Pilgrims try to ride on top of a vehicle after dawn prayers near the Grand Mosque in Makkah, Tuesday. They will start their movement toward Mina Wednesday to spend the night in the tent city following the Sunnah of the Prophet (pbuh). — Reuters Saudi Gazette report
MINA – Pilgrims in convoys begin to move to Mina Wednesday to spend the Tarwiyah Day following the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). In Mina, pilgrims pray Dhuhr, Asr, Maghreb, and Isha, shortening their four-unit prayers so as to make them two units each, without combining them. According to the Sunnah, the pilgrims spend the night of the Tarwiyah Day in Mina. After performing dawn (Fajr) prayer on the 9th of Dhul Hijjah, pilgrims wait for sunrise and then move toward Arafat chanting the Talbiyah and Takbir and glorifying Allah. In Arafat they pray Dhuhr and Asr combined at the time of Dhuhr, making each one two units. The Haj security command has laid down an elaborate plan to facilitate the pilgrims' movement to Mina. It is focused on providing security and safety on all roads leading to the tent city. Prince Ahmad Bin Abdul Aziz, Minister of Interior and Chairman of the Supreme Haj Committee, is personally following up the security plan, which is focused on preventing the entry of small cars to the holy sites so as to allow large vehicles belonging to the General Cars Syndicate and transport companies to transport the pilgrims. The mega projects carried out by the government in Makkah and the holy sites have contributed to streamlining the traffic flow. The Director of Traffic, Major General Abdul Rahman Bin Abdullah Al-Miqbil, said that 24,000 buses are participating in the transportation of pilgrims from Makkah to Mina. Maj. Gen. Mansour Al-Turki, spokesman of the Ministry of Interior, said the main plan focuses on transporting over two million pilgrims. Maj. Gen. Saad Al-Khilaiwi, Commander of the Haj security forces, said that the Haj security forces are working in tandem with the other agencies in managing traffic flow and the movement of pedestrians in the Central Area and the outer courtyards of the Grand Mosque. Earlier, tens of thousands of pilgrims left Madinah for Makkah in preparation for their movement to Mina. Assistant Director General of the Branch of the Ministry of Haj in Madinah Mohammad Hosain Alarabi said that more than 2300 buses were pressed into service Sunday to facilitate the movement of pilgrims from Madinah to Makkah. Thirty pilgrims who have been receiving treatment in different Madinah hospitals will be transported to Arafat Hospital by the Madinah Health Affairs Directorate, according to the directives of Prince Abdul Aziz Bin Majed, Emir of Madinah and Chairman of the Madinah-based Haj Commission. The transportation arrangements have been overseen by Dr. Abdullah Al-Taifi, director of Madinah Health Affairs. Thirty ambulances run by the Ministry of Health will carry the pilgrims to Arafat. There will also be an emergency ambulance and a mobile auto repair vehicle in addition to a catering truck. All procedures to transport the pilgrims to Arafat have been completed, said Dr. Al-Taifi, adding that each patient will be accompanied by a doctor and a nurse. Dr. Al-Taifi said that no epidemic diseases have been discovered among pilgrims this year. Dr. Khaled Marghalani, spokesman of the Ministry of Health, said the health condition of the pilgrims is reassuring and the ministry has not registered any epidemic or quarantine cases. Pilgrims have been advised to drink plenty of water, fresh juice and dairy products to compensate for water loss. The nutrition consultant at Al-Amal Complex for Mental Health in Riyadh Dr. Adel Badr advised pilgrims to avoid caffeine products such as tea and coffee as they cause diuresis and further loss of body fluids. “While performing Haj rituals, the human body needs adequate amounts of vitamins,” he said, calling on diabetes patients to eat a snack and drink water before performing Haj rituals. The Board of Senior Ulema has set up five centers in the holy sites to receive questions from pilgrims relating to Haj. The questions will be answered by permanent members of the Board and scholars. The permanent committee consists of Sheikh Salih Al-Fawzan, Sheikh Ahmad Al-Mubarki, Sheikh Abdullah Al-Mutlaq, Sheikh Abdullah Khaneen, Sheikh Muhammad Aal Asheikh, and Sheikh Abdul Kareem Al-Khudair. Meanwhile, the Saudi Post said that it has set up branches in the holy sites to offer various services to pilgrims including the availability of animal sacrifice coupons, pre-paid calling cards, Eid Al-Adha holidays post cards, phone chips, and cell phone devices. The company's operational plan for this year has focused on providing quick services to pilgrims in the holy sites in addition to courier services. Pilgrims who are interested in purchasing animal sacrifice coupons, which cost SR450, can do so by accessing the Saudi Post website at “http://www.sp.com.sa/” \t “_blank” http://www.sp.com.sa or by going to one of the Saudi Post offices available in different locations in Makkah and holy sites.
