Today is the blessed Day Of Arafat on which Hajj is performed and a limited amount of people were allowed to perform pilgrimage this year by Saudi Arabia due to the widespread global pandemic.
With strict protocols and measures put in place to be observed by the pilgrims, Hajj 2020 began on Wednesday.
This year a mere 10,000 were allowed to perform Hajj amidst coronavirus spread whereas last year 2.5 million Muslims performed the Hajj.
Previously Saudi Arabia asked Muslims in March to put their Haj plans on hold and suspended Umrah until further notice.
Only Saudis and expatriate residents from various nationalities were allowed to perform the Haj rituals this year, as a precautionary measure to avoid crowds and stem the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.
The ministry said the decision had been made “in light of continuation of the pandemic and the risks of Coronavirus spreading in crowded spaces and large gatherings.”
The statement said: “A very limited number of pilgrims from various nationalities who already reside in Saudi Arabia, would be able to perform it.
Let’s have a look at Hajj 2020:
This year Muslims, the lucky few who are able to perform Hajj, have to keep in mind the SOP’s that have to be strictly followed while performing the blessed act.
Social distancing has been maintained, which is a new sight to witness, as previously Hajj used to be packed with not even a single space between the pilgrims.
Last night, “Ghilaaf-e-Ka’aba” was also changed.
Though the pandemic has caused life to halt, believers continue to show the love for the act of Hajj and its power on them.
A picture during Hajj that has gone viral is of a woman, a lucky woman indeed, who is seen praying with her hands in front of her to her Master all alone in front of the Ka’aba.
It is a sad thing to witness Hajj with such less quantity of Muslims in Makkah, but the believers yearn for the opportunity next year.
Muslims arounf=d the world who weren’t able to go and otherwise, are hard at work praying on this blessed day of Arafat today and the Ummah comes together in this act of yearning for the pleasure of Allah(swt).
