King Salman Invites 1,300 People From 100 Countries To Worship Hajj This Year

Illustration of pilgrims doing tawaf. (Twitter/@MoHU_En)

JAKARTA - Saudi Arabian King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud as the Guardian of the Two Holy Mosques, the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque, invited 1,300 people from 100 countries to worship this year.

This invitation is under the Two Holy Mosque Guarding Guest Program for Hajj, Umrah and Pilgrimage supervised by the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Da'wah, and Guidance.

Saudi Arabia's Minister of Islamic Affairs, Da'wah and Guidance Abdullatif Al-Asheikh said this program was proof of the dedication of King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's leadership to serve the interests of the Islamic state and reaffirm the position of the Kingdom in the Islamic world, quoted from Arab News May 24.

Al-Alsheikh further said that along with the program, the ministry he leads mobilizes all its resources and capabilities to provide guests with high-quality services.

A comprehensive implementation plan has been prepared, which includes religious, cultural and educational-based programs, the Saudi Press Agency reports.

This includes organized visits to key historical and Islamic places in Mecca and Medina, as well as meetings with prominent clerics and imams of the Two Holy Mosques, all aimed at enriching pilgrims' spiritual and intellectual experiences.

Al-Alsheikh said the Hajj, Umrah, and Pilgrimage Guest Program of the Two Holy Mosque Guards was designed to strengthen ties with religious leaders, ulama and intellectuals throughout the Islamic world, as well as encourage cultural exchange and advocacy.

Since its start in 1996, the program has hosted around 65,000 pilgrims from 140 countries.

The ministry has provided various logistics, religious, health and cultural services for these guests, ranging from their appointment to their return to their country of origin after completing the pilgrimage.

Al-Alsheikh added that this acceptance initiative demonstrates the Kingdom's commitment to serving Islam and Muslims.

This program is in line with the Kingdom's vision to strengthen its relations with Islamic countries and increase its positive presence on the global stage, which contributes to achieving Saudi Islamic and humanitarian goals Vision 2030.