Saudi Arabia prepares hundreds of mosques for Eid Al-Adha prayer
DUBAI: Nearly 470 mosques have been prepared for the Eid Al-Adha prayer, Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Daawah and Guidance in Madinah announced Sheikh Fahad bin Sulaiman al-Tuwaijri, Director-General of the ministry in Madinah, said that 469 mosques and places of prayer had been equipped, both in Madinah and elsewhere. The Eid Al-Adha prayer will be at 6:13a.m.,
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Ceremony to replace covering of Kaaba to take place during dawn prayer of 9th day of Dhu Al-Hijjah
JEDDAH: The ceremony to replace the covering (Kiswa) of the holy Kaaba will take place during dawn prayer of the ninth day of the twelfth month of Dhu Al-Hijjah in the Islamic calendar (corresponding to Aug. 20, The ceremony of replacing the Kiswa will be supervised by 160 technicians and manufacturers, based on the tradition of the General Presidency of the Holy Mosque and
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Policeman who assisted pilgrim had no idea he was being filmed
Jamaan Al-Subyani, the policeman in the security forces of the Grand Mosque who took off his shoes and offered it to an old Pakistani woman pilgrim, said he had no idea he was being filmed and added that what he did was a natural conduct for every Saudi even if it was not documented by video film.
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Haj begins as over 2 million pilgrims converge in Mina
Col. Sami Al-Shuwairekh, director of the public relations and media department at the Public Security, Hatem Qadi, spokesman of the Ministry of Haj and Umrah, Mishal Al-Robaian, spokesman of the Ministry of Health, and Col. Muhammad Al-Qumash, spokesman of the Civil Defense Directorate, were among those who attended the press conference. Al-Shuwairekh said that all the government departments and agencies, including the Public Security, have completed their preparations to receive the pilgrims and offer them the best ever services and facilities. There are six security checkpoints around Makkah to ensure no pilgrim without a permit enters the holy sites. Hatem Qadi said that a total of 21,000 buses will be used to transport more than 750,000 pilgrims from Madinah to Makkah. “More than 18,000 inspections were carried out to ensure the quality of services being extended to the pilgrims,” he said. Addressing the press conference, Al-Qumash said that there will be 1,400 staff and 1,485 male and female volunteers for the Haj voluntary duties at the holy sites.
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800 journos in Saudi to cover Hajj pilgrimage
This year’s Hajj pilgrimage will begin Sunday evening - Anadolu Agency
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Pilgrims crowd Grand Mosque to hear last Friday sermon before Hajj
MAKKAH: Pilgrims packed Makkah’s Grand Mosque to hear the Friday sermon ahead of the start of Hajj. They listened to an emotional speech by imam Saud Al-Shuraim on the magnitude and significance of Hajj. Nearly 2 million pilgrims from around the globe have made the trip to take part in this year’s pilgrimage. Worshippers will head to Mina for the start of Hajj on Sunday
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Hajj is a joyful and moving experience for Taiwanese pilgrims
JEDDAH: The first time Asiya Yu saw the Holy Kaaba, the black, cube-like structure at the center of Makkah’s majestic Grand Mosque, she could barely hold back the tears. The 68-year-old, whose face radiates spiritualism, is one of 37 pilgrims from Taiwan performing Hajj this year. “This is not my first time; I came here and performed Hajj 10 years ago,” she said. “I never
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Library of Makkah Grand Mosque is ‘beacon of knowledge’
JEDDAH: The library of Makkah Grand Mosque, which is affiliated with the General Presidency for the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque, is one of the oldest libraries in the Islamic world. It was established during the second century AH at the beginning of the Abbasid period in 160 AH. It was named the Library of Makkah Grand Mosque in 1357 AH when King Abdul
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ThePlace: Al-Khayf Mosque in Mina
Al-Khayf Mosque: The Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance’s efforts to help pilgrims by offering them educational programs throughout this year’s Hajj season are reflected in a series of lectures being held at Al-Khayf Mosque in Mina, from Aug. 19 to 24. The lectures are divided into different schedules throughout the five days, ensuring that each pilgrim can catch
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Center to measure Hajj pilgrims’ satisfaction with government services
JEDDAH: The National Center for Performance Measurement (Adaa) has activated one of its beneficiaries’ measurement tools to assess pilgrims’ satisfaction with government services during the Hajj season. This measurement is in line with the Kingdom’s efforts to serve pilgrims and facilitate pilgrimage performance, and aims to improve services. It also aims to support the
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1,000 Egyptian pilgrims arrive in Makkah for Hajj
JEDDAH: Tears of joy and complex feelings flowed as 1,000 pilgrims — families of the martyrs and wounded men of the Egyptian army and police — arrived as guests of the King Salman for the Hajj and Umrah Program 2018. The pilgrims were given roses and Zamzam water as well as the keys to their rooms at their residence in Makkah.
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More than 7,400 employees to provide telecom services during Hajj
JEDDAH: The total number of employees providing ICT services for this year’s Hajj was 7,411, according to the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) data. The 24/7 services are supervised by the Communications and Information Technology Commission in accordance with authorized service providers. The number of branch offices of telecom services reached 69 offices in Makkah
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