Tuesday, June 9, 2020

Ali Reza Rashidian on Tuesday said preparatory measures for sending pilgrims to Hajj have been taken and once the Saudi side announces its readiness to host the pilgrims, Iran will be ready to start sending them to the Arab country.

He made the remark in a meeting in Tehran of Iranian Hajj officials, including Hojat-ol-Islam Seyed Abdol Fattah Navab, representative of the Leader of the Islamic Revolution in Hajj and Pilgrimage Affairs.

Back in April, Rashidian hoped that the coronavirus pandemic will be gone by the time the warm season begins and the Hajj will be held, but said the country is ready for different scenarios regarding the pilgrimage.

Every year nearly three million Muslims from around the world gather in the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, for the annual Hajj.

The annual pilgrimage is regarded as one of the pillars of Islam and the largest act of mass pilgrimage in the world.

It is also a demonstration of Muslims’ unity and their submission to Allah.

Every able-bodied Muslim is obliged to perform the pilgrimage at least once in his or her lifetime.

Organizing this year’s Hajj is in doubt due to the coronavirus pandemic.

In April, Saudi Arabia suspended the year-round Umrah pilgrimage over fears of the coronavirus pandemic spreading to Islam’s holiest cities.

Saudi authorities are yet to announce whether they will proceed with this year’s Hajj, scheduled for the end of July. In May, they urged Muslims to temporarily defer preparations for the annual pilgrimage.

Source: https://iqna.ir/en/news/3471647/iran%E2%80%99s-supreme-hajj-council-to-discuss-2020-hajj-scenarios