Over 3,360 tonnes of Zamzam water bring comfort to Haj pilgrims in 15 days at Prophet's Mosque, say officials
MADINAH, June 1 — A staggering 3,360 tonnes of Zamzam water has been consumed at the Prophet's Mosque in 15 days during this year's Haj season, according to the General Authority for Care of the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque.
Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported from Dhul-Qi'dah 15 to Dhul-Hijjah 1, some 218,336 bottles of Zamzam water were distributed to worshippers and visitors in both the men's and women's sections of the Prophet's Mosque.
It said the authority has significantly intensified its services to accommodate the growing number of worshippers at the Prophet's Mosque.
This includes ensuring a continuously accessible supply of Zamzam water in containers and bottles inside the mosque, on its rooftop, and at chilled water drinking points in the courtyards.
Furthermore, 301,802 iftar meals were provided to fasting individuals within the Prophet's Mosque, distributed in designated iftar areas. — Bernama-SPA
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Malay Mail
14 hours ago
- Malay Mail
‘You don't have to climb Arafat': Saudi tells pilgrims as Haj heat soars past 40°C
MINA (Saudi Arabia), June 3 — Near a sprawling tent city outside Mecca, Saudi hospital staff are preparing for a flood of heat-related cases as Muslim pilgrims begin hajj this week in sweltering summer temperatures. The Mina Emergency Hospital is one of 15 such facilities operating just a few weeks a year around the annual pilgrimage to Islam's holiest sites, which in 2024 saw more than 1,300 people die in the desert heat. Saudi authorities hope to head off a fatal repeat of last year's pilgrimage, when temperatures reached 51.8 degrees Celsius (125 Fahrenheit). Temperatures this year are forecast to exceed 40 degrees Celsius as one of the world's largest annual religious gatherings, bringing together devotees from around the globe, officially commences on Wednesday. So far, authorities have recorded 44 cases of heat exhaustion. Abdullah Asiri, Saudi Arabia's deputy minister for population health, told AFP at the Mina hospital that 'the focus is on heat-related conditions because the hajj coincides with extreme heat'. Brimming with staff but no patients just yet, the hospital is part of the kingdom's efforts to prepare for 'the worst case scenario' after pilgrims descend on Mina, Asiri said. Defying the scorching heat, pilgrims have already started to flock to Mecca. As of Sunday, more than 1.4 million pilgrims had arrived in Saudi Arabia for the multi-day pilgrimage, according to officials. Mecca's Grand Mosque is serviced by the largest cooling system in the world, according to Saudi state television, with enormous fans and cooled pavements dotting the massive complex. But outside, hiding from the heat can prove challenging. Increased capacity Some pilgrims wear caps or carry umbrellas, but others walk on foot without any protection from the sun, like Palestinian Rabah Mansour, 70, who said that after a lifetime of working outside as a farmer, 'heat doesn't bother me'. 'I have been working in the fields since I was a child,' he said, as sweat trickled down his face. While many pilgrims may be overcome with religious fervour, Asiri warned devotees against unnecessarily exposing themselves to harsh conditions. Badr Shreiteh, another Palestinian pilgrim, told AFP that he believed such hardships on the hajj trail would increase the blessings he reaps. 'As you can see, we're dripping with sweat,' he said, adding: 'The more hardship we endure, the more reward we gain.' According to Asiri, of the health ministry, a total of 50,000 healthcare workers and administrative staff have been mobilised for the hajj, far exceeding previous years' numbers. More than 700 hospital beds are ready, equipped with fans to treat severe cases of heat illnesses. Saudi Arabia reported 44 cases of heat exhaustion during the 2025 Haj pilgrimage so far. — AFP pic 'Capacity this year has been expanded by more than 60 percent compared to last year,' Asiri said, expecting greater numbers of patients. 'That's why we are doing all of these measures,' he said. Last year, medical staff treated 2,764 pilgrims for heat exhaustion and other heat-related conditions, according to the health ministry. 'Challenge' To prevent people from needing hospitalisation in the first place, 71 emergency medical points have been set up around Mecca's holy sites with a focus on 'treating patients on the ground before their case deteriorates', said Asiri. On the second day of hajj, pilgrims will head to Mount Arafat, climbing it and reciting prayers for the whole day. Asiri said pilgrims can stay in the shade. 'Most of the heat-related illnesses that happen in Arafat is because people think that they must be under the sun,' he said. 'You don't have to be outside your tent during Arafat. You don't have to climb the mountain,' he added, citing no religious obligation to do so, 'and it's very risky from a health point of view'. Hajj Minister Tawfiq al-Rabiah told AFP earlier that thousands of misting fans and more than 400 water cooling units have been deployed. Authorities built cooled walkways, including a newly completed four-kilometre (2.5-mile) pathway leading to Arafat. Last year's hajj deaths were a high-profile example of the havoc wrought by heat in 2024, which the Copernicus Climate Change Service said was the hottest ever recorded. Abdul Majid Ati, from the Philippines, said there 'extreme heat, but there are also times that we are inside the (Grand mosque) -- it's extreme cold because of the tiles and of the aircon'. 'We take this as a challenge and a test of our moral character.' — AFP


Free Malaysia Today
14 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Muslim pilgrims gather in Mecca under scorching desert sun
Saudi Arabia earns billions of dollars each year from the haj. (AP pic) MECCA : More than a million Muslim pilgrims poured into the holy city of Mecca ahead of the annual haj, with authorities vowing to hold a safer pilgrimage amid searing desert heat and a massive crackdown on illegal visitors. Officials have beefed up heat mitigation measures hoping to avoid a repeat of last year's haj, which saw 1,301 pilgrims die as temperatures reached 51.8°C. Temperatures were forecast to exceed 40°C this week as one of the world's largest annual religious gatherings starts on Wednesday. The haj, one of the five pillars of Islam, must be performed at least once by all Muslims with the means. As of Friday, more than 1.3 million pilgrims had arrived in Saudi Arabia for the multi-day pilgrimage, according to officials. This year, authorities have mobilised more than 40 government agencies and 250,000 officials, doubling their efforts against heat-related illness following the lethal heatwave of 2024. Shaded areas have been expanded by 50,000sq m, thousands more medics will be on standby, and more than 400 cooling units will be deployed, Saudi Arabia's haj minister Tawfiq al-Rabiah told AFP last week. Today, with temperatures topping 40°C, the health ministry said 44 cases of heatstroke had already been treated. The latest artificial intelligence technology will also help monitor the flood of data and footage, including video from a new fleet of drones, from across Mecca to better manage the mammoth crowds. Despite the punishing heat, pilgrims were overjoyed as they arrived in Mecca. 'This is really a blessing from Allah,' Abdul Majid Ati, a Filipino lawyer and Sharia counsellor, told AFP near the Grand Mosque. 'We feel so peaceful and safe in this place.' Abdulhamid, from Nigeria, said he was 'very happy' to be performing his second pilgrimage in a row at just 27 years old. But the young man said he never walks out without his sunglasses, describing the temperatures in Mecca as 'very, very, very hot'. The rites in the holy city and its surroundings, which follow a lunar calendar, fall again this year during the hot month of June. Last year, most of the deaths were among unregistered pilgrims who lacked access to air-conditioned tents and buses. 'They were caught by surprise because the intensity of the heat was so high that their adaptation measures failed,' said Fahad Saeed of Climate Analytics, a think tank based in Germany. In the run-up to this year's haj, Saudi authorities launched a widespread crackdown on unregistered worshippers, using frequent raids, drone surveillance and a barrage of text alerts. Haj permits are allocated to countries on a quota system and distributed to individuals by lottery. But even for those who can obtain them, the steep costs prompt many to attempt the haj without a permit – though they risk arrest and deportation if caught. Along with hefty fines, those found illegally entering Mecca during the haj face a potential 10-year ban from Saudi Arabia. Large crowds at the haj have proved hazardous in the past, most recently in 2015 when a stampede during the 'stoning the devil' ritual in Mina, near Mecca, killed up to 2,300 people in the deadliest haj disaster. Saudi Arabia, which is home to Islam's holiest sanctuaries in Mecca and Medina, earns billions of dollars each year from the haj and pilgrimages known as umrah, undertaken at other times of the year. The pilgrimages are also a source of prestige for the Saudi monarch, who is known as the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques of Mecca and Medina. For Mariama, a 52-year-old pilgrim from Senegal, the journey to Mecca has fulfilled a life-long dream. 'I was dreaming about it, thinking about it every time to come here to do the haj,' she said.


Malay Mail
20 hours ago
- Malay Mail
Saudi Arabia declares Haj readiness as millions begin pilgrimage
MECCA, June 3 — Saudi Arabia has signalled its operational readiness for the Haj pilgrimage season. The kingdom has rolled out an integrated set of logistical, technological, and digital initiatives aimed at improving safety, comfort, and efficiency for pilgrims arriving from around the world. An official spokesperson for the Ministry of Transport and Logistics Services — Haj Season, Saleh Ibrahim Al-Zuwaid, said over 45,000 personnel have been deployed within the transport and logistics network to ensure smooth operations during the pilgrimage. 'Our teams continue to work round-the-clock to ensure pilgrims receive the highest quality of service,' said Al-Zuwaid at a press briefing Monday. 'We urge all pilgrims to comply with official guidelines and instructions issued by the authorities to ensure everyone's safety and wellbeing throughout the Haj journey.' As part of efforts to ease congestion and streamline pilgrim movement, the Haramain High-Speed Railway has scheduled 4,700 trips throughout the Haj season. The network is expected to accommodate up to two million passengers, an increase of 400,000 seats compared to the previous year. Additionally, the 'No-Baggage Haj' initiative is now in place for pilgrims arriving via King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah. Under this programme, pilgrims travel directly to Makkah by train while their luggage is transported separately to their accommodation via a coordinated logistics system. 'The separation of passenger and baggage movement allows for faster processing at arrival points and ensures that pilgrims can focus on their rituals with minimal disruption,' said the official. Saudi authorities have also confirmed the full implementation of the second phase of operational plans supported by specialised technical teams. These efforts are being intensified during the Eid al-Adha holiday, traditionally one of the busiest periods of the Haj season. 'Our operational strategy has accompanied the arrival of pilgrims through multiple entry points and helped facilitate a seamless experience,' he said. Meanwhile, an official spokesperson for the Communications and Technology Ecosystem — Haj Season, Saad Saleem Al-Shanbari, reported major improvements in digital infrastructure across the holy sites, with 4G and 5G coverage in Makkah, Madinah, and surrounding areas surpassing expectations. Internet speeds have reached 264 Mbps in Makkah and 336 Mbps in Madinah, allowing pilgrims to stay connected with ease. 'Digital infrastructure plays a crucial role in enhancing the overall experience, from navigation and communication to access to real-time information,' he said. As part of the digital push, the kingdom has trialled a range of technologies, including AI-powered crowd management systems, advanced surveillance cameras, and secure communication tools in collaboration with security agencies. The Saudi Communications and Information Technology Commission (CITC) said out of 29 new technologies introduced this year, 13 had already proven successful in previous seasons. These include tools designed to manage health-related services and monitor pilgrim movement. Responding to the challenge of combating extreme heat, Saudi authorities have activated road-cooling technologies along pedestrian routes that reduce surface temperatures and improve walking conditions for pilgrims. Preliminary results from temperature-monitoring sensors have shown a measurable decrease in heat levels on cooled pathways,' said the spokesperson. — Bernama