Hajj statistics for 2017

More than 2.3 million pilgrims went for the Hajj in 2017 (1438), reports the KSA General Authority for Statistics. This compares with 2.4 million pilgrims for the Hijra year 1429, and a peak of 3.1 million pilgrims for the year 1433. Nearly 1.9 million pilgrims went for the Hajj in 1437.

Domestic pilgrims have hovered between 500,000 and 700,000 since 1434, against over a million foreign pilgrims per year. Of the numbers for 1438, 209,415 were Saudis from KSA, and 390, 693 were Saudi residents from other nationalities. Nearly 14% of the non-Saudi domestic pilgrims came from Pakistan, the largest contingent after Egypt, followed by 10.7% of the cohort from India and then 9% from Yemen.

Other statistics included:

- Overseas pilgrims numbered 1.7 million. Just 1% of them arrived by sea, and another 5% overland; the rest arrived by air.

- GCC countries accounted for 35.3% of pilgrims, while 37.3% were from Asia excluding Arab countries.

- The majority of pilgrims arrived from the 19th of Dhul-Qa'adah, the month preceding Dhul-Hijjah when the Hajj is performed. Nearly 18% arrived from the 19th to 24th of Dhul-Qa'adah, with another 27% from 25-30 Dhul-Qa'adah. A quarter of the pilgrims arrived from 1-7 Dhul-Hijjah. The Hajj begins on the 8th of Dhul-Hijjah, ending on the 13th of the month.

- Almost 160,000 people were engaged in pilgrim services for 1438. This number excludes security forces. Some 86,987 people were managing welcome activities, supervision, energy, awareness-building and affairs for the two holy mosques - Al-Masjid al-Haram in Makkah and Al-Masjid an-Nabawi in Madinah. Nearly 31,000 people were involved in health services, and close to 36,000 in transportation. Telecommunications services accounted for 3,743 persons.

The Hajj statistics programme aims at providing comprehensive and accurate data on the number of pilgrims by means of transportation and date of arrival, for use in setting up plans and programs required for extending distinguished services to pilgrims, the number of pilgrims from Makkah is calculated based on a survey implemented by General Authority for Statistics.

Hajj statistics centres are located at all entrances to Makkah in KSA, as well as at other support centres in the cities of Jeddah, Taif, and Medina. The counting usually begins on the first day of Dhu al-Hijjah, and ends at 6pm of the 9th day of the same month. The counting process also covers the pilgrims from overseas who are counted by General Directorate of Passports at KSA's borders.

Explore:

View the 1438 report (PDF)

Nearly 350,000 pilgrims visit Madinah post-Hajj

As of September 14, 347,916 pilgrims have arrived in Madinah, KSA after performing their Hajj rituals for the 2017 Hajj season (1438), the Saudi Press Agency has reported.

According to daily statistics from the Madinah-based National Pilgrim-Guides Foundation 165,540 pilgrims have left Madinah, while 182,339 pilgrims are still in the city.

KSA shares Hajj by the numbers: 2 million pilgrims have arrived

Source: PRNewsfoto/Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. At the Hajj.

KSA has announced the arrival of 2 million pilgrims to Makkah with the annual Hajj pilgrimage underway. The KSA government is responsible for organising and conducting the world's largest peaceful global gathering under the supervision of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz, as well as Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman.

"Hosting Hajj each year is an honour and a great responsibility for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, one we hold dear to our hearts. We spare no effort when it comes to the well-being of pilgrims and our number one priority is to welcome individuals from all over the world as they seek to fulfil their religious and spiritual duty," said HE Dr Awwad Alawwad, Minister of Culture and Information.

To put the event into perspective, the KSA Ministry of Culture and Information (MOCI) notes that the gathering is equivalent to 46 times the average crowd per game at the 2014 World Cup and five times the number of foreign travellers to the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Among other nationalities, Saudi Arabia has as of 31 August welcomed:

• 184,000 pilgrims from Pakistan 
• 170,000 pilgrims from India 
• 127,000 pilgrims from Bangladesh 
• 90,000 pilgrims from Turkey 
• 41,200 pilgrims from Malaysia 
• 12,700 pilgrims from China 
• 6,000 pilgrims from the Philippines 

One of this year's oldest pilgrims is 104-year-old Mariah Marghani Muhammad from Indonesia.

About 94% of the pilgrims arrived by air. In order to reduce congestion and facilitate smooth passenger movement, the airports in Jeddah and Madinah have built dedicated terminals for pilgrims.

Some pilgrims travel by bus, minivan and car. This year, more than 30,000 vehicles have arrived. There are over 17,000 special buses operated by more than 22,000 drivers that transport pilgrims within the venue.

During Hajj, over 2.64 million meals are distributed daily. More than 2,000 Saudi Red Crescent Authority personnel have been deployed in Makkah, Madinah and other holy sites to provide ambulance services for pilgrims.

According to the Saudi Ministry of Health, more than 2,100 free medical procedures have already been performed on pilgrims.

Modern technology

Though the Hajj is one of the world's oldest pilgrimages, it also incorporates modern technology to enhance the experience of pilgrims and ensure their safety and wellbeing. To this end, every pilgrim has been given an electronic identification bracelet containing personal and medical information to enable the Hajj authorities to identify individuals and provide necessary care. The water-resistant and GPS-enabled bracelets inform the pilgrims about prayer times and feature a multilingual helpdesk for non-Arabic speaking pilgrims.

KSA's Ministry of Culture and Information has launched two portals - Hajj2017.org and SaudiWelcomesTheWorld.org - to provide further assistance to pilgrims, as well as keep the rest of the world, including global media, informed and updated during this period.

The Hajj concludes on September 4.

Interested?

Watch the video of Hajj 2017 from KSA's Ministry of Culture and Information (MOCI)

Over 700,000 pilgrims have arrived in KSA for Hajj

The Saudi Press Agency (SPA) has reported that Hajj arrival statistics from the KSA General Authority of Civil Aviation. As of August 14, 705,000 pilgrims have arrived to perform Hajj 2017.

As directed by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and the Crown Prince, King Abdulaziz International Airport and Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz International Airport have both stepped up on preparations to receive the growing number of pilgrims.

The SPA separately reported that the National Pilgrim-Guides Foundation for Arab countries received the vanguard of 4,500 Yemeni pilgrims in Makkah. They were received by the Yemeni Minister of Endowments and Guidance and Head of Yemeni Hajj Mission Dr Ahmed Atiyyah.

Dr Atiyyah commended the directives of the KSA government and the services to receive pilgrims. He said the full complement of Yemeni pilgrims should be in KSA by Dhulhijjah 2, 1438, estimated to be around 24 August 2017.

According to the SPA, the Turkish pilgrims guiding foundation has adopted the offered electronic guidance system for the Hajj. Traditionally, a leader guides a delegation at his discretion. With the electronic system, all movement to the Hajj rituals is systematic and organised.

In a workshop to explain the new system in Makkah, Majid Sibgha, the general supervisor for pilgrims guiding sector, said that under the new system Turkish pilgrims will leave their camps at a certain time, and follow preset routes to and from the Jamarat site.

Qurban.SG offers qurban in different countries

Source: Qurban.SG website. A sheep.

Qurban.SG is offering meat from sheep and cows from Australia this year.

The rites will  be held in a halal-approved abattoir in Melbourne, Australia, with the process will be inspected* by a Qurban.SG representative. The cut meat will then be flown to Singapore, where it is further butchered the meat into portions ready for doorstep delivery, or distributed to the needy in Singapore.

Qurban in Australia will be held on 1 September 2017, the first day of Hari Raya Haji. Delivery and donations will take place between 5 and 10 September 2017.

Those who would like to visit the qurban process firsthand can consider qurban in Johor, Malaysia. Families may witness the slaughter and an individual may also opt to slaughter the animal, with guidance from the team on-site.

For the 5th year running, Qurban.SG is also offering the option of qurban in Indonesia, with the meat to be distributed to the needy in Indonesia.

Qurban can be performed in in Semarang, Central Java or Pasuruan, East Java. It will take place in Pasuruan on 1 and 2 September, and in Semarang on 3 and 4 September. Different qurban teams will be deployed in each location. Distribution will be held in Semarang, Pasuruan as well as other parts of East Java. 

For those who wish to perform qurban in India, Qurban.SG is introducing qurban performed by the Musthafa Sabiya Educational Trust in Dindigul i Tamilnadu, South India, with the meat to be distributed by the charity in India. According to Qurban.SG, the Musthafa Sabiya Educational Trust is a registered charity working for the welfare and upliftment of poor Muslims and underprivileged people in Tamilnadu.

Qurban options are also available for the Trincomalee district of Sri Lanka; three locations in Cambodia; and in Vietnam. Fidyah (الفدية), money given to feed the poor for a day in compensation for a day of missed fast during Ramadhan, is available for Cambodia.

Interested?

Australia

Qurban for one name, S$330 for an Australian sheep

Average weight of meat flown to Singapore: 18kg 

Qurban for seven names, S$2,100 for an Australian cow
Average weight of meat flown to Singapore: 105kg 

Price includes delivery to the doorstep. Read the terms and conditions for Australia qurban, or order. The closing date for orders is 24 August 2017

Cambodia

Qurban for goats will be performed at Madrasah Darul Ulum, Hasyimiyah, Kampung Treas, Cambodia, and at Maahad Tahfiz Ibnu Abbas, Kampung Chey Soksan, Cambodia. Qurban for bulls and cows will take place at Phnom Penh, Kampong Cham Province, Cambodia.

Qurban per goat in Cambodia, S$300; three goats cost S$870

Qurban per bull or cow in Cambodia, S$998

Fidyah of S$4 for 4.5kg of rice, equivalent for three days of fasting missed, can be distributed to the poor villagers in Cambodia. Individuals may also pay S$13 for 15kg of rice, equivalent to 10 days of fasting missed.

Read the terms and conditions for Cambodia qurban, or order. The closing date for orders is 24 August 2017.

India

Qurban per goat in India, S$210; three goats cost S$600 

Price includes delivery to the doorstep. Read the terms and conditions for India qurban, or order. The closing date for orders is 24 August 2017.

Indonesia

Qurban per goat in Indonesia, S$210; three goats cost S$600

Qurban per bull or cow in Indonesia, S$1,350
Qurban for one-seventh of a bull or cow in Indonesia, S$200; Qurban.SG will combine orders so that it is seven names per bull or cow

Read the terms and conditions for Indonesia qurban, or order. The closing date for orders is 2 September 2017 at 6pm

Malaysia

Qurban will be held at:

Surau Khatijah, Jalan Abdul Smaad, 80100 Johor Bahru on 1 September, and at 

Pertubuhan Kebajikan Anak-anak, Yatim Islam Mersing, 3 Jalan Endau, Bukit Pedoman 86800 Mersing, Malaysia on 2 September. 

Please arrive by 7am on each day.

Qurban per goat in Malaysia, S$330; three goats cost S$960 

Read the terms and conditions for Malaysia qurban, or order. The closing date for orders is 24 August 2017.

Sri Lanka

Qurban for one name, S$210 for a Sri Lankan sheep

Qurban for seven names, S$770 for a Sri Lankan cow

Qurban for one-seventh of a cow in Sri Lanka, S$130; orders are combined so that it is seven names per bull or cow

Read the terms and conditions for Sri Lanka qurban, or order. The closing date for orders is 24 August 2017

Vietnam

Qurban in Vietnam will be conducted on 3 September 2016, in a village of Long Khanh Province, Vietnam

Qurban for seven names, S$1,250 for a Vietnamese bull/cow

Read the terms and conditions for Vietnam qurban, or order. The closing date for orders is 24 August 2017

*Due to Australian regulations, pictures of the animal before or after slaughter cannot be taken in the abattoir.

MoH in KSA has all in readiness to support Hajj pilgrims

The Ministry of Health (MoH) in KSA has further intensified its preparations and efforts to develop and equip its health facilities, and to ensure their readiness to provide healthcare services to pilgrims during the Hajj 2017 season, from their arrival to KSA via air, sea and land, through the rituals, and up to their safe return home. More than 29,000 health practitioners - including various medical, technical and administrative groups - have been commissioned to serve the pilgrims.

MoH has taken several precautionary measures, including developing health regulations to be met by all individuals preparing for the Hajj – based on global epidemiological variables, and circulating them to all Saudi embassies and consulates to be shared when issuing Hajj and umrah visas. MOH has also activated health control centres at pilgrims’ land, air and sea access points to provide preventive, therapeutic and ambulatory (outpatient) services. These centres have been enhanced with the necessary manpower and medical supplies (vaccines, preventive drugs, and much more), to operate 24x7 during this year’s Hajj season, the MoH said.

MoH has also launched campaigns to vaccinate the residents of Makkah and Madinah, as well as all individuals involved in Hajj against meningitis and seasonal influenza.

Hospitals and healthcare centres in Makkah, Madinah and the holy sites have been prepared. Twenty-five hospitals have geared up (four in Arafat, four in Mina, seven in Makkah, nine in Madinah, as well as King Abdullah Medical City in Makkah), with 5,000 inpatient beds, including 500 for ICU and 550 for emergency use), in addition to the Holy Mosque’s hospital in Makkah for emergency cases.

These hospitals are supplemented with 155 permanent and seasonal health centres across Hajj sites, including 43 health centres in Makkah, 78 in the holy sites, (46 in Arafat, six at the Muzdalifah walkway, plus 26 in Mina), 18 in Madinah, 16 on the Jamarat Bridge, as well as three advanced ambulatory centres around the Holy Mosque in Makkah. Eighteen medical points will operate on both sides of the train stations.

MoH has also prepared several facilities in Makkah, the holy sites and Madinah to treat heat stress and sunstroke cases, by securing proper ventilation using fans which spray chilled water, and increasing the number of beds in the holy sites' hospitals dedicated to heat stress and sunstroke cases.

The MoH Safe Surgery Saves Lives (SSSL) programme, featuring free specialised healthcare services, including open-heart surgeries, cardiac catheterisation, kidney blood and peritoneal dialysis, alimentary endoscopy, obstetrical cases, in addition to other specialised services needed by pilgrim patients.

For field medicine and emergencies during Hajj, MoH has prepared a fleet of 100 small ambulances as mobile intensive care units, to handle field ambulatory emergencies, in addition to highly equipped, larger ambulances.

JKMS reports all livestock orders taken up for qurban 2017

The Singapore Mosques Korban Committee (Jawatankuasa Korban Masjid-masjid di Singapura, JKMS) has announced that all 3,700 livestock to be imported from Australia have been taken up by members of the public.

Preparation of qurban will go on to the next phase. Preparations for korban at all 25 mosques are on schedule, JKMS said.

The price of each Australian sheep supplied by the approved korban vendor (AKV) for 2017 was set at S$485, S$5 less than the price in 2016.

JKMS would like to thank members of the community for their strong support towards qurban in 2017.

posted from Bloggeroid

Hajj pilgrims in Madinah surpass 373,000

The Saudi Press Agency has reported that 373,081 Hajj pilgrims have arrived in Madinah, KSA to date. The National Pilgrim-Guides Foundation in Madinah pointed out in its daily updates that 159,924 pilgrims have left Madinah, while 213,124 pilgrims remained in it.

The first batch of Hajj pilgrims to arrive for the Hajj 2017 season were a delegation of 360 from Indonesia, the SPA reported on July 30.

Internal medicine doctors needed for Hajj 2017 support

The KSA Ministry of Health (MOH) Hajj Visiting Manpower Committee has vacanies for temporary internal medicine physicians for the Hajj season 2017 (1438) in the following regions:

Madinah

From 20/11/1438 to 05/12/1438, 12 working hours daily
From 13/12/1438 to 29/12/1438, 12 working hours daily

Holy sites

From 6/12/1438 to 15/12/1438, 12 working hours daily

Interested?

Estimate the Hijri date. The 12th month of 1438, Dhulhijjah (ذو الحجة), is expected to begin around 23 August 2017, and the Hajj will occur from 8 to 12 Dhulhijjah.

Contact the Committee at tusalghamdi at moh.gov.sa with attached documents

Priority is given to early applicants, and those not already registered as manpower for the Hajj 2017. Vacancies are limited

Oman Hajj Mission set to leave on August 19

Sheikh Sultan bin Said al-Hinai, Head of the Omani Hajj Mission for the Hajj season of 2017, has affirmed that the mission is prepared for travelling both inside and outside the Sultanate.

In a report from the Oman News Agency Sheikh al-Hinai said that the mission will leave on 19th August and that all procedures related to the electronic registration system for Omani pilgrims are ongoing.

The transfer of Omani pilgrims' data to the Saudi Hajj Portal will start this week, resulting in the release of the pilgrim permits from KSA that pilgrims will need to enter the holy sites in KSA. The data transfer will also help Hajj companies to finalise contracts and services required by pilgrims in Madinah and Makkah.

He added that 9,000 pilgrims are confirmed out of the 14,000 pilgrims registered across 66 Hajj companies. Applications are being processed for replacement pilgrims.

Pakistan's MORA issues procedures for Hajj substitutions

The Pakistan Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony has released procedures around substitution hujjaj (Hajj pilgrims).

The ministry separately announced that a new committee has been convened to examine the profiles of Hajj companies for Hajj 2018. The committee is to have nine members, and will be chaired ny the Minister of State for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony.

Interested?

View the hujjaj substitution rules and regulations (PDF)

Oman shares Hajj 2017 plans

Sheikh Sultan bin Said al-Hiniai, Head of the Omani Hajj Mission, has shared that 23,490 Hajj applications have been received. In a report from the Oman News Agency (ONA) al-Hiniai is quoted as saying that 6,835 male and 6,357 female pilgrims have completed the procedures for going on Hajj.
"The Sultanate's approved share by the Ministry of Hajj in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is 14,000 hujjajs. The share has been distributed as follows; 13,438 Omani pilgrims including 736 for the official and military missions, 300 Arab pilgrims, and 262 non-Arab pilgrims," he said according to the ONA.

Approvals for Omanis are distributed across the governorates in proportion with census numbers as based on the National Center for Statistics and Information's initial data on population in 2016. Muscat's share is the highest with 2,566 pilgrims originating from the city. Twenty-one cancer patients will be going on the Hajj, and 11,728 are paying to go for the first time. Another 1,147 pilgrims are there on a voluntary basis, to accompany women.

The Omani Hajj Mission will leave for Makkah, KSA on August 19 comprising delegations from the Ifta and Religious Guidance, supervisors of Hajj service providers, the medical, administration and financial affairs officers, scouting personnel, Royal Oman Police, media and Financial and Administrative State Audit Institution.

A team will be sent to Madinah to prepare to receive pilgrims beforehand. Sixty-one approved companies will transfer Omani pilgrims and three other companies will transport Arab expatriates. A further two companies will handle non-Arab expatriate pilgrims.

Singapore to import Australian sheep for qurban 2017

The Singapore Mosques Korban Committee (JKMS) has announced that a total of 3,700 livestock from Australia will be offered for qurban at 25 mosques islandwide for 2017.

The price of each sheep supplied by the approved korban vendor Big Foot Logistic is set at S$485, S$5 less than the price in 2016. All sheep come from imported from Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA)-approved sources from Australia. JKMS continues to work with the AVA to explore the most suitable sources that meet the highest criteria of Singapore’s food safety, animal health and veterinary public health standards.

Qurban using Australian sheep will be conducted at all mosques that meet the requirements of Australia’s Exporter Supply Chain Assurance System (ESCAS) regulatory framework. All qurban centres will adopt the same standard operating procedures for qurban operations, which includes transporting, handling and slaughtering of livestock.

ESCAS is a regulatory framework implemented by the Australian government in 2012 to ensure that livestock exported from Australia to different countries are treated in accordance to the World Organisation for Animal Health’s (OIE) internationally accepted animal welfare standards. To comply, the Australian exporter must provide a report from an independent and internationally accredited auditor to certify that livestock to be exported meet the standards required from the farm to the point of slaughter. 


Interested?

Members of the public who wish to perform qurban can obtain registration forms in person at 25 mosques, or download the forms.

Two other Malay/Muslim organisations will also offer Australian sheep this year:

Muhammadiyah Association of Singapore
14 Jalan Selamat, Singapore 418534

Jamiyah Singapore
31 Lorong 12 Geylang, Singapore 399006

Registration ends 15 August 2017, or while stocks last. 

Read the FAQ (PDF)

Masjid Al Khair offers 140 sheep for qurban

Source: Masjid Al-Khair Facebook page.
Qurban poster.

Masjid Al-Khair is offering 140 sheep from Australia for qurban and aqiqah at S$485 each.

Interested?

Masjid Al-Khair is at 1 Teck Whye Crescent. Singapore.
Register at the mosque counter or call +65 6760 1139 with questions.

Eid al Fitr announced in most countries

GCC news agencies have reported that Eid al Fitr is to fall on 25 June with the exception of Oman, reflecting reports that the new moon has been cited in various countries. The sighting of the moon represents the end of Ramadhan and the start of a new month, Shawwal, as well as the beginning of Eid al Fitr.

The Saudi Press Agency said that adult witnesses had confirmed seeing the new moon of Shawwal after sunset on the evening of 24 June, so the Supreme Court in KSA has ruled that 25 June is Eid al Fitr of the year 1438.

The Bahrain News Agency has similarly reported that the moon-sighting committee in Bahrain has announced that the first day of Eid al Fitr will be 25 June. All ministries and public institutions in Bahrain will be closed for three days in conjunction with the holiday. 

WAM, the Emirates News Agency, reported that the moon-sighting committee in the UAE has ruled on 25 June being 1 Shawwal and the first day of Eid al Fitr.

The Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) said the Crescent Sight-Seeing Authority in Kuwait has formally announced that Eid al Fitr will begin on 25 June. KUNA separately reported that Qatar, Iraq, Lebanon and Syria will also celebrate Eid al Fitr on 25 June.

On 21 June the Oman News Agency had already reported on astronomical calculations conducted by the Department of Astronomical Affairs at the Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs on the visibility of the moon of the month of Shawwal on the evening of 29 Ramadan 1438, or 24 June 2017 in Muscat, and concluded that it would be "very difficult" and "almost impossible" to view the new moon at that time.

"As the moon will be in the conjunction phase in Muscat at 6:31 am and the moon will descend at 7:15 pm. The sun sets at 6:57 pm. This means that the moon will descend after sunset by about 18 minutes and the height of the moon will be three degrees," the agency cited the Department of Astronomical Affairs as saying at the time. 

After the moon was not sighted on the evening of 24 June, media in Oman reported that 25 June will be the last day of Ramadhan and the first day of Eid will fall on 26 June.

Kuwait announces Eid weather forecast, MoI's plans for Eid

The Kuwait Meteorological Center forecasts a hot day and night for the week of Eid al Fitr due to the Indian Monsoon, the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) has reported.

Abdulaziz Al-Qarawi, superintendent of the weather forecast, told KUNA that the maximum temperature will be between 44 and 46 degrees Celsius in the day for the first day of Eid, and between 29 and 31 degrees in the night. The second day of Eid, 26 June, will be marked by maximums of between 47 and 49 Celsius by day, and between 30 and 32 Celsius by night. The third day of Eid will remain relatively hot, he said.

KUNA has separately reported on the Ministry of Interior (Mol)'s preparations for Eid. The Director of the ministry's Security Media and Public Relations Department Brigadier Adel Al-Hashash has shared a security plan to control traffic at roads and intersections across the country as well as at border entry points. There is coordination round the clock among all security directorates and concerned bodies to carry out the plan, and negative behaviours like quarrels will be dealt with quickly.

According to KUNA, Al-Hashash appealed to parents to keep an eye on children in public places, and for drivers not to use their mobile phones while driving. He also urged people not to park at the places allocated to the disabled.

Oman, UAE announce Eid al Fitr dates

The Eid al Fitr holiday for employees at the ministries, public authorities and other departments of the State Administrative Apparatus will start from 29 Ramadhan, or 24 June 2017. Work will resume on 2 July 2017, with official working hours as they were prior to Ramadhan. The dates will be the same for the private sector, reported the Oman News Agency.

Private sector employees whose weekly-off days coincide with the holidays must be compensated.

Shawwal 1438 moon-sighting will be declared by the authorities. The Emirates News Agency WAM has also reported that dates for Eid al Fitr have been announced for the private sector. The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation has declared the Eid al Fitr holiday as an official paid holiday for all private sector employees in the UAE, to take place on 1 and 2 Shawwal. Shawwal is the month on the Islamic calendar that follows Ramadhan, and should occur at the end of June.

Moon sighting news from the Gulf region for 2017

The Supreme Court has called on all Muslims in KSA to sight the crescent of Ramadhan on May 25. If it is not sighted, then on Friday evening, May 26, 2017, the Saudi Press Agency has reported.

In its announcement, the Supreme Court called on whoever sights the crescent by naked eyes or through binoculars to report to the nearest court and register his testimony, or report to the authority of the region's centre in the area where the crescent was sighted to facilitate his arrival at the nearest court.

The Moon-Sighting Committee in the UAE has announced that the crescent moon was not sighted on 25 May, confirming that Ramadhan has not begun. The Committee has decided to meet on 26 May to see if they can spot the crescent moon.

A visible crescent moon on 26 May will mark the beginning of fasting for Ramadhan on 27 May, and the beginning of a month of tarawih prayers the same evening. If the crescent moon is not seen on 26 May, it implies that the next day is still the month Shaban and the eve of Ramadhan, and that tarawih should be performed from the evening of 27 May, with fasting to begin on 28 May.

posted from Bloggeroid

Requests to operate Hajj flights into KSA accepted till mid-March

The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) of the KSA is currently accepting requests for the operation of Hajj flights for the 2017 (1438) season.

Arrivals for Hajj flights begin 24 July, and end on 26 August. Departures begin 4 September for domestic flights, 5 September for GCC flights, and 6 September for chartered flights to other countries. The last day of the departure phase is 5 October.

Interested?

Requests to operate flights during specific times must be submitted not later than 14 March for slot allocation.

Singapore Hajj quota now 800

The KSA Ministry of Haj and Umrah has increased Singapore’s official Hajj quota* from 680 to 800 places, the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Muis) has reported.

Since 2012, the KSA authorities had reduced quotas for domestic and foreign pilgrims due to the major development and upgrading projects taking place in the vicinity of the Holy Mosque in Makkah, in particular the expansion of the Mataf (circumambulation) area. However, Singapore was not affected by the quota reduction.

Muis will contact eligible Hajj registrants on the waiting list regarding the additional vacancies.

Media reports from early this year have noted that various country quotas have been reinstated.

Interested?

Read about Muis' Hajj registration system

*Each country is allowed a specific number of Hajj pilgrims every year. The number is based on the formula decided by the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) in 1987, or 0.1% of the Muslim population in that country.