The Presidency of the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques has chalked out a comprehensive strategy to provide the utmost comfort and services to visitors to the holy cities of Makkah and Madina during Ramadan. Dr. Muhammad Bin Nasir Al-Khuzayyam, Deputy Chief of the Presidency, told Saudi Gazette that providing comfort to the millions of pilgrims is the top priority. He said besides the 1,756 permanent religious guides, 1,526 additional guides have been engaged temporarily for the month of Ramadan. These guides, assisted by about 2,500 staff members, will provide various services to the visitors around the clock. They will provide guidance on the performance of religious duties and Umrah rites. There are more than 30 scholars who give sermons after Fajr, Asar and Maghrib prayers in different languages, explaining to the pilgrims how to perform Umrah, common mistakes during the minor pilgrimage and their expiation. They also give sermons on Islamic monotheism. An intercom system has been set up in the Grand Mosque to clarify religious issues from scholars. The system functions the whole day and a major part of the night, said Al-Khuzayyam. An important Umrah ritual is hastening between As-Safa and Al-Marwah mounts. The Presidency has arranged 10,000 hand-driven free wheelchairs for old and sick pilgrims. These wheelchairs can be obtained from the first floor of As-Safa gate. The Presidency has also arranged about 100 auto-driven wheelchairs which can be obtained on payment of SR50. Zamzam water is provided on all the floors of the Grand Mosque. It is routinely subjected to tests in the Presidency's lab to ascertain that no contaminated water is supplied to the worshippers. A group of 1,000 workers who work in shifts supply water to 15,000 water coolers. There are hundreds of taps around the Holy Mosque for the supply of Zamzam to the worshippers. According to Al-Khuzayyam, workers use special equipment to keep the Holy Mosque clean for about two million visitors during Ramadan. Regarding special arrangements for Iftar, no food is allowed to enter the Holy Mosque, and only dates and Saudi Qahwa are allowed. Ten minutes are given for breakfast between Azan and Magrib prayers. Hundreds of laborers will clean the mosque during that period to prepare the floor for congregation prayers. In open plazas around the Holy Mosque, people break their fast as per their tastes. The worshippers are not allowed to make ablution from water coolers as it results in spilling water over the floor which makes it slippery. The Presidency welcomes any suggestions on telephone number 02/5739992 or on Internet site www.gph.gov.sa.
