By Olajide Olayioye
The government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has issued a statement which says only those residing in the country will be allowed to perform the 1441 H / 2020 AD Hajj.
Hajj is one of the five core pillars of Islam which a pilgrimage Muslim faithful who is financially is expected to perform at least once in a lifetime.
According to a statement released on Monday, the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah said the decision was taken to curb the spread of the dreadful COVID-19.
The Kingdom has confirmed over 161,000 cases of the novel coronavirus with at least 1,300 deaths.
The ministry, in the statement, said the country is committed to ensuring social distancing during the pilgrimage.
“It has been decided that Hajj for this year (1441 H/ 2020 AD) will be held whereby a very limited number of pilgrims from various nationalities who already reside in Saudi Arabia would be able to perform it,” the statement read.
“This decision is taken to ensure Hajj is performed in a safe manner from a public health perspective while observing all preventive measures and the necessary social distancing protocols to protect human beings from the risks associated with this pandemic and in accordance with the teachings of Islam in preserving the lives of human beings.”
Several countries, including Malaysia, Indonesia, Senegal and Singapore have announced that their citizens will not attend hajj this year.
Some other countries have advised their citizens to avoid participating in this year’s pilgrimage.
About 2.5 million pilgrims normally travel to the city of Mecca for the annual pilgrimage.
Saudi Arabia had earlier suspended the issuance of visa to pilgrims wishing to perform Umrah (lesser hajj) in its efforts to curb the spread of the coronavirus in the Kingdom.
Umrah is a pilgrimage or regarded as lesser hajj which can be performed by Muslims at any time of the year.
The Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Alh. Zikrullah Kunle Hassan, had recently stated that the Commission is waiting for the Saudi authorities official decision on the 2020 Hajj exercise before coming up with its own.
Hassan stated this early June at a virtual seminar hosted by Association of Hajj and Umrah Operators of Nigeria with the topic: “The Future of Hajj and Umrah operations After the Pandemic”.
