São Paulo – Saudi Arabia’s minister of Health, Tawfiq Al-Rabiah (pictured above), said in a statement that getting a coronavirus shot will be a prerequisite for people looking to take the religious pilgrimage known as the Hajj, Saudi newspaper Arab News reported. The government did not specify whether non-nationals will be accepted.
Last year, as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Hajj was smaller in size and took place under strict social distancing rules, face coverings and hygiene protocols. Only Saudi residents were accepted. Some 1,000 pilgrims joined, down from millions in previous years.
Here’s more on the Hajj and Ramadan:
- Hajj 2020: 1,000 pilgrims, face masks and distancing
- With the mosques closed, Ramadan takes place at home
Every healthy, financially able Muslim is required to take the Hajj – the pilgrimage to Mecca, the holy city of Islam – at least once in a lifetime. It is a pillar of Islam, and Brazilian Muslims are usually in the mix. The pilgrimage is expected to take place in July this year.
Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
