MAKKAH, 8 December — Two million Muslims gathered in the Grand Mosque in Makkah and the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah to attend congregational prayers yesterday with just one Friday left in the holy month of Ramadan.
The flood of pilgrims and visitors from a number of countries in addition to Saudis and expatriate residents flocking from different parts of the Kingdom was reminiscent of the crowded scenes during the Haj.
Authorities have made all preparations to welcome the huge number of pilgrims and visitors expected in Makkah and Madinah during the final days of the month.
All the concerned government departments under the personal supervision of Makkah Governor Prince Abdul Majeed were geared up to guarantee the smooth conduct of the religious rites.
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd and Crown Prince Abdullah, deputy premier and commander of the National Guard, have arrived in Makkah to spend the last days of Ramadan in the vicinity of the holy mosque.
In his sermon the Imam of the Grand Mosque, Sheikh Umar ibn Muhammad Al-Subail, appealed to the believers to increase their virtuous deeds so that they may be worthy of Allah’s greater blessings and mercy.
Sheikh Ali ibn Abdul Rahman Al-Hudhaifi, imam at the Prophet’s Mosque, focused on the importance of adhering to the teachings of the Holy Qur’an which was revealed in the month of Ramadan.
In Makkah, traffic police took special care to avoid traffic jams and bottlenecks on roads leading to the holy city since early morning.
Special parking lots were allotted for private cars and buses outside the city from where the Saudi Arabian Public Transport Co. (SAPTCO) was running a shuttle service to carry pilgrims to the Haram Mosque.
Muslims prefer to perform Umrah — the mini-pilgrimage — in the holy month of Ramadan because of the greater rewards it brings. A greater number of pilgrims are expected to come from 148 Arab and Muslim states as well as from countries with Muslim minorities to join the local people for prayer and Umrah next Friday, the last this Ramadan.
The Saudi government’s new policy allowed issuance of greater number of visas this year to those coming for Umrah from different parts of the world.
Muslims fast during the blessed month to rejuvenate their faith and strengthen their unity. It is a month of spirituality, magnanimity, forgiveness and brotherhood.
Ramadan is also the symbol of peace, charity and righteousness as the faithful compete with one another engaging in philanthropic and humanitarian activities as well as other virtuous deeds to win God’s reward.
