The Saudi news channel “Al-Ekhbariya” published a video documenting the moment of arrival of the oldest female pilgrim to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to perform the Hajj rituals, as she has surpassed the age of 100.
The pilgrim arrived in the kingdom via Saudi Arabian Airlines and was received at the airport with a wreath of white flowers, being seated on a wheelchair.
Reports indicated that the pilgrim, “Sarhouda Stiti,” who is 130 years old, arrived on a flight among the pilgrims from Algeria.
Earlier, the Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Tawfiq Al-Rabiah, announced in a press conference the arrival of 1.2 million pilgrims from various parts of the world to perform the Hajj rituals.
Al-Rabiah affirmed that the relevant authorities launched an international campaign to raise awareness about the dangers of violating Hajj regulations and fraudulent campaigns in more than 20 countries around the world, aiming to ensure the safety of pilgrims and facilitate their rituals securely.
Pilgrims are flocking
It is worth mentioning that the “Miqat Dhul-Hulayfah” Mosque in Medina has witnessed the daily influx of large numbers of pilgrims, before they head to Mecca to perform the Hajj ritual amidst comprehensive organizational services provided by the Medina Development Authority and relevant entities to facilitate the passage of the guests of the Most Merciful with ease and reassurance.
The regulatory authorities spare no effort in serving the guests of the Most Merciful by providing guidance, awareness, and direction services, providing carts for the disabled and elderly, ensuring the provision of water and food in the men’s and women’s sections, maintaining cleanliness, in addition to security services that ensure the smooth flow of traffic around the mosque and the roads leading to it, and organizing bus lines.
The Mosque and Miqat Dhul-Hulayfah receive attention and care from government agencies, amid the increase in the numbers of Umrah performers and pilgrims. The facilities of the Miqat Mosque and its surrounding area have witnessed a set of rapid development and rehabilitation projects as part of the first phase works carried out by the Medina Development Authority, where the mosque’s area has become 6,000 square meters with a capacity of 5,000 worshipers.
The mosque’s floors and external courtyards have been rehabilitated using natural stone from the Medina environment, internal and external lighting for the mosque and its surrounding facilities has been implemented, waterproofing has been carried out to protect from rain, in addition to updating and improving the efficiency of air conditioning systems, increasing the operational capacity of the public and support services system provided to the guests of the Most Merciful and improving its quality, including the rehabilitation of western courtyard parking lots to accommodate more than 400 additional buses, as well as preparing bus routes to enhance traffic flow in the Miqat area.
“Miqat Dhul-Hulayfah” is one of the most prominent historical sites in Medina, as it is one of the designated locations that the Prophet Muhammad specified for the people of Medina and the forbidden ones from among those who are not from Medina to assume the state of ihram, located on the western side of Wadi Al-Aqiq, about 14 kilometers away from the Prophet’s Mosque.
