Only those ‘mahrams’ to be allowed who have not performed Hajj in 5 years: Saudi government

Riyadh: Saudi Arabain Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has announced that only those mahram (male guardians) accompanying a woman will be allowed who has not undertaken pilgrimage in the last five years

According to a report from Saudi Gazette, the ministry’s statement came after several inquiries inquired whether a woman wishing to perform the Haj can add a mahram who had previously performed the rituals.

It is noteworthy that the first pioneers of Hajj pilgrims this year arrived on  June 4, through Prince Muhammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Madinah, coming from Jakarta, as part of a delegation of 450 pilgrims.

Hajj officially begins on the 8th of Dhul-Hijjah and ends on the 13th day of the same Islamic month. This year it falls between July 7 to 12. One million international and domestic pilgrims will perform the pilgrimage this year.

The pilgrimage is one of the five pillars of Islam, a once-in-a-lifetime duty for every able-bodied Muslim who can afford it. 2020 witnessed an exceptional season for Haj, and in consideration of the “COVID-19” pandemic.

The number of pilgrims at that time was limited to about 10,000 from inside Saudi Arabia only, compared to about 2.5 million pilgrims in 2019 from all parts of the world