Saudi Arabia has announced that this year hajj will be for the “very limited”, adding that only the pilgrims already in the Kingdom would be allowed to perform the annual ritual as it moves to curb the biggest COVID-19 outbreak in the Gulf.
This will be the first time in the modern history of Saudi Arabia that Muslims outside the Kingdom would not be allowed to perform the hajj, which recorded 2.5 million pilgrims last year.
The move to stop people outside the kingdom from the five-day event, scheduled for the end of July, will have both political and economic implications on the kingdom as it comes after several Muslim nations back out from the ritual that forms the fifth pillar of Islam.
According to the Kingdom’s Hajj Ministry, the ritual will only be opened to nationalities already in Saudi Arabia. It, however, not specify a number.
“It was decided to hold the pilgrimage this year with very limited numbers… with different nationalities in the kingdom,” the official Saudi Press Agency said on Monday, citing the ministry.
“This decision is taken to ensure the hajj is performed in a safe manner from a public health perspective… and in accordance with the teachings of Islam.”
Performing hajj is a must for Muslims who have the capacity, at least once in their lifetime. However, this year hajj could be a source of contagion as it will see millions of pilgrims into congested religious sites.
The decision came as Saudi Arabia is fighting a major spike of the COVID-19 pandemic, in which the country has now recorded more than 161,000 cases, which is the highest in the Gulf region. The Kingdom has also recorded over 1,300 death from COVID-19.
Meanwhile, the Kingdom on Sunday announced an end to the coronavirus lockdown in the Kingdom and lifts restrictions on businesses, including cinemas and other entertainment venues.
