The annual Hajj pilgrimage, where Muslims travel to the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia, usually attracts millions of people from around the world. However, this year, the event will be much smaller than usual due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Earlier this month, Saudi Arabia announced that the pilgrimage would be a more low-key event this year to preserve global public health. No overseas visitors will be allowed, and only around 1,000 people who live in the kingdom will be allowed to perform Hajj in this year’s ritual.
In normal years, as many as 2.5 million people travel to the cities of Mecca and Medina for Hajj. The event takes place during Dhu-al-Hijjah, the final moth of the Islamic calendar, and lasts a week. The pilgrimage is one of the five pillars of Islam, and every Muslim is expected to complete it once in their lifetime if they are physically and financially able.
Hajj will begin this year on Wednesday, July 29, Saudi authorities announced last week, adding that the pilgrimage would be “very limited”.
What will the differences be in this year's Hajj pilgrimage?
Hajj Minister Mohammad Benten said in a virtual news conference that the government was still reviewing the number of pilgrims allowed – but it would be “around 1,000, maybe less, maybe a little bit more.”
“The numbers won’t be in tens or hundreds of thousands this year,” he added.
Health Minister Tawfiq al-Rabiah said people over the age of 65 or with chronic illnesses will not be permitted to perform Hajj. People will be tested for Covid-19 before arriving in Mecca, and will be required to quarantine at home after the ritual.
Face masks will be compulsory, and organisers will be required to cover their faces at all times. Pilgrims have been instructed to maintain a physical distance of 1.5 metres between each other during rituals, mass prayers, and when in the Kaaba circling areas. Touching or kissing the Kaaba, the holiest site in the Islamic path, is also forbidden this year. Congressional prayers are permitted but people must wear face-coverings and social distance throughout. Only those with Hajj permits will be allowed access to holy sites at Mina, Muzdalifah, and Mount Arafat until August 2.
This is the first time that foreign visitors have been banned from performing Hajj since the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was founded in 1932. Before then, the pilgrimage has been cancelled because of war and past epidemics.
