MADINAH, 15 December 2007 — Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims left here yesterday for Makkah after performing the Juma prayer at the Prophet’s Mosque in order to take part in the annual pilgrimage that begins on Monday.
Many of the pilgrims had arrived directly in Madinah from their respective countries to pray at the Prophet’s Mosque before heading to Makkah for the Haj. Saudi authorities have taken necessary measures to ensure the smooth flow of pilgrims to Makkah.
While delivering the Juma sermon, the imam of the Prophet’s Mosque, Sheikh Ali Hudaifi, urged Muslims to engage always in righteous deeds. “There are lots of opportunities for engaging in good deeds seeking the reward of God,” the imam said, adding that God will reward the faithful even for minor deeds.
“While Muslims engage in good deeds, they should also try to abstain from prohibited things,” Hudaifi said. “We should be careful to avoid minor sins as they will lead to a person’s destruction and failure in this world as well as the hereafter,” he added.
According to a report issued by the Haj Secretariat in Madinah, 797,017 pilgrims arrived in the holy city by Thursday. Of them 626,028 have left Madinah and only 170,861 are remaining there.
The largest number of pilgrims currently staying in Madinah is from Pakistan (25,421), followed by Indians (22,891). These pilgrims will also leave the city within the next couple of days.
Since the beginning of the lunar month of Dhul Qaada 401,567 pilgrims have arrived in Madinah directly on 1,444 flights, the report said, adding that other pilgrims came to the city by 16,726 buses.
The occupancy of hotels in Madinah, according to the report, was 80 percent and of furnished apartments 51 percent. The report pointed out that 661 pilgrims were treated in the city’s hospitals.
Meanwhile, the Charitable Warehouse in Madinah distributed packets of food among pilgrims as an expression of love and affection toward them from the people of Madinah.
“We have already distributed 2.3 million food packets containing milk, cake, dates and water among pilgrims this year,” said Abdul Rahman Al-Jarboue, director of seasonal projects at the charity.
The warehouse appointed 275 workers to pack and distribute the foodstuffs. “As many as 670,994 pilgrims have so far received our food packets,” Jarboue said.
