A total of 345 sick pilgrims of different nationalities were given assistance in performing Haj rituals on Friday. The sick included Saudi, Egyptian, Lebanese, Indian, Bangladeshi, German and other nationals.

Among the sick pilgrims, there were 218 from Makkah, 32 from Madinah and 95 from hospitals in Arafat and Mina.

They were taken to Arafat by a fleet of buses and ambulances organized by the Ministry of Health to fulfil the most important ritual of Haj: The standing on Mount Arafat (waqaf).

Standing on Arafat on this day is the most essential part of the pilgrimage, without which the Haj is considered void.

“The pilgrims were taken in a fleet composed of especially-equipped ambulances and accompanied by experienced health care professionals, fully prepared for any emergencies,” MoH spokesman Dr. Khalid Mirghalani told Arab News.

He added that assisting sick pilgrims in their Haj has become a sort of tradition and is being implemented by the Ministry of Health. “In the past years, the MoH has assisted between 300 to 500 sick pilgrims,” he said.

The practice stems from a moral responsibility to enable sick pilgrims to complete their Haj pilgrimage for which they have spent a lot of resources. Mirghalani stressed that the tradition of assisting sick pilgrims also comes in line with the teachings of Islam and is a part of social responsibility as well.