Over Million Pilgrims Stormed Mina Ahead of Arafat By Ibrahim Abdul,Mina,Saudi Arabia At least over than two million pilgrims have on Thursday stormed to Mina ahead of Arafat, on the first leg of their journey of a lifetime. Our correspondent now covering the event say that Saudi government’s agencies have made elaborate arrangements to ensure the smooth flow of pilgrims from Makkah, Madinah, Jeddah, Riyadh, Taif and Dammam into the tent city. The pilgrims are to spend the day and night in prayers and then head to the plains of Arafat tomorrow , Friday morning. The standing at Arafat is the high point of Haj. Since Wednesday , thousands of young men employed by Haj operators and pilgrim establishments had work assiduously to receive pilgrims, just as Traffic police, Civil Defense personnel, Haj Ministry officials, doctors, nurses, paramedics and media personnel continued to work. ‘’it’s very interesting to see Male pilgrims are adorn with the ihram, two pieces of white seamless cloth that is mandatory before undertaking the journey. The ihram for women is different. “We are excited and happy and also a little nervous,” said Mustapha Aliyu, 34,a pilgrim from Jimeta, Adamawa state capital. “Haj is not easy,” he said in an interview in Mina’s tent “It is physically demanding, but spiritually exhilarating.” Umar Ahmad and Mustapha Matazu were very happy to be here for Haj. “We can’t describe our feelings.,’’ as Matazu added that his relatives and acquaintances have asked them for prayers. “We have a long list of requests. We will beseech Allah from Mina and the plains of Arafat to answer our prayers,” he said. “We have come all the way from such a distant land to seek forgiveness and Allah’s mercy.” “It is the love for our Prophet (peace be upon him) and our beautiful religion that has brought us to the holy land,” said Muhammad Haruna Miga. The weather was pleasant on thursday and is expected to be moderate on Friday. A visit by our correspondent to some Nigerian tents was full of pleasant feelings. “Excellent arrangements have been made to ensure a smooth Haj,” said a Nigerian Pilgrim who simple identified himself as Ibrahim. In Jeddah, Riyadh and other cities, men and women could be seen heading in cars and buses to Makkah to perform Haj. They were chanting “Labbaik Allahuma Labbaik” (O God, here we are answering your call).,while onlookers were encouraging and smiling at the pilgrims and asking them to pray for world peace. Meanwhile, the Saudi Interior Ministry’s public security department has stopped 145,354 pilgrims from entering Makkah because they did not have Haj permits. In a statement issued, the department said that its officers also barred 51,112 cars without entry permits. “The department also arrested the operators of 40 fake Haj service companies and launched investigations against them.” Similarly, Hail police arrested 482 violators of Haj, labor and residency regulations. The operation was carried out by Hail Police Chief Maj. Gen. Ibrahim Al-Almaei, said Col. Saad Al-Horaish, assistant spokesman of the department. Legal action would take place against the violators, he said. The interior and Haj ministries have launched a campaign to counter bogus Haj companies offering services for domestic pilgrims. The Interior Ministry said such operators were exploiting ignorant pilgrims, whom they abandon at the holy sites without accommodation and other services. The ministry said it would severely punish such operators. The perpetrators would have to pay compensation to their victims. If they are expatriates, they would also be deported. In an unfortunate development, five pilgrims died and eight others were injured when their vehicle was involved in an accident on the Al-Leith-Makkah Road on Tuesday night. The Saudi Red Crescent took the bodies and the injured to King Abdul Aziz Hospital in Jeddah. Some of the injured sustained deep wounds. All the pilgrims, including two women, were reportedly not carrying Haj permits. The accident took place while the driver was taking them through a desert road to evade the police. An online publication identified the injured as Sudanese and Eritrean nationals.
Posted on: Thu, 02 Oct 2014 21:13:36 +0000
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