RIYADH — Arab and Islamic countries and organizations on Tuesday welcomed and endorsed Saudi Arabia's decision to allow a limited number of people from within the Kingdom to perform this year's Hajj in order to ensure their health and safety. Lauding the move, Bahrain fully backed the decision taken by Saudi Arabia. Bahrain's Minister of Justice, Islamic Affairs and Endowments Sheikh Khalid bin Ali Al Khalifa said in a statement that "the Kingdom of Bahrain, affirms its support for the sisterly Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in all decisions and procedures that guarantee the safety and security of all in general and pilgrims in the Grand Holy Mosque in particular, it highly appreciated this decision, which is consistent with the essence of the true Islamic religion that came to preserve the five necessities including religion, soul, mind, honor and money." The Omani Ministry of Endowments and Religious commended the decision and announced its support. In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Omani ministry asserted that this decision puts the safety of all pilgrims as a top priority in light of an increasing number of COVID19-infected cases around the world. The government of Comoros expressed its support and welcomed the Kingdoms' decision. The Comoros government said in a statement that this wise decision is fully consistent with all precautionary and preventive measures taken by Saudi Arabia's government from the beginning of this pandemic outbreak. The Minister of Endowments of Egypt, Dr. Muhammad Mukhtar Jumaa, said that the Kingdom's decision is consistent with the intention of the true Shariah in preserving oneself, pointing out that the decision comes within the framework of the Kingdom's keenness to enable pilgrims to perform the rituals of Hajj. The Arab League, the biggest regional organization in the Arab world, also welcomed the decision taken by Saudi Arabia with regard to this year's Hajj. The Assistant Secretary-General and Head of Social Affairs of the Arab League Ambassador Haifa Abu Ghazaleh said in a statement that this wise decision of the Saudi Arabia's government came to preserve the health and safety of pilgrims in light of the continuation of COVID-19, the danger of infection outbreak in gatherings, crowds, moving between countries, and the continuous increase of the global rate of infections. She praised the efforts of the Kingdom being led by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman and Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman to facilitate Hajj performance for Muslims around the world every year. The Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, Dr. Youssef Bin Ahmed Al-Othaimeen, affirmed in a statement the support for the decision of the government of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman which comes in line with all precautionary and preventive measures taken by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The secretary-general appreciated the utmost care given by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the health and safety of pilgrims. The Muslim World League also issued a statement on behalf of its scholars under the umbrella of the Supreme Council of the League, the Islamic Jurisprudence Council and the World Supreme Council of Mosques, endorsing the precautionary measures taken by the government of Saudi Arabia for this year's Hajj. The statement issued by Secretary-General of the League and Chairman of the Association of Muslim Scholars Sheikh Dr. Muhammad bin Abdul Karim Al-Issa said that the emergency circumstance of the novel Corona pandemic represents an exceptional case that Shariah should take with great care and consideration, in order to preserve the safety of pilgrims. For his part, Arab Parliament Speaker Dr. Meshaal Bin Fahim Al-Salami affirmed in a statement to Saudi Press Agency that this wise decision reflects the Kingdom's keenness to hold Hajj ritual in a safe manner, in order to achieve the requirements of prevention and social separation necessary to ensure the safety of pilgrims and protect them from the risks of this pandemic. Meanwhile, Ambassador of Djibouti to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Dya-Eddine Said Bamakhrama too welcomed the decision. He said in a statement: "This decision is welcomed for two reasons; first: the decision reflects Saudi Arabia's keenness to hold the rite of Hajj, and secondly: it is keen at the same time to combat and address the coronavirus pandemic, because large crowds may be a reason for the continuation of the pandemic and its spread." The head of the International Council of Muslim Societies, Dr. Ali Rashid Al-Nuaimi, extended the council's support for the decision. He pointed to the importance of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's decision at this current and accurate time. Dr. Amjad Shamouat, chairman of the Arab Bridge Center for Human Rights, has hailed Saudi Arabia's decision to hold this year's Hajj with a very limited number from different nationalities inside the Kingdom. He lauded the Kingdom's precautionary and preventative measures taken by the Kingdom for the safety of the pilgrims. The chairman of the World Muslim Communities Council, an Abu Dhabi-based international organization, Dr. Ali Rashid Al-Nuaimi backed the decision. Dr. Al-Nuaimi pointed to the importance of Saudi Arabia's decision at this current and sensitive time, for preserving human life, achieving the purposes of the Islamic law, and the interests of religion and life without disrupting the living system. He noted the importance of performing this ritual in compliance with precautionary procedures, officials' directives, and guidelines, as well as requirements for prevention and social distancing to protect people from Coronavirus pandemic, which has affected more than 180 countries around the world. Meanwhile, the head of the Islamic Call Center for Latin America and the Caribbean States Ahmed Bin Ali Al-Saifi has affirmed the Center's support for the Kingdom's decision to have a limited" Haj. He stressed that Saudi Arabia always affirms its keenness on the comfort and safety of the visitors of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque, as well as ensuring their safe return to their countries.
