A1SaudiArabia.com

MAKKAH – A project to link the holy sites by train has led to the largest Chinese gathering in the Kingdoms history. The area by the sanctuaries of Arafat, which is outside the boundaries of the Holy Haram in Makkah, has turned into a Chinese city.

More than 8,000 Chinese workers, 1,500 of whom have embraced Islam, are working round-the-clock shifts to carry out the project. It is expected that more than 6,000 Chinese workers will arrive in the next few weeks to help complete the projects first two phases before the beginning of this years Haj season.

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JEDDAH – The operation of the Holy Sites Train takes place in October after the completion of 35 percent of the project covering 18 kilometers.

This is according to Sam Hau Joelin, Director General of the Al-Mashaer (Holy Sites) Train.

Following his meeting with Qussay Ibrahim Filali, Director of the Labor Office in Jeddah on Wednesday, he said the operation starting in October, one month before the Haj, will be on an experimental basis.

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JEDDAH – A delegation led by visiting Pakistani Minister for Religious Affairs Syed Hamid Saeed Kazmi called on the Saudi Minister for Haj Dr. Fuad Abdulsalam Al-Farsy and requested him to increase Pakistans Haj quota this year.

Thanking Farsy for increasing the Haj quota last year, the visiting Paksitani minister discussed arrangements for the forthcoming Haj.

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JEDDAH – The swine flu threat that loomed large before Haj 2009 in the end did not disrupt the pilgrimage, according to Indian Consul General Sayeed Ahmed Baba.

“Before the Haj everybody was really worried about what would happen because of the swine flu pandemic – what turn it would take, whether it would affect the pilgrims in large numbers, and if so what could be done. Things were uncertain and unpredictable and precautions were taken,” Baba told Saudi Gazette prior to a function to honor mutawwifs at the head office of Muttawwify Hujjaj South Asia Est., (South Asian Moassassa Est.) in Makkah Sunday night.

Baba said that there were three swine flu deaths among those who came from India to perform Haj, but that they were chronically ill people who developed complications and ultimately died.

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MAKKAH: A number of Haj missions have expressed satisfaction with the consummate services provided by the Establishment of Mutawifs for Pilgrims of African Non-Arabs during the recent pilgrimage.

Head of the Nigerian Haj mission Muhammad Mousa Balu told chairman of the establishment Abdul Wahid Burhan Saifuddin the services provided have greatly contributed to the success of their pilgrims holy trip.

I would like to extend our deepest thanks and gratitude for the distinguished services extended to us, including the provision of suitable accommodations in Makkah, Mina, Arafat and Muzdalifah. Your quick response to our diverse demands and the comfort in all areas which enabled our pilgrims to devote their time to worship, he said.

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MAKKAH: Gov. of Makkah Prince Khaled Al-Faisal will, on behalf of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah, wash the Kaaba on Saturday (Muharram 16).

A number of Muslim scholars, government officials, dignitaries and diplomats will attend the event, which takes place twice a year on the 15th of Shabaan (the month preceding the fasting month of Ramadan) and in mid-Muharram (the month after Dhul Hijjah when Muslims perform Haj).

The House of God is given a new Kiswa (covering) on the 9th of Dhul Hijjah when pilgrims proceed to Arafat for the main event of the Haj.

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JEDDAH – Many people will remember “Black Wednesday” as a disaster, but others also recall the humanity of people who helped out when it was really needed.

This is certainly the case with Jeddah resident Imtiyaz Osman, a Master Dental Technologist and Cosmetic Ceramist Specialist. Osman, an Indian with South African citizenship, was heading to perform Haj, when the calamity struck.

“I was hardly 25 minutes on the road when I ran into a traffic jam. The road was cut off for traffic because a bridge ahead of us had collapsed because of the rain. About seven to eight hours went by and we hadnt moved an inch. At that point I had given up all hope of performing Haj,” he said.

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MAKKAH: Haj 2009 may have come and gone, but for Abdul Fattah Dove, a 30-year-old pilgrim from the Republic of Dagestan in the Russian Federation, this journey will remain in his memory for the rest of his life.

Dove said his journey to Makkah took him a month because his car was old and unreliable. He said it took him years to save up the money for the most affordable Haj visa, the one that doesnt come with transportation, room and board.

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JEDDAH: The World Assembly of Muslim Youth (WAMY) has won the praise of pilgrims during this years Haj season for introducing a new service allowing them to keep their luggage in Mina before heading to the Jamrat Bridge for the stoning ritual.

We are very happy at providing this innovative service to the guests of God, said Dr. Muhammad Badahdah, assistant secretary-general of WAMY. This service was aimed at helping pilgrims to carry out their religious rituals easily without being bothered about their luggage, he said. Badahdah said the project was carried out in coordination with the Makkah municipality. Makkah Mayor Osama Al-Bar welcomed the idea soon after we presented it to him, he said, adding that he extended all support to the project.

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MADINA – Thousands of pilgrims have arrived in Madina to pay homage to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) after completing their five-day Haj rituals in Makkah and the holy sites of Mina, Arafat and Muzdalifah.

The Ministry of Haj and all other concerned public and private organizations have completed preparations to receive pilgrims and provide them with necessary services.

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