Hajj 2020 limited to Saudi citizens, expats

GENERAL SANTOS CITY: The National Commission on Muslim Filipinos ( NCMF) has announced that the Saudi Hajj Ministry is limiting this year’s pilgrimage to Saudi Arabian citizens and expatriates living in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia ( KSA).

In an advisory last Thursday, the NCMF said Saudi Ambassador Abdullah N. A. Al Bussairy confirmed to NCMF Secretary Saidamen Pangarungan the decision of the Saudi Ministry on Hajj and Umrah to limit Hajj 2020 to KSA citizens and expatriates residing in the kingdom.

Pangarungan learned of Riyadh’s decision about the Hajj 2020 restriction in a meeting with Al Bussairy held at the Embassy of the KSA.

“The Saudi ambassador explained that the decision was reached ‘ to ensure that the hajj ritual is conducted in a healthy and safe manner and that it meets the requirements for the prevention and social distancing necessary for the safety of the pilgrims, and to protect them from the dangers of the coronavirus disease 2019,’” the advisory stated.

The NCMF chief expressed the primary objectives of the Philippines and the KSA in fighting the virus globally and supporting the efforts of health organizations in limiting the spread of the coronavirus.

Performing Hajj in Makkah ( Mecca) is one of the five pillars of Islam and is obligatory or physically fit male and female Muslims who can afford the pilgrimage expenses.

More than 2 million Muslim citizens from different countries visit the KSA to perform the Hajj every year

For a devout Muslim, performing Hajj is a big fulfillment and a completion of the fifth pillar of Islam.

Last year, over 7,000 Filipino Muslims joined the annual religious pilgrimage.

ASANGAN T. MADALE