Saudi Gazette report

OVER 1.5 million pilgrims, visitors and worshipers performed Friday prayers at the Grand Mosque in Makkah and the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah in peace and comfort after successfully completing their Haj rituals.

In Makkah, the pilgrims and worshipers began arriving at the Grand Mosque smoothly right from the break of dawn.

Authorities were seen exerting all their efforts to provide the pilgrims with the best possible services. The courtyards, gates and walkways were all ready before the arrival of the pilgrims and worshipers. The agencies made sure that the movement of pilgrims and worshipers was streamlined.

With temperatures around 40 Celsius (110 Fahrenheit) many pilgrims carried water and tried to help each other. Pilgrims who could not walk were pushed around in wheelchairs by volunteers and workers.

Regularly-spaced taps provided thirsty pilgrims with spring water. At all the Grand Mosque’s entrances, policemen controlled the movement of pilgrims who expressed joy and happiness for being in the proximity of the Grand Mosque.

They performed their prayers with devotion, tranquility and peace of mind amid an integrated system of services and arrangements provided by the government of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman and Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman as well as the nongovernment agencies. The services provided were supervised by the Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques within the second stage of the presidency’s Haj plan.

The circumambulation (mataf) area was full of pilgrims performing their farewell Tawaf (Tawaf Al-Wadaa) before their departure from the holy lands. The expansion of the mataf facilitated an orderly, methodical and systemized performance of the important ritual.

The pilgrims and worshipers were able to perform Friday prayer in full security and safety.

Copies of the Holy Qur’an were available in large numbers and were easily accessible. Chilled Zamzam water and plastic tumblers were easily available. Cleaners kept the Grand Mosque clean. Air-conditioners, fans, loudspeakers and facilities for hearing the spontaneous translation of the Khutba (Friday sermon) were available, aside from golf carts and wheelchairs to help the aged and people with special needs.

In Madinah too, worshipers started arriving at the Prophet’s Mosque from early morning. All the government agencies, the mosque’s administrations and the nongovernment sector exerted their utmost efforts to provide the best services to the worshipers. The pilgrims performed Friday prayer before departing from Madinah for their respective countries after performing their Haj rites.

The pilgrims expressed gratitude to King Salman, Crown Prince Muhammad and Emir of Madinah Prince Faisal Bin Salman for the best services they were provided.