Saudi Gazette report

 

MAKKAH — Makkawi women have made it a habit for many years to visit the Grand Mosque on the Day of Arafat, when all pilgrims assemble on the plain.



On this day, the Haram is usually empty and women can easily do their Tawaf (circumambulation) and Sa'i (traveling back and forth seven times between Safaa and Marwah hillocks).



They usually stay in the Grand Mosque from early morning until late in the evening.



According to Makkah daily on Monday, the General Presidency of the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques has prepared a special dawa (call) program for these women.



The presidency will deploy about 1,000 female preachers to extend religious guidance to women visitors and answer their religious queries.



The preachers, who are qualified and well trained on dawa matters, will also distribute religious books, pamphlets and CDs to the Makkawi women.



Meanwhile, the presidency's department for the distribution of Zamzam water said more than 110 of its personnel will be supervising the distribution of the sacred water inside the Grand Mosque.



Head of the department Ahmed Al-Matrafi said more than 6,000 thermoses containing cold Zamzam water have been placed in various parts of the Grand Mosque.



"There will also be 316 marble taps and 267 steel containers in the Grand Mosque that the pilgrims can use to drink the blessed water," he added.



Al-Matrafi said the daily water consumption during the Haj season is about 1,511 cubic meters.



He added that 293 cubic meters of Zamzam water are sent to the Prophet's Mosque in Madinah every day.



On the other hand, the National Water Company (NWC) said as of early September it has produced 78 million bottles of various sizes containing Zamzam water.



The company is the main operator of the project of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah to provide Zamzam water to pilgrims.



The company also said it has contracted a specialized firm to package and transport the Zamzam water that the pilgrims will be taking home with them. It said 10 points of services have been established in the airports from where the pilgrims will depart.