STARTING RITUALS HAJJ PILGRIMS TO MINA

Makkah, 8 Dhulhijjah 1436/22 September 2015 (MINA) – Starting the rituals of Hajj, pilgrims will be heading to Mina, located 7 km east of the Grand Mosque, on Tuesday where they will spend the day and night in preparation for their standing at Arafat, which marks the climax of this year’s Hajj.

Saudi authorities have completed all the facilities and services in Mina, according to International Islamic News Agency (IINA) reports as received by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA).

The tent city will accommodate around two million pilgrims in 160,000 fire-proof and air-conditioned tents equipped with all facilities.

In Mina, they will perform Duhr, Asr, Maghrib, Isha, and Fajr prayers, shortening four rakaa prayers to two. After the sunrise on Wednesday, the ninth day of Dhul Hijjah, the pilgrims will head to Arafat.

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Tuesday, the eighth day of Dhu Al-Hijjah is called Al-Tarwiyah Day because pilgrims in the old days used to collect water and other essentials in preparation for Arafat Day.

It is noteworthy that going to Mina on the eighth day is commendable, but not obligatory, pilgrims can stay in Makkah and move to Arafat on Arafat Day.

The Saudi Ministry of Hajj and all other government and private departments and agencies have completed their preparations in order to serve the pilgrims in terms of reception, housing, food and transportation.

Saudi health authorities have taken a series of precautions and preventive measures.

Saudi Arabia has deployed 3,000 Civil Defense personnel, with 49 units, covering all parts of Mina with fire, rescue and ambulance services, as well as the deployment of civil defense personnel on 276 motorbikes patrolling Mina around the clock to check safety measures in tents and immediately inform about any emergency situation.

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While the Kingdom called on the pilgrims to abide by the Hajj regulations as well as obtaining the required Hajj permits, it imposed a security cordon around the holy sites to prevent the infiltration of violators, and deployed 100,000 security personnel to ensure the safety and well-being of pilgrims.

The Saudi authorities used the latest technology at the entry points to Makkah and the holy sites, including sophisticated digital imaging devices, fingerprint identification systems and fraud detection tools, to verify the identities of all those who intend to perform Hajj.

The officials at the checkpoints have so far foiled several attempts for unlawful entry to Makkah and the holy sites, resulting in sending back 200,000 illegal pilgrims, according to the authorities.

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Saudi Arabia announced on Sunday the completion of foreign pilgrims’ arrival, numbering 1.377,751, while expecting the number of domestic pilgrims to reach 600,000. (T/Imt/R04)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)