Saudi Gazette Report

MADINAH — The first batches of pilgrims arrived in Madinah on Wednesday to greet the Prophet (peace be upon him) and offer prayers at the Prophet’s Mosque after their successful completion of the annual pilgrimage of Hajj. These pilgrims, who hastened to leave Mina after performing the stoning rituals on Tuesday, headed back to Makkah to perform the Tawaf Al-Wida (Farewell Tawaf), the last ritual of Hajj, before their departure for Madinah.

All governmental and private agencies related to the Hajj work in Madinah have completed their preparations to receive the pilgrims and ensure their comfort during their stay for a couple of days in the holy city before their departure to their home countries.

Madinah Emir Prince Salman bin Sultan reassured on Wednesday the preparations for receiving pilgrims during an inspection of the operational procedures at the Prophet’s Mosque, coinciding with the arrival of the first group of pilgrims from Makkah following a successful completion of this year’s Hajj rituals.

Prince Salman thanked the security personnel and various agencies involved in the Hajj duties for their diligent efforts in serving the pilgrims.

The relevant sectors and authorities have enhanced their readiness to receive groups of pilgrims during the post-Hajj season. All arrangements and facilities are well in place to ensure the smooth arrival of pilgrims and unhindered flow of buses carrying the pilgrims to their accommodation in the Central Haram Zone where field teams work in their temporary centers. Security patrols are engaged in directing buses to their designated centers. The flocks of the guests of God will continue arriving in Madinah in the coming days.

Meanwhile, the Presidency of Religious Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques has launched the operational plan for the post-Hajj phase. Under the plan, the presidency has prepared a package of services, guidance and awareness material, religious lessons and initiatives, and activities to enrich the experience of the pilgrims who visit the holy mosque.

Sheikh Abdulrahman Al-Sudais, head of the presidency, urged the presidency employees to intensify efforts to facilitate the provision of religious services. The Iftaa Department at the Prophet’s Mosque is geared up to answer pilgrims’ questions and inquiries round the clock.

The mosque’s Department of Digital Guidance is employing advanced means of media and technology, as well as guidance robots for this purpose. The department delivers this in several languages, through qualified translators, programs, initiatives and activities, and paper and digital publications in Arabic and other languages. These elucidate religious matters in a way enriching pilgrims’ experience.