Today Witnesses Completion of Pilgrims' Influx to Makkah

Mina, 08 Dzulhijjah 1437/10 September 2016 (MINA) – Ministry of Interior Spokesman Maj. Gen. Mansour Al-Turki announced that this is the 7th day of Dzulhijjah which will witness the completion of the influx of pilgrims to the Holy Makkah for Tawaf (circumambulation) around the Kaaba and travelling back and forth between Al-Safa and Al-Marwah in Al-Masjid Al-Haram (Grand Mosque).

In an opening speech on the first day of the press conference for the actions of Hajj for 1437 at the headquarters of the Public Security in the holy site of Mina, he said “We are now entering the stage of the journey to holy sites or the trip of Hajj, pointing out that after evening prayers tonight, the process of the mass movement of pilgrims from Makkah to the holy sites to stand at Mount Arafat will start.

The first stage in this process is the movement of pilgrims at the day of Tarwaya to Mina, where the vanguards of pilgrims begin access after evening prayers tonight, indicating that the peak in the largest percentage of pilgrims of Tarwaya will move after dawn prayers tomorrow, the 8th day of Dzulhijjah, appealing to God Almighty to facilitate their arrival at the holy site of Mina, SPA quoted the general as saying.

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He said that the trip to holy sites takes from five to six days during which about five traffic plans for the movement of the pilgrims are carried out; first pilgrims of Tarwaya to Mina before their movement again from Mina to Arafat on the morning of the 9th of Dzulhijjah, and as for pilgrims who go directly to Arafat on the 8th day and the morning of the 9th day, then the stage of the mass movement (Nafrah) of pilgrims from Arafat to Muzdalifah, and then coming back again to Mina on the morning of the day of the blessed Eid Al-Adha, after completing the rituals in the holy site of Mina, the pilgrims will return again to Makkah.

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With regard to the most important plans that are implemented at this stage, the spokesman explained that without doubt, these plans represent part of the most important plans that are implemented, stressing that the most important of these five plans is the phase of the mass movement of pilgrims, especially since pilgrims’ standing at Mount Arafat is the greatest pillar of Hajj.

He also confirmed the importance of the arrival of pilgrims at Mount Arafat in the early times so that they can stay in before their mass movement (Nafrah” to Muzdalifah.

On the abusive accusations against the Kingdom on the organization of Hajj, the Spokesman of the Ministry of Interior explained that “The Kingdom was organizing Hajj long time ago and managing the organization of Hajj season after another and that serving pilgrims is not a new thing to the Kingdom and Muslims all around the world know and realize that.

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There are millions of Muslims who performed Hajj obligation over last years and they can truly estimate and assess the great efforts being exerted by the Kingdom, not only in maintaining the security and safety of the pilgrims, but in facilitating their performance of this sacred duty and to enable the largest number of Muslims to perform this duty in ease and comfort.”

On the events that took place in Madinah, Al-Turki said that what happened was duly and timely announced, pointing out that it aimed to harm visitors of the Prophet, peace be upon him.

He further stressed that the security men declared their readiness to sacrifice their lives to save the visitors of the Two Holy Mosques, and everyone won’t hesitate to sacrifice their lives to protect the pilgrims and thwart all plots of those who seek to undermine the security and comfort of the pilgrims. (T/R07/R01)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)