Okaz/Saudi Gazette

MAKKAH — Two pictures of Grand Mosque, one is crowded and the other one is empty, shot by prominent Saudi writer Suraya Alshehry and her artist daughter Nabila Abuljadayel respectively, speak volumes with regard to the presence of the faithful at Islam’s holiest shrine during the pandemic and post pandemic periods.

Al-Shehry’s photoshoot was on the Eid Al-Fitr day, Friday, April 21. Her picture showed the mammoth presence of over one million Umrah pilgrims and worshipers who thronged the Grand Mosque and its courtyards and spilled over to the roads and streets leading to the holy mosque.

She illustrated the magnificence of the huge gathering of the faithful to offer the Eid prayers in an air of spirituality and joyfulness marking the celebration of Eid, one of the two religious festivals of Muslims.

It also demonstrates the huge flow of pilgrims to Makkah from all parts of the world after lifting the coronavirus related restrictions by the government of Saudi Arabia.

However, the photo shot by Nabila Abuljadayel speaks volumes about the scant presence of pilgrims and worshipers performing their rituals at the Grand Mosque under strict coronavirus protocols and restrictions. Only a limited number of domestic pilgrims, including Saudis and expatriates, were allowed to perform Umrah during the pandemic period. Foreign pilgrims and visitors were prohibited from entering the Kingdom due to the travel ban imposed following the outbreak of the pandemic.