MOSCOW, 20 APR – RIA Novosti. In the Muslim community of Russia has not excluded that this year because of the pandemic coronavirus rite of Hajj – the annual pilgrimage to Islamic shrines in Mecca and Medina – will be canceled.
“it is too early to confirm or to refute, there will be a Hajj or not, but for some indicators, which are today, you can be prepared for the fact that this year maybe the rites of the Hajj will not be held”, – said Monday the head of the Spiritual Council of Muslims of Russia (DSMR) mufti Albir Krganov, during an online briefing in MIA “Russia today”.
this year, the Hajj was scheduled for the end of July.
Speaking about possible cancellation of the Hajj, mufti said that Saudi Arabia, the host of pilgrims, has its national interests and cares about the health of their citizens, trying to protect them from the coronavirus. “On this basis, of course, the healthcare system of Saudi Arabia gives a proposal to limit this year’s Hajj, and our faithful must be ready. Hajj operators will return the funds that they have collected, or have already paid”, – said the mufti.
To comfort the believers he recalled the words of the prophet Muhammad that “God rewards the intention, and the intention which we have of our countrymen, known to the Lord.” For the intention to do something good – Hajj, who was going to do it, God will reward the good, concluded the head DSMR.
In early April, the Saudi authorities for the rapid spread of the Kingdom of coronavirus, has banned travel to and from Riyadh, Mecca and Medina and imposed a curfew in these cities, from 15.00 till 6 am. Later curfew was circulated to a number of other cities.
In turn, the Ministry of Affairs of Hajj of Saudi Arabia asked the Muslims all over the world to postpone the preparation of the annual pilgrimage to Islamic shrines in the Kingdom due to the uncertain situation in connection with the coronavirus.
According to the Saudi Ministry of health on Monday, the number of infected coronavirus infection per day again exceeded 1 thousand persons, and at any time since the outbreak of the disease was 9362. The number of deaths reached nearly 100 people, 1398 people have recovered. Among the “leaders” in the number of cases of Medina and Mecca, where the Holy shrines of Islam.
