Saudi Arabia’s hajj minister has asked Muslims totemporarily defer preparations for the annual pilgrimage amid uncertainty overthe coronavirus pandemic.
Earlier this month, Saudi Arabia suspended the year-round”umrah” pilgrimage over fears of the new coronavirus spreading toIslam’s holiest cities, an unprecedented move that raised uncertainty over theannual hajj.
“Saudi Arabia is fully ready to serve pilgrims andumrah seekers,” hajj minister Mohammad Benten told the state-runAl-Ekhbariya television on Tuesday.
“But under the current circumstances, as we are talkingabout the global pandemic… the kingdom is keen to protect the health ofMuslims and citizens and so we have asked our brother Muslims in all countriesto wait before doing (hajj) contracts until the situation is clear.”
Saudi authorities are yet to announce whether they willproceed with this year’s hajj, scheduled for the end of July.
The pilgrimage – which last year attracted 2.5 millionpeople – is a key revenue earner for the kingdom. But it could be a majorsource of contagion as it packs pilgrims closely in religious sites.
Earlier this month, Saudi Arabia suspended prayers insideall its mosques except the two holiest sites in Islam as it increased effortsto contain the new coronavirus.
The announcements risk riling fringe Muslim hardliners, forwhom religion trumps health considerations.
Saudi Arabia is scrambling to limit the spread of thedisease at home. The kingdom’s health ministry has reported 1,563 coronavirusinfections and 10 deaths from the illness so far.