MADINAH, 15 January 2006 — Tens of thousands of pilgrims converged on the holy city of Madinah yesterday to pray at the Prophet’s Mosque after successfully completing their pilgrimage in Makkah.
Large numbers of pilgrims visited the city in the first phase ahead of Haj, with many arriving directly at Madinah’s Prince Muhammad International Airport to spend a few days praying in the Prophet’s Mosque before heading to Makkah.
A visit of the Prophet’s Mosque is not strictly part of the Haj rituals, but most faithful see it as a must, before or after they perform the Haj.
With pilgrims streaming into the city in the post-Haj phase, Madinah Governor Prince Abdul Aziz ibn Majed instructed the concerned authorities to work around the clock to ensure the welfare of the visitors. All Haj-related government departments have been centralized under the direct supervision of the governor.
The police and highway patrol were on high alert to prevent speeding and ensure the safety of pilgrims. Ambulance teams were stationed along the highway to provide necessary services to pilgrims and other visitors.
The pilgrims came to Madinah with sad memories of Thursday’s tragic stampede in Mina. Some of them were on the Jamrat Bridge or near the site but all were happy to be in Madinah before leaving the Kingdom.
Iqbal Hussein, a Pakistani pilgrim, was in Madinah before performing Haj. He said that he loved to visit Madinah after Haj and that he had many relatives working in Madinah. “It is a different feeling to visit Madinah after Haj. The hard part of Haj is over and now it is relaxing to stay in Madinah until the departure date for returning home,” he said.
The president of the Haj Coordination Committee, Abdul Kareem ibn Salem, said that the pilgrim’s transportation from Makkah to Madinah went smoothly according to a detailed plan.
While vendors peddled worry beads, hats and other items to pilgrims getting off buses, municipal workers busied themselves to keep the place clean.
When pilgrims who came in the first phase had left for Makkah, visitors from within the country arrived in large numbers to spend their Eid in the Prophet’s City. As the locals began returning to their hometowns Friday, the city is gearing up to receive post-Haj visitors. Ibn Salem said that all government departments related to Haj had completed their final preparations to receive the large number of post-Haj visitors.
Hotel bookings in the central area around the Prophet’s Mosque are expected to peak in the next few days as more pilgrims arrive.
Hussein Al-Ansari, a businessman from central Madinah, said that business had picked up after a lull. He owns a gift store and expects his business will improve considerably as pilgrims buy gifts for family and friends before leaving.
“Pilgrims tend to buy anything related to Madinah before they leave. I own a shop in the date market and pilgrims love to buy dates too, especially the ajwa type because they grow only in Madinah and the prophet used to eat them. I expect my business will triple and so I am working around the clock to meet increased demands,” he explained.
