Umrah Rituals Restricted after Heavy Rains in Mecca
Mecca was lashed by torrential rains on Friday, causing flash floods that submerged cars. There were no casualties.
“A plan has been drawn up to preserve safety of Umrah worshippers during the rain,” said Riad Al Hazami, a deputy head of crowd management at the Grand Mosque, which houses the Kaaba.
He told Saudi television Al Ekhbariya that pilgrim groupings at the courtyard, where the circumambulation ritual takes place, had been suspended.
“They were transferred to circumambulation sites on the ground and first floors of the mosque,” he added.
In recent months, Saudi Arabia has unveiled a set of facilities for Muslims wishing to perform umrah at the Grand Mosque and visit religious sites in the kingdom.
The country issued four million visas for overseas Muslims to perform Umrah since the start of the current season in July, the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah said this month.
Muslims holding different types of entry visas such as the personal, visit and tourism visas are allowed to undertake Umrah in the Grand Mosque and visit Al Rawda Al Sharifa, where the tomb of the Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him) is located at the Prophet’s Mosque in Medina after booking an e-appointment.
Source: gulfnews.com
