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Thursday, March 28, 2024

Saudi Arabia Halts International Hajj For The Second Year – A Brief Look At When Hajj Was Cancelled In History

RIYADH: No foreign traveller will be allowed to perform the annual Islamic pilgrimage as the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Saturday announced that it will only allow 60,000 local residents who get vaccinated against the novel Covid-19.

Authorities much like the previous year expressed concerns over the current situation as the flocks of international pilgrims could be a major cause of Covid transmission that could lead to the epicenter in the region.

Reports in international media quoting Saudi Press Agency said ‘this year Hajj would be open for nationals and residents of the kingdom, which is also limited to 60,000 pilgrims.

The statement further reads that ‘the pilgrimage, scheduled to be held in next month, would be limited to those who have been vaccinated and are aged 18-65 with no chronic illnesses’. ‘In light of what the world is witnessing with the Covid pandemic and the emergence of new variants, the relevant authorities have continued to monitor the global health situation’, it further added.

Earlier, it was assumed that the Kingdom may allow foreigners for Hajj and is in a process of finalising the SOPs in this regard.

Last year, only 10,000 Muslims performed hajj, only 0.4 percent as compared to the 2.5 million who took part in the five-day annual pilgrimage in 2019.

Meanwhile, Pakistanis much like other nationals won’t be able to perform Hajj this year. A statement issued by Hajj director, Abrar Mirza, said ‘Saudi Arabia has barred foreigners from performing Hajj due to the Covid-19’. Adding that the authorities in decided to bar foreigners after the emergence of the new variants of the virus across the globe’.

As the modern-day cancellation of Hajj stemmed from the Covid pandemic while there have been other times when the annual gathering of Muslims had to be cancelled and it happened around 40 times.

Some of the major closures are mentioned below:

629 AD

Hajj was called off due to the massacre of Mount Arafat. it was the first time when hajj was canceled.

865 AD

The conflict between Ismail Bin Yousuf and the Abbasid Caliphate of Baghdad executed a serious attack on Mountain Arafat looking on to Makkah, in 865 A.D. This incident caused the killing of thousands of pilgrims who were present there.

930-940 AD

The cancellation of Hajj happened when Qarmatian attacked Makkah. Historians claimed that Abu Tahir’s army murdered 30,000 pilgrims present in Makkah. The dead bodies were dumped in the Zamzam Well. At that time hajj was canceled 10 years straight. The army of Qarmatian also looted the Black Stone. Due to this, the Hajj was canceled until the Muslims retrieved the black stone from Qarmatian

967 AD

Hajj was canceled due to plague. The plague hit Makkah and several countries of the world, which killed thousands of animals and people.

983-991 AD

Hajj was suspended for eight years due to the battle between Abbasid Fatamid Caliphate.

1256-1260 AD

Hajj was canceled due to political disputes for five years. People living in Hijaz Saudi Arabia were the only ones allowed to perform Hajj and Umrah.

1837-1858 AD

Hajj was canceled several times due to the severe waves of pandemics. The pandemic attack city of Makkah at that time was cholera and plague.

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