times, the performance of 2 rakah Sunnah behind the station of Ibrahim, running between the Mounts of Safa and Marwah seven times (Saee) and the shaving or shortening of hairs. During the first phase, only 6 thousand pilgrims would be allowed to perform their rituals.

This has been done to allow the maximum number of pilgrims to perform Umrah and remaining within the precautionary measures. Over time the restrictions will be eased through various phases and the expected date of the uplifting of all restrictions would be on 1st November.

Saudi Arabia hard few days ago announced it is to gradually resume a Muslim pilgrimage which has been suspended for seven months because of the coronavirus pandemic.

From 4 October, up to 6,000 Saudi citizens and residents will be allowed to undertake the Umra each day.

Pilgrims from countries deemed safe will be permitted from 1 November, when the daily capacity will rise to 20,000.

The Umra is an extra, optional pilgrimage that can be undertaken any time of the year.

Although it includes some of the rituals of the most important pilgrimage, the Hajj, they are shortened and there are fewer of them.

The Hajj is a journey that every adult Muslim must undertake at least once in their lives if they can afford it and are physically able.

This year, Saudi Arabia allowed only a few thousand people living in the kingdom to undertake the Hajj. It usually attracts about two million Muslims from across the world.

The upcoming 20,000 daily limit on pilgrims undertaking the Umra will remain in place “until the official announcement of the end of the Covid-19 pandemic or the disappearance of the danger”, the state-run Saudi Press Agency cited an interior ministry source as saying .

“The arrival of Umra performers and visitors from outside the kingdom shall be gradual from the countries that are free from health risks related to the coronavirus pandemic,” the person said.

Pilgrims will be asked to adhere to preventative measures and health guidelines, including wearing face masks, practising social distancing, and avoiding physical contact, the news agency reported.

Saudi Arabia has reported more than 330,000 cases of Covid-19 in total and 4,542 deaths.

On Tuesday, 552 new infections and 30 deaths were recorded.


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