BY HARUNA  RAZAQ

As Saudi opens 100 doors around Kaaba
President of the Presidency for the Affairs of the Grand Mosque, Sheikh Abdulrahman Al-Sudais, has warned that pilgrims risk deviating from Islamic injunctions if they use the Hajj for political and sectarian gatherings.

“There is no room for arguments and disputes during the pilgrimage, Muslims should use the time at the holy sites to contemplate how to unify and solve problems in the Islamic world, which is currently weak and fragmented,” he said.

He said the Saudi authorities would deploy 15,000 employees in day and night shifts to help pilgrims perform their rituals.

Al-Sudais said the Hajj has specific rules that have to be followed by pilgrims if they want a successful journey. They should focus on monotheism as taught by Islam and not gather for other purposes.

He said Muslims must ignore reports falsely claiming that the expansion of the mosques in Makkah and Madinah would result in the destruction of Islamic heritage sites.

He said the yards of the Grand Mosque would have electronic signs to guide pilgrims. There would also be additional air-conditioning spread around the mosque.

One-hundred doors would be opened around the Grand Mosque to ease the movement of pilgrims, he said.

The presidency has opened a new office where people with disabilities can hire wheelchairs. In addition, it will translate the Friday and Eid sermons into four languages.

 Ogun pilgrims in Minna, praise Amosun on welfare

Over 1,200 pilgrims from Ogun State currently in Saudi Arabia for the 2014 Hajj exercise have arrived the Minna camp for a 4 day compulsory stay as part of rites of the exercise expected of pilgrims.

The movement of pilgrims which commenced at exactly 9.30 am Thursday morning was preceeded by the conveying of female and an elderly pilgrims followed by their male counterpart, and was concluded by 3pm Saudi Arabian time.

Going by this, all is now set for the climbing of Mount Arafat tomorrow, October 3rd 2014, which would be followed by a brief stay at Musdalipha and concluded with a 3 day mandatory stone throwing before returning to the city of Makkah.

Chairman of the State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Dr. Isiaq Yusuf stated that perseverance and supplications to almighty Allah remains the main essence of hajj, adding that they must remain steadfast in constant prayers in anticipation of the important aspect of Hajj exercise as stipulated in the Holy Quran.

“It is very necessary to always go to the Holy Ka’aba to offer prayers, but the task of completing all rites at the mount Arafat and Mina site which will last for 5 days, remains an important task for all pilgrims”.

He reiterated the State Government continuous provision of adequate welfare for pilgrims at all times, urging them to always ensure they maintain the status of good ambassadors of the State while  in the Holy Land.

The Amir-ul-Hajj, Imam Abdul-Qudri Junaid has also attributed relative development in the state to the visionary leadership been offered by Governor Ibikunle Amosun.

Imam Junaid gave this admonition during a special prayer session for continued success of the Senator Ibikunle Amosun led administration organized by a joint body of transport unions in the State, held in Makkah, Saudi Arabia.

Imam Junaid said that the unprecedented all round development been witnessed in the Gateway State within a short period of time has continued to amaze critics, noting that constant prayers and unfliching support are needed in order to achieve electoral success in the coming general elections.

He charged all pilgrims to always make the fear of almighty Allah their guiding principle as the commencement of full hajj rites approaches, urging them to always ensure they maintain the impressive record of character they have shown since their arrival in Saudi Arabia.

Also, Leader of the medical team of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) medical team who were on a sensitization visit to the Ogun State Pilgrims, Dr. Abdul-Quadri Bello admonished all present to imbibe the culture of clean personal hygiene and constant hand washing, so as to reduce to the barest minimum any unforeseen incident of outbreak of venerable diseases during their stay at the Minna camp for completion of the holy pilgrimage.