Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Hajj

Last updated
Kaaba in July 2021, during COVID-19 restrictions Mecca, July 2021 25.jpg
Kaaba in July 2021, during COVID-19 restrictions

The COVID-19 pandemic affected the 2020 Hajj (pilgrimage), which is the fifth pillar of the Five Pillars of Islam, [1] where millions of Muslims from around the world visit Mecca and Medina every year during Hajj season for a week. Over 2,400,000 pilgrims attended Hajj in 2019. [2] Due to the highly contagious nature of COVID-19 in crowded places, various international travel restrictions, and social distancing recommendations, the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah advised Muslims to postpone their pilgrimage until the pandemic was mitigated. [3] However, in June 2020, the Ministry opened up Hajj to people of all nationalities residing in Saudi Arabia, with foreigners still banned from attending to ensure pilgrims' safety and prevent the transmission of COVID-19. [4] [5]

Contents

In April 2022, Saudi Arabia eased COVID-19 restrictions and increased Hajj capacity. One million pilgrims from inside and outside the country are allowed to participate in the Hajj. [6]

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic is an ongoing global pandemic caused by coronavirus disease 2019. [7] The outbreak of the virus was first noted in Wuhan, China in early December 2019. [8] On 30 January 2020, COVID-19 was declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern by the World Health Organization, and was declared a pandemic on 11 March 2020. [9] [10] The transmission of COVID-19 occurs mainly through personal contact with a carrier of the virus, which makes it highly contagious in small spaces where human contact is inevitable. [11] [12] [13] COVID-19 can be transmitted through contaminated objects that were touched or coughed on by an infected person. [14] [15] [16]

Historical cancellations of Hajj

Hajj (pilgrimage) has been cancelled 40 times through the history of Islam due to disease outbreaks, political disagreements, and battles. [17] [18] In 930-940 CE (318-328 AH), Hajj was canceled due to the Qarmatian attack, which led to the murder of 30,000 pilgrims and the looting of the Black Stone. [19] [20] In 1831, Hajj was suspended after the arrival of Indian pilgrims in Mecca led to the outbreak of a new plague, which is claimed to have killed more than half of the pilgrims in Mecca. [20] The first outbreak of cholera in Mecca occurred in 1846, killing more than 15,000 and causing a citywide plague lasting until 1850. A second outbreak of cholera happened in 1858, leading to pilgrims being quarantined inside Hajj camps in Egypt. [18] [21]

Hajj 2020

In February 2020, Saudi Arabia closed the two holy sites of Mecca and Medina to halt the spread of the virus, but reopened in early March. Later, measures were taken by the Saudi government to mitigate an outbreak of COVID-19, such as imposing a 24-hour curfew in Mecca and Medina. [22] [23]

Participant selection

On 23 June 2020, Saudi Arabia announced Hajj would be held for a limited number of pilgrims who resided within the country due to the high risk of COVID-19. [24] [25] The Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah imposed restrictions to the type of pilgrims who can attend Hajj in 2020, only healthy Saudi residents between the ages of 20 and 50 with no COVID-19 symptoms were allowed to participate. [26] [27] [28] Participants had to first apply online, and preference was given to those who had not attended in the past. [29] Pilgrims were chosen from the COVID-19 recovery database, 70% of them were non-Saudi residents. [30]

Only ten thousand pilgrims were expected, as opposed to over two million in previous years. [31]

Safety measures

The Saudi Ministry of Health reported taking serious measures during the Hajj 2020. Pilgrims who were not affected by the virus were required to quarantine themselves at hotel rooms or at their homes if they lived close enough to Mecca for a week prior to the arrival to perform Hajj. [32] Inside the mosque, pilgrims were asked to maintain a safe social distance of two meters, and were separated into groups of 20 individuals who were accompanied by a guide through their whole Hajj performance. [33]

Hajj 2021

On 12 June 2021, Saudi authorities banned foreign visitors for the second consecutive year and limited the pilgrimage to 60,000 people. It also imposed as condition that people participating be between the ages of 18 and 65, vaccinated and without chronic diseases. [34] [35]

International reactions

On 15 May 2020, the Singapore Muslims Council (MUIS) advised pilgrims to skip Hajj that year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

On 2 June 2020, the Indonesian Minister of Religious Affairs declared cancelling the 2020 Hajj before any groups of Indonesian pilgrims headed to Mecca. [36] [37]

On 6 June 2020, the Indian Hajj Committee announced it would provide refunds to all the pilgrims who were unable to attend Hajj in 2020. [38] [39]

On 11 June 2020, Malaysia announced it was barring pilgrims from attending Hajj in 2020 out of concerns over the danger of COVID-19, and the high spreadability of the virus in crowded places. [40] [41]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mecca</span> Holiest city in Islam, Saudi Arabian provincial capital

Mecca is the capital of Mecca Province in the Hejaz region of western Saudi Arabia and the holiest city in Islam. It is 70 km (43 mi) inland from Jeddah on the Red Sea, in a narrow valley 277 m (909 ft) above sea level. Its last recorded population was 2,385,509 in 2022. Its metropolitan population in 2022 is 2.4 million, making it the third-most populated city in Saudi Arabia after Riyadh and Jeddah. Around 44.5% of the population are Saudi citizens and around 55.5% are foreigners from other Muslim countries. Pilgrims more than triple the population number every year during the Ḥajj pilgrimage, observed in the twelfth Hijri month of Dhūl-Ḥijjah. With over 10.8 million international visitors in 2023, Mecca was one of the 10 most visited cities in the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Medina</span> City in Medina Province, Saudi Arabia

Medina, officially Al-Madinah al-Munawwarah and also commonly simplified as Madīnah or Madinah, is the capital of Medina Province in the Hejaz region of western Saudi Arabia. It is one of the oldest and most important places in Islamic history. One of the most sacred cities in Islam, the population as of 2022 is 1,411,599, making it the fourth-most populous city in the country. Around 58.5% of the population are Saudi citizens and 41.5% are foreigners. Located at the core of the Medina Province in the western reaches of the country, the city is distributed over 589 km2 (227 sq mi), of which 293 km2 (113 sq mi) constitutes the city's urban area, while the rest is occupied by the Hejaz Mountains, empty valleys, agricultural spaces and older dormant volcanoes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1987 Mecca incident</span> Clash between Shia pilgrims and Saudi Arabian security forces

On 31 July 1987, during the Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca, a clash between Shia pilgrim demonstrators and the Saudi Arabian security forces resulted in the death of more than 400 people. The event has been variously described as a "riot" or a "massacre". It developed from increasing tensions between Shia Iran and Sunni Saudi Arabia since the 1979 Iranian Revolution. Since 1981, Iranian pilgrims have held a political demonstration against Israel and the United States every year at Hajj, but in 1987, a cordon of Saudi police and the Saudi Arabian National Guard sealed part of the planned demonstration route, resulting in a confrontation between them and the pilgrims. This escalated into a violent clash, followed by a deadly stampede.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Umrah</span> Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca

The Umrah is an Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, the holiest city for Muslims, located in the Hejazi region of Saudi Arabia. It can be undertaken at any time of the year, in contrast to the Ḥajj, which has specific dates according to the Islamic lunar calendar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Incidents during the Hajj</span> History of accidents during the annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca

There have been numerous incidents during the Hajj, the Muslim pilgrimage to the cities of Mecca and Medina, that have caused loss of life. Every follower of Islam is required to visit Mecca and Medina during the Hajj at least once in their lifetime, if able to do so; according to Islam, the pilgrimage is one of the Five Pillars of Islam. During the month of the Hajj, Mecca and Medina must cope with as many as three million pilgrims.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Haj subsidy</span> Subsidy given to Hajj pilgrims by Govt of India

The Haj subsidy was a subsidy based on religion that was given to Hajj pilgrims by the Government of India in the form of discounted air fare so that a pilgrim can fly to Mecca for Hajj. The policy has always been controversial until it was abolished under the ruling of the Indian judicial organs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rabigh</span> City in Makkah Province, Saudi Arabia

Rabigh is a city and governorate in the Province of Makkah of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, situated on the coast of the Red Sea, around 208 km (129 mi) northwest of Mecca in the historic Hejazi region. The city had an estimated population of 180,352 in 2014 and is situated at an elevation of 13 m (43 ft) above sea level, close to the border with the Madinah Province. The city dates back to the era before the advent of Islam in the 7th century C.E., and up to the 17th century, was known as Al-Juhfah, or Al-Johfah.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kaaba</span> Building at the center of Islams most important mosque, the Masjid al-Haram

The Kaaba, sometimes referred to as al-Ka'ba al-Musharrafa, is a stone building at the center of Islam's most important mosque and holiest site, the Masjid al-Haram in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. It is considered by Muslims to be the Bayt Allah and is the qibla for Muslims around the world. The current structure was built after the original building was damaged by fire during the siege of Mecca by Umayyads in 683 AD.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hajj</span> Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca

Hajj is an annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, the holiest city for Muslims. Hajj is a mandatory religious duty for Muslims that must be carried out at least once in their lifetime by all adult Muslims who are physically and financially capable of undertaking the journey, and of supporting their family during their absence from home.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ministry of Health (Saudi Arabia)</span> Saudi Arabian ministry of Health

The Ministry of Health, commonly abbreviated to MoH, is the ministry overseeing the health care and health policy of Saudi Arabia. The ministry is tasked with formulating strategies to ensure public health in the country, while also managing crucial health infrastructure.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Masjid al-Haram</span> Islams holiest mosque in Mecca, Saudi Arabia

Masjid al-Haram, also known as the Sacred Mosque or the Great Mosque of Mecca, is considered to be the most significant mosque in Islam. It encloses the vicinity of the Kaaba in Mecca, in the Mecca Province of Saudi Arabia. It is among the pilgrimage sites associated with the Hajj, which every Muslim must perform at least once in their lives if able. It is also the main site for the performance of ʿUmrah, the lesser pilgrimage that can be undertaken any time of the year. The rites of both pilgrimages include circumambulating the Kaaba within the mosque. The Great Mosque includes other important significant sites, such as the Black Stone, the Zamzam Well, Maqam Ibrahim, and the hills of Safa and Marwa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MERS outbreak</span> Epidemic of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus

Since 2012, an outbreak of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus has affected several countries, primarily in its namesake, the Middle East. The virus, which causes Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), is a novel coronavirus that was first identified in a patient from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on 6 June 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of the Hajj</span>

The hajj is a pilgrimage to Mecca performed by millions of Muslims every year, coming from all over the Muslim world. Its history goes back many centuries. The present pattern of the Islamic Hajj was established by Islamic prophet Muhammad, around 632 CE, who reformed the existing pilgrimage tradition of the pagan Arabs. According to Islamic tradition, the hajj dates from thousands of years earlier, from when Abraham, upon God's command, built the Kaaba. This cubic building is considered the most holy site in Islam and the rituals of the hajj include walking repeatedly around it.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ahmadiyya in Saudi Arabia</span> Islam in Saudi Arabia

Ahmadiyya is a persecuted branch of Islam in Saudi Arabia. Although there are many foreign workers and Saudi citizens belonging to the Ahmadiyya movement in Saudi Arabia, Ahmadis are officially banned from entering the country and from performing the pilgrimage to Mecca and Medina. This has led to criticisms from multiple human rights organizations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2015 Mina stampede</span> Fatal Mecca crowd crush during the Hajj

On 24 September 2015, a fatal crowd crush resulted in the death of more than 2,000 individuals, many of whom were suffocated or crushed, during the annual Hajj pilgrimage in Mina, Mecca, Saudi Arabia, making it the deadliest Hajj disaster in history. Estimates of the number of dead vary: the Associated Press reported 2,411 dead, while Agence France-Presse reported 2,236 killed. Based on the total of the individual national reports cited in the table below, at least 2,431 people died. The government of Saudi Arabia officially reported two days after the event that there had been 769 deaths and 934 injured. These figures remained official at the time of the next year's Hajj and were never updated. The largest number of victims were from Iran, followed by Mali and Nigeria.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bilkisu Yusuf</span> Nigerian journalist

Bilkisu Yusuf, also known as Hajiya Bilkisu Yusuf,, was a Nigerian journalist, columnist and editor for prominent newspapers in Abuja, Kano and Kaduna, Nigeria. She is known in Nigeria for being the first woman to direct a national newspaper operation and served as editor for two more. She was a Hausa, Muslim, feminist, of Yoruba descent and advocate for interfaith society, who was known for being an adviser to the Nigerian President on International Affairs and the founding of NGOs, such as Women In Nigeria (WIN) and the Federation of Muslim Women's Association (FOMWAN). Yusuf was killed in the 2015 Mina stampede while on Haj in Mecca, Saudi Arabia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ministry of Hajj and Umrah (Saudi Arabia)</span> Government ministry in Saudi Arabia which is tasked with Hajj and Umrah related issues

The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah (MHU) (Arabic: وزارة الحج والعمرة) is a government ministry in Saudi Arabia which is responsible for supervising the facilitation of essential services to the pilgrims arriving in the country for Hajj and Umrah purposes, including overseeing their secure transportation and movement to the holy cities of Mecca and Medina.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">COVID-19 pandemic in Saudi Arabia</span> Ongoing COVID-19 viral pandemic in Saudi Arabia

The COVID-19 pandemic in Saudi Arabia is part of the worldwide pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. The first case in the kingdom was confirmed by the Ministry of Health on 2 March 2020 and in the following months, the kingdom held the highest number of confirmed cases in the Arab states of the Persian Gulf.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hajj certificates</span> Certificate of Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca

Hajj certificates are official documents certifying that one has completed the Hajj, the Islamic obligatory pilgrimage to Mecca. The certificates also serve as personal and family mementos used to commemorate their pilgrimage. Certificates have origins in the 11th century and have had many variations in style and content over the centuries.

References

  1. ↑ "Pillars of Islam - Oxford Islamic Studies Online". www.oxfordislamicstudies.com. Archived from the original on 11 February 2009. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
  2. ↑ "Abstract of Hajj Statistics 1440 H" (PDF).
  3. ↑ "Saudi Arabia asks Muslims to delay Hajj bookings". BBC News. 1 April 2020. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
  4. ↑ Hamdi Alkhshali; Larry Register (22 June 2020). "Saudi Arabia says Hajj pilgrimage is on -- with limited numbers". CNN. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
  5. ↑ "Ministry of Hajj and Umrah: Hajj 1441H Is Decided to Take Place This Year with Limited Number of Pilgrims from All Nationalities Residing in Saudi Arabia The official Saudi Press Agency". www.spa.gov.sa. Retrieved 23 June 2020.
  6. ↑ "Saudi Arabia to Allow 1 Million Hajj Pilgrims This Year". VOA. 8 April 2022. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
  7. ↑ "Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) SITUATION REPORT" (PDF).
  8. ↑ "WHO urges countries to ensure the continuity of malaria services in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic". www.who.int. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
  9. ↑ "WHO announces COVID-19 outbreak a pandemic". www.euro.who.int. Archived from the original on 26 June 2020. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
  10. ↑ "The WHO Just Declared Coronavirus COVID-19 a Pandemic". Time. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
  11. ↑ April 2020, Tia Ghose-Assistant Managing Editor 07 (7 April 2020). "How are people being infected with COVID-19?". livescience.com. Retrieved 28 June 2020.{{cite web}}: |first= has generic name (help)CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  12. ↑ "Modes of transmission of virus causing COVID-19: implications for IPC precaution recommendations". www.who.int. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
  13. ↑ "Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)". Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 11 February 2020. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
  14. ↑ "How does COVID-19 spread?". SGH. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
  15. ↑ "WHO Western Pacific | COVID-19 information for the public". www.who.int. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
  16. ↑ "Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)". Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 11 February 2020. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
  17. ↑ "Hajj has been cancelled 40 times in history". The Siasat Daily. 14 April 2020. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
  18. 1 2 Chitwood, Ken (23 April 2020). "Hajj cancellation due to coronavirus is not the first time plague has disrupted this Muslim pilgrimage". The Conversation. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
  19. ↑ "The Hajj Has Been Canceled 40 Times In The History". The Islamic Information. 4 April 2020. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
  20. 1 2 Team, T. M. V. (2 April 2020). "A Brief Look At When Hajj Was Cancelled In History - TMV" . Retrieved 28 June 2020.
  21. ↑ "Hajj It has stopped in history more than 40 times .. Will it stop again because of Corona virus?". www.arabiaweather.com. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
  22. ↑ "Saudi Arabia reopens Mecca, Madinah holy sites after coronavirus closure". gulfnews.com. 6 March 2020. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
  23. ↑ "Saudi Arabia reopens Mecca, Medina holy sites after coronavirus closure: state TV". Reuters. 6 March 2020. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
  24. ↑ "Arab countries welcome Saudi Arabia's decision on Hajj 2020". Arab News. 23 June 2020. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
  25. ↑ "Coronavirus: WHO backs Saudi Arabia's decision to hold limited Haj 2020". AlKhaleej Today (in Arabic). 25 June 2020. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
  26. ↑ Hamdi Alkhshali; Larry Register (22 June 2020). "Saudi Arabia says Hajj pilgrimage is on -- with limited numbers". CNN. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
  27. ↑ Henley, Jon; Sherwood, Harriet; correspondent, Religion (23 June 2020). "Global report: Covid-19 restricts hajj and Germany locks down district". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 28 June 2020.
  28. ↑ "Saudi considers limiting hajj pilgrims amid coronavirus fears". Middle East Monitor. 9 June 2020. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
  29. ↑ "Watch again: Pilgrims arrive in Saudi Arabia for first day of Hajj, as COVID-19 reshapes experience". euronews. Saudi Arabia. 29 July 2020. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
  30. ↑ "Ministry of Hajj and Umrah: Selection of Hajj 2020 Pilgrims to Follow Rigorous Health Standards The official Saudi Press Agency". www.spa.gov.sa. Retrieved 9 August 2020.
  31. ↑ "Scaled back Hajj pilgrimage due to start". BBC News. 29 July 2020. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
  32. ↑ "Coronavirus: Saudi Arabia welcomes Hajj pilgrims under strict COVID-19 measures". Al Arabiya English. 25 July 2020. Retrieved 9 August 2020.
  33. ↑ "Coronavirus: WHO chief hails Saudi Arabia's COVID-19 measures during Hajj". Al Arabiya English. 31 July 2020. Retrieved 9 August 2020.
  34. ↑ "Saudi Arabia bars foreign pilgrims from Hajj due to COVID". Al Jazeera. 12 June 2021. Retrieved 12 June 2021.
  35. ↑ "Saudi Arabia Says Hajj Will Be Limited To 60,000 People, All From Within The Kingdom". NPR. 12 June 2021. Retrieved 12 June 2021.
  36. ↑ "Indonesia Cancels Hajj Pilgrimage, Citing Risks Of Travel During Pandemic". NPR.org. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
  37. ↑ "'It's impossible': Indonesia holds firm on haj cancellation". The Jakarta Post. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
  38. ↑ "Hajj cancelled for Indian pilgrims for this year; to receive full refund through direct transfer: Govt". www.timesnownews.com. 23 June 2020. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
  39. ↑ "Coronavirus | Haj unlikely this year for Indian Muslims, say sources". The Hindu. PTI. 6 June 2020. ISSN   0971-751X . Retrieved 28 June 2020.
  40. ↑ "Malaysia bars citizens from haj pilgrimage on coronavirus fears". Reuters. 11 June 2020. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
  41. ↑ "Malaysia Joins Nations Pulling Out of Hajj Pilgrimage Over COVID-19 Concerns". BenarNews. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.