JEDDAH, 20 January 2004 — Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd yesterday urged all government departments and private agencies involved in this year’s Haj operation to mobilize all human and material resources to make the huge annual event a success.

Addressing the Cabinet meeting at Al-Yamamah Palace in Riyadh yesterday, the king said that Saudi officials extending excellent services to pilgrims would be awarded the country’s top Haj medals. He also urged the officials to work hard and seek the pleasure of God.

King Fahd welcomed the nearly 900,000 pilgrims who have already arrived in Makkah and Madinah ahead of Haj, which is set to begin on Jan. 30. More than two million pilgrims, including 1.3 million foreigners, are expected to perform Haj this year.

“The Kingdom has made all arrangements to ensure the security and welfare of the guests of God and help them perform their religious duties in peace and tranquility,” the Saudi Press Agency quoted the king as saying.

King Fahd urged the pilgrims to follow the Kingdom’s rules and regulations and keep themselves away from actions that would violate the sanctity and peace of Haj.

The Cabinet meeting earlier reviewed the Haj preparations made by various government and private agencies and urged Saudis and expatriates, who have performed Haj in the past, to refrain from repeating it in order to avoid overcrowding at the holy sites.

Saudis and expatriates intending to perform Haj must obtain special Haj permits from the Passports Department and the Civil Affairs Department before going to Makkah and Mina. Maj. Gen. Abdul Aziz Sajeeni, director general of the Passports Department, has warned that his officers would stop those who are in violation of the rules.The government has stepped up security in Makkah and surrounding areas, deploying additional personnel to control the enormous amount of traffic and ensure the smooth flow of pilgrims to and from the Grand Mosque.

Arafat Day

Saudi astronomer Dr. Zaki ibn Abdul Rahman Al-Mustafa, assistant supervisor of the Institute of Astronomical Research and Geophysics, has predicted that the Arafat Day, the pinnacle of Haj, would take place on Saturday, Jan. 31. He said the Hijri month of Dul Qaada would have 30 days this year and hence the first day of Dul Hijjah would be on Friday, corresponding to Jan. 23.

According to him, the Haj events would take place in accordance with the current Um Al-Qura calendar, which shows Dul Hijjah beginning on Friday. He said the new moon would be visible for 40 minutes after sunset and people would be able to see it without difficulty.

The Supreme Judiciary Council has urged Muslims in the Kingdom to look for the new crescent on Wednesday and Thursday in order to determine the beginning of Dul Hijjah and the dates of Haj events. Those who see the moon are requested to register what they witnessed at the nearest governorate office or Shariah court.

Fake Passports

Saudi authorities at King Abdul Aziz Airport in Jeddah, the main gateway for pilgrims, have sent back three African pilgrims who arrived at the airport with fake passports, Okaz reported yesterday. This is the first report of fake passports this Haj season, the paper said. The Passports Department has deployed more than 800 officers at the Kingdom’s entry points to facilitate pilgrims’ immigration procedures.

British Delegation

A British Haj delegation led by Lord Patel is expected to arrive here on Wednesday. Britain’s Foreign Secretary Jack Straw attended a function at the Islamic Cultural Center in Regent’s Park yesterday to launch the delegation including doctors and consular staff. Addressing the function, Straw said Muslims are part and parcel of the country’s multicultural society. “We are proud of the religious tolerance enjoyed by the followers of various religions in Britain including Muslims,” he added. Some 20,000 British Muslims are to perform Haj this year.