JEDDAH, 14 February 2003 — Local pilgrims started returning home yesterday evening after performing Haj. The sense of fulfillment was conspicuous on the faces of citizens and expats as they drove back into the city.

“We had a smooth pilgrimage and the arrangements made for the entire family turned out to be perfect. We had no difficulty in performing the ritual of stoning the devil and all eight of my family members took part in it,” Abdul Kareem Ashmawi, a local businessman, told Arab News. A majority of the city’s pilgrims returned home by last night.

Arrangements at the holy sites had improved considerably, thanks to the expansion projects undertaken in recent years, another citizen said. “One distinct feature of this year’s Haj was the elaborate way arrangements were made available for the physically disabled. Until I reached Makkah I did not know how I would take my physically handicapped brother. But I found assistance readily available. In fact, wheel chairs were available in plenty. Boy Scouts, Red Crescent and other service organizations were such a great help, especially to those who lost their way,” said Ali Al-Saud, a 30-year-old businessman who runs a contracting company in Al-Andalus district.

Hajis in good health

JEDDAH, 14 February 2003 — This year’s Haj was free from contagious and infectious diseases, Health Minister Dr. Osama Shubokshi announced yesterday. “The pilgrims’ health is satisfactory,” he said after examining reports about the health situation of pilgrims in Makkah, Madinah and other holy sites.

Technical snag

MINA — Sameer Nuhas, director of Saudi Telecom Company (STC) in Makkah, said the mobile phone network was partly out of order at the holy sites on Monday, the day of the Standing at Arafat, as a result of a technical fault. However, he said a large number of pilgrims were still able to make calls that day. He said disruption of the network was to be expected when thousands of people were trying to make calls at the same time.

Focus on miracles

MINA, 14 February 2003 — Dr. Abdullah Al-Mosleh, secretary-general of the Organization for Scientific Miracles in the Holy Qur’an, yesterday gave a lecture on scientific miracles in the Qur’an at the Muslim World League as part of MWL’s cultural programs during the Haj season.

“Scientific miracles in the Qur’an should be highlighted during dialogue with other faiths,” Mosleh said. “It’s an effective cultural weapon, which could be utilized for dawa work and in defense of the Islamic faith.”

40 beggars held

MINA , 14 February 2003— Anti-beggary officials arrested 40 beggars, including women, in a raid around the Jamarat (the stoning area) in Mina on Wednesday, Al-Madinah reported. The beggars were all foreign nationals.