JEDDAH, 24 January 2004 — The imam of the Grand Mosque in Makkah yesterday urged Muslims all over the world to stand united and discard their divisions, taking inspiration from the Haj or annual pilgrimage.

“The Haj in its unique form and content is a practical course that emphasizes the need to unify Muslim ranks,” Sheikh Abdul Rahman Al-Sudais told pilgrims who thronged the mosque

“The time has come for the Ummah, weakened by division, to make this season an opportunity to strengthen its unity,” the imam told the worshipers at Juma prayer.

The Haj, the fifth pillar of Islam, is the greatest manifestation of Muslim unity. Over two million pilgrims from around the world assemble in Makkah and other holy sites, wearing the same dress, chanting the same invocation “Labbaik Allahumma Labbaik” or “God, here I am answering you call”, and perform the same rituals.

Sheikh Sudais also urged the faithful to follow the moderate line of Islam and keep away from actions that would violate the sanctity of Haj. Nearly one million Muslim pilgrims have already arrived from abroad for Haj, which is to start on Jan. 30.

More than a million worshipers, including a large number of pilgrims from Iraq, attended Friday prayer in the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah.

Congolese Pilgrims

Saudi Authorities have lifted a ban on Congolese pilgrims after the World Health Organization confirmed that the African country is free of Ebola virus. “We are now coordinating with the Haj Ministry to lift the ban on Congolese pilgrims,” Health Minister Dr. Hamad Al-Manie said.

Congo’s Health Minister Alain Moka was reported to have said on Wednesday that Ebola cases, which had been confirmed in October in the northwest of the country, were now “totally under control.” Ebola is a deadly and highly contagious bleeding disease for which there is no known cure.

Haj Permits

Security officers at checkpoints will stop Saudis and expatriates going to Makkah if they do not carry valid Haj permits, Maj. Gen. Abdul Aziz Sajeeni, director general of the Passport Department said.

“We have deployed additional officers at checkpoints on the roads to Makkah,” Al-Madinah quoted Sajeeni as saying. Haj permits will be issued until Jan. 27, he said and urged domestic pilgrims intending to perfom Haj to obtain the permits before heading to Makkah.

Study on Jamrat

Saudi authorities have urged the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs to conduct a study on viability of expanding the stoning area (Jamrat) in Mina to hold more than three million pilgrims, Al-Madinah reported yesterday quoting Dr. Osama Al-Bar, principal of King Fahd Haj Research Institute.

“The study aims at resolving all the problems being faced now by pilgrims at Jamrat,” Al-Bar said, adding that researchers will start the study during this Haj season.