September 15, 2026
Saudi Arabia's National Early Warning Platform issued alerts in Mecca, Jeddah and Taif telling residents to seek shelter, the first such warning in the holy city since Houthi attacks intensified. Authorities later said the danger had passed.
March 30, 2025
Listen to the article Eidul Fitr is today celebrated in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and other Gulf countries, marking the end of the Ramadan sacred month. Mass gatherings for EID prayers took place at Masjid Al-Haram in Makkah and Masjid Al-Nabawi in Medina, with officials estimating more than two million worshipers. The celebration is based on the observation of the moon Shawwal Crescent, which varies by country and tradition. Kuwait and Bahrain are also celebrating Eidul Fitr today with great religious excitement. Neighboring Oman, as well as Indonesia and Brunei, will notice the EID on Monday. In
June 24, 2024
The Hajj pilgrimage is a deeply spiritual journey for millions of Muslims worldwide. However, the recent Hajj season highlighted the urgent need for improved safety measures and management practices. Many pilgrims, particularly the elderly, faced immense physical strain due to scorching heatwaves, which had been predicted in advance. Unfortunately, the healthcare system failed to take proactive steps to address these anticipated conditions, resulting in a significant loss of life and numerous injuries. Concerns also arose regarding the quality of services provided to pilgrims. The economic aspect of Hajj raises questions about the responsibility of Hajj providers, including Sheikhs, to ensure
June 14, 2024
Every year, millions of Muslims from all over the world gather in Mecca to perform the Hajj, the holy Muslim pilgrimage. The Hajj became obligatory for every able-bodied Muslim adult with financial means after the “farewell pilgrimage” of the Prophet Muhammad in 632 AD. Typically, two to three million people participate in the pilgrimage annually. However, due to the coronavirus pandemic, the number of pilgrims dropped drastically to 10,000 in 2020. The following year saw 58,700 pilgrims and last year the numbers rose again to one million. Hajj is a spiritual, emotional and physical challenge that tests the pilgrim’s patience
June 12, 2024
Muslim pilgrims arrive in the Saudi Arabian holy city of Mecca on June 11, 2024 ahead of the annual Hajj pilgrimage. — AFP Hundreds of thousands of Muslims have flocked to Saudi Arabia’s holy city of Mecca for the Hajj pilgrimage as the Zil Hajj religious celebrations began last week. One of the world’s largest annual religious gatherings officially begins on Friday, and officials in Saudi Arabia are trying to keep the focus on prayers. The Saudi minister responsible for religious pilgrimages, Tawfiq al-Rabiah, warned last week that “no political activity” would be tolerated. Hajj, one of the five pillars
June 12, 2024
SAUDI ARABIA: Hundreds of thousands of Muslims have gathered in Saudi Arabia’s holy city of Mecca for the Hajj pilgrimage, which is unfolding this year in the shadow of the Gaza war. One of the world’s largest annual religious gatherings officially begins on Friday, and Saudi officials are trying to keep the focus on prayers. The Gulf kingdom’s minister of religious pilgrimage, Tawfiq al-Rabiah, warned last week that “no political activity” would be tolerated. The Hajj, one of the five pillars of Islam, must be performed at least once by all Muslims of means, and as of Thursday, some 1.2
June 9, 2024
Muslim worshipers gather around the Kaaba, Islam’s holiest shrine, at the Grand Mosque in the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia on June 4, 2024 as pilgrims arrive ahead of the annual Hajj pilgrimage. — AFP 153,998 foreigners with tourist visas withdrawn. Authorities are also rounding up 171,587 others in Saudi Arabia. Over 1.3 million registered pilgrims arrived for the Hajj. Saudi Arabia announced on Saturday that security forces had removed hundreds of thousands of unauthorized pilgrims from Mecca ahead of the upcoming annual Hajj pilgrimage. Saudi officials have revealed that crowd management during the Hajj, one of the five
May 23, 2024
Islamabad: Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Interior has imposed restrictions on entry into Mecca for all persons holding visit visas during the upcoming Hajj period from May 23 to June 21, 2024. The ministry, in a statement issued on Thursday, said that visit visa holders are not allowed to perform Hajj, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported. The ministry advised visa holders who do not have a Hajj permit to avoid traveling to Mecca during this period to avoid penalties under Saudi regulations. Security and organizational measures are in place to ensure the safety of authorized pilgrims during Hajj rituals, he
May 23, 2024
View of the Kaaba as Muslim pilgrims offer prayers. — Radio Pakistan/Archive ISLAMABAD: In an effort to ensure the safety and security of pilgrims, the Saudi Ministry of Interior has restricted entry into Mecca for all persons holding visit visas during the upcoming Hajj season. The Hajj period begins today and will continue until June 21, 2024. In a statement, the Saudi ministry said visiting visa holders are not granted permission to perform Hajj, the Saudi News Agency (SPA) reported. The ministry advised visit visa holders to avoid traveling to Mecca without a Hajj permit during the period and warned
MECCA: Saudi Arabia released never-before-seen detailed images of the Maqam Ibrahim, or the Station of Abraham, located in Mecca’s Grand Mosque. The General Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques captured the details of the Station of Abraham with a new technique that uses stacked panoramic focus. A day earlier, authorities released similar high-definition pictures of the Black Stone– known as the Hajar Aswad in Arabic. Maqam Ibrahim is the stone that bears the imprint of where the Prophet Ibrahim stood while building the Kaaba when the walls became too high. The stone is enshrined with a gold,
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October 26, 2026
The Pakistan Daily
October 26, 2026
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