Ramadan, the holiest month for Muslims, holds significant religious importance in Islam. It is obligatory for followers of the Islamic faith to observe fasting during Ramadan, and it is believed that performing acts of worship during this month earns greater rewards. Eid-ul-Fitr, a festive occasion, marks the end of Ramadan.
Highlights
- Ramadan commenced in Saudi Arabia on March 11th.
- People visit the holy cities of Mecca and Medina during Ramadan.
- Government decision regarding the crowd of Umrah visitors during Ramadan.
Umrah in Ramadan: The Ministry of Hajj has issued a statement.
Riyadh: Muslims from around the world flock to Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah during the month of Ramadan. Due to the religious significance of Ramadan in Islam, the number of Umrah pilgrims increases substantially during this month. Pilgrims who undertake Hajj pilgrimages during their visit to Saudi Arabia can perform Umrah as many times as they wish. Consequently, the crowd at the Kaaba increases significantly as people repeatedly visit it. Managing the increasing crowd poses a challenge for Saudi government officials. In response, the Saudi government has introduced a new rule stating that an individual can only perform Umrah once during the month of Ramadan.
Saudi Ministry Imposes One-Time Limit on Umrah Visits During Ramadan to Curb Crowds
According to Gulf News, the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has prohibited Muslims from performing Umrah more than once during the month of Ramadan. This means that devout pilgrims present in Mecca can only perform Umrah once during this month. Generally, during Ramadan, a large number of people gather at the Grand Mosque in Mecca, one of Islam’s holiest sites.
Decision to Reduce Crowds: The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has stated that to reduce crowding, a ban has been imposed on repeating Umrah visits during Ramadan. This measure will also provide more people with the opportunity to perform Umrah. The Ministry clarified that no permits have been issued for performing Umrah more than twice during Ramadan. Additionally, officials in Saudi Arabia have implemented several measures to manage the influx of people during Ramadan. Among these measures, separate entrances and other arrangements have been made for pilgrims to control the crowd.
It should be noted that Umrah is commonly referred to as a lesser pilgrimage in common parlance. Umrah refers to the pilgrimage to Mecca. Those who arrive in Mecca for Umrah circumambulate the Kaaba on all sides. Both Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages take Muslims to the ancient city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia, but there is a fundamental difference between the two pilgrimages. Hajj has a fixed time, while Umrah can be performed at any time throughout the year.