Pilgrim Cycles from China to Saudi to Perform Hajj

A Chinese Muslim has cycled 8,150 kilometers for two months from his home in the city of Xinjiang to Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj, UAE daily Gulf News reported.

The cyclist named only as Mohammad cycled by himself to the Saudi city of Taif, where he was welcomed by the local cyclist club, who joined him. From Taif they made their way to Makkah.

The report did not explain why he decided to make the vast trip – especially since this year there are 37 flights from China to Saudi Arabia for the purpose of Hajj - the fifth pillar of Islam.

According to the Saudi Administration for Religious Affairs about 14,500 Chinese citizens will go to Saudi to perform Hajj, 11,000 of which have already arrived.

In 2007, a 63-year-old Muslim man from Chechnya cycled about 12,000 kilometers to perform Hajj, according to Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty - because of a promise he made to his dying mother, who had asked him to perform Hajj, even if that meant he had to cycle.

A Chineese Pilgrim Man rides bicycle bike from China to Makkah to perform Hajj in Hajj 2016.

The rider reportedly left his home in Xinjiang, in northwest China, and cycled around 8,150km before arriving in the western Saudi city of Taif, where he was accorded a special welcome by the local cycling club.

Following a brief stay in the city, the Chinese rider, Mohammad, was accompanied by members of the Taif cycling club to Makkah, Saudi news site Sabq reported.

“We were the first cycling club in Saudi Arabia to welcome the Chinese rider and we look forward to other clubs reaching out to him and introducing him to their cities,” Nayef Al Rawas, the head of the Taif club said.

On Saturday, China’s State Administration for Religious Affairs (SARA) said that 14,500 Chinese Muslims would perform Haj this year.

China has by Friday sent 37 charter flights to carry Chinese Muslims for Haj, and a total of 11,000 Chinese pilgrims have already arrived in Makkah, Xinhua News Agency said.

Haj, the annual gathering of around three million Muslims to perform the fifth pillar of Islam, will be held next month.

Despite formidable challenges, the idea of riding into Saudi Arabia for Haj or Umrah had often been taken up by Muslims, mainly from Asia.

In May 2014, a group of Malaysians rode their bicycles from Kuala Lumpur to Madinah.

The 12 men left from the Malaysian capital and made their way on eight motorbikes and a small van across 12 countries with stops in 53 cities.

The group said the two-month ride was mostly smooth and that the only serious problems they encountered were at the borders of the countries they crossed.

They added that every time they crossed into another country, the Malaysian embassies had to come forward to facilitate their entry.

“It was mostly precautionary measures by the guards at the borders,” they said.

The team leader said that the main purpose of the 60-day ride was to perform Umrah in Makkah. He added that he had made the same trip on three occasions.

Hajj Umrah visas Cost For Second Time

Saudi fees for Haj, Umrah visas to hit pilgrims For Second Time Onwards

New amendments have been introduced to visa fees in Saudi Arabia on 8th Aug 2016, the country’s cabinet of ministers has announced. Most notably, the changes will see all visa fees completely waived off – and fully paid for by the Saudi government – for all first-time pilgrims coming for either Hajj or Umra.

The newly introduced fee structure includes a single-entry visa that will cost travelers 2,000 Saudi Riyals ($533), applicable to all visitors, except first time pilgrims.

A six month multiple-entry visa will now cost 3,000 Saudi Riyals (SR), a one year multiple-entry visa will cost SR5000, while a two year multiple-entry visa will cost SR8000. The Saudi Cabinet has also made it clear that these changes will not impact any bilateral deals already signed by Saudi Arabia and other countries.

As for transit visas, their new fee is going to be SR300. Exit visa fee for anyone leaving the Kingdom through its seaports will be SR50. These revised fees will come into force from 2 October 2016.

Meanwhile, “exit and re-entry” visa fees for residents will be SR200 for a single trip for two months. SR100 will be charged for each additional month till the validity of residence permit (iqama).

Exit and reentry visa fee for multiple trips will be SR500 for three months. SR200 will be charged for each additional month till the validity of residence permit.

The new charges were announced during Monday’s weekly meeting of the Saudi Council of Ministers, which was chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Nayef who is also the kingdom’s Interior Minister.

The Raza Academy has meanwhile opposed this decision and requested the Turkish government, through its consul general in Mumbai, to intervene on behalf of lakhs of Muslims who will be affected by the mandatory payment of 2,000 Saudi riyals as visa tax imposed by the Saudi government. Raza Academy has said that the tax is un-Islamic and will lead to a huge financial burden for pilgrims.

Hajj Umrah visas Cost For Second Time

The weekly Cabinet session was chaired by Vice Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Prince Mohammed bin Naif at Al-Salam Palace in Jeddah. 

As per the new decisions, a one-time entry visa fee will be SR2,000, but the state will bear this fee if a visitor is coming to the Kingdom for the first time to perform Haj or Umrah.

The multiple exit/re-entry visa fee will be SR3,000 for six months, SR5,000 for one year and SR8,000 for two years. 

The transit visa fee will be SR300.

The departure visa fee will be SR50 for those leaving the Kingdom through seaports.

The exit/re-entry visa fees will be as follows: 

• SR200 for a single trip for two months as maximum and SR100 for each additional month, within the limits of the duration of the residence permit’s validity.

• SR500 for multiple trips for three months and SR200 for each additional month within the limits of the duration of the residence permit’s validity.

A royal decree has been prepared for this purpose and the attached decision’s draft stipulates that the application of the provisions of this decision shall be as of Muharram 1, 1438, corresponding to Oct. 2, 2016.

The Cabinet also decided to make the following amendments to the Traffic Regulation issued by Royal Decree No. (M/85) on 26/10/1428 AH:

Adding three new paragraphs to Article 68 as follows:

• A fine of not less than SR1,000 and not more than SR2,000, according to the schedule of offenses No. (5) attached to this regulation.

• A fine of not less than SR3,000 and not more than SR6,000, with the vehicle’s seizure until the violation is removed, according to the schedule of offenses No. (6) attached to this regulation.

• A fine not less than SR5,000 and not exceeding SR10,000 with the vehicle’s seizure until the violation is removed, according to the schedule of offenses No. (7) attached to this regulation.”

The amendment of Article 63 of the Regulation reads as follows:

“Subject to the provisions in Articles 61 and 62 of this regulation, any driver involved in a crash shall stop the vehicle at the scene and take the initiative to inform the competent department and provide possible assistance to the victims of the incident. 

If he fails do so, he shall be fined with not more than SR10,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months, or both.”

Amendment of the end of Article 64 of the regulation will be as follows: “Anyone violating this shall be punished with a fine of not less than SR10,000 and not more than SR50,000 for the first time, and if the offense is for the second time, the fine for the first time shall be doubled and if the offense is for the third time, the fine for the second time shall be doubled with the closing of the workshop permanently.”

At the outset of the session, the Vice Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques briefed the Cabinet on the outcome of the audiences held by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman for King Abdullah II of Jordan, and Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. The audiences addressed bilateral relations between Saudi Arabia and each of Jordan and Qatar in addition to regional and international developments.

In a statement to SPA following the session, Culture and Information Minister Adel Al-Toraifi said the Cabinet was briefed on a number of reports on the developments in the region and the world. 

The Cabinet renewed the Kingdom’s welcome of the decision of the United Nations Secretary General to remove the name of “Coalition for Restoration of Legitimacy in Yemen” from the list of those responsible for violence against civilians.

The Cabinet commended the efforts exerted by the Joint Incidents Assessment Team (JIAT) on Yemen and its findings in response to claims on coalition forces’ violations while conducting the Decisive Storm and the Restoration Hope military operations that aim at restoring legitimacy to Yemen. 

The Cabinet renewed the Kingdom’s calls on the international community to provide protection and facilitate the entry of humanitarian aid to the Syrian people. 

It also renewed the Kingdom’s calls on the international community to stop what the Syrian people are exposed to, that is blockade, massacres and air raids like what is being witnessed in Halab (Aleppo) and other Syrian cities.

Al-Toraifi said the Cabinet was briefed on the issues on its agenda, some of which were reviewed by the Shoura Council, and decided the following:

The Cabinet approved the final accounts of the General Authority for Tourism and National Heritage for the fiscal year 1435 — 1436 AH.

The Cabinet approved an amendment of the Saudi Development Fund system so that the authority would be linked to the Council of Economic Affairs and Development. 

The fund’s chairman of the board of directors, vice chairman, manager and members of the board will be appointed by the Prime Minister. The term of office of each will be three years, renewable for one time only.

The Cabinet also decided to amend Article 5 of the Tariff Civil Aviation Law issued by Royal Decree number (M/55) dated 10/20/1426 AH, (Nov. 21, 2005), which reads: “The board of directors shall have the right to determine what shall be collected as fees from everyone leaving the Kingdom through its airports and shall have the right to not collect such fees in cases appreciated by it.

A royal decree has been prepared for this purpose with its draft attached to this decision.

Source : Arabnews.com

Kiswah is Being Lowered After Hajj

The Kiswah is being lowered right now, as the Hajj season comes to an end.

In The Hajj time , Kiswa was rolled up slightly. Every year of Dhul Hajj they chnaging the new kiswa.

Kaaba gets new Kiswa, embroidered with 120kg of gold threads

A Saudi worker sews Islamic calligraphy in gold thread on a drape to cover the Kaaba at the Kiswa factory in the holy city of Makkah.

Islam’s holiest site, the Kaaba, was dressed in its new Kiswa (the cloth that covers the Kaaba) after Fajr prayer on Sunday by as many as 86 technicians and weavers.

The Kaaba is dressed in its new Kiswa on the Day of Arafat every year. During the same daym, the Grand Mosque is usually empty because all the pilgrims are gathered in Arafat.

The Makkawis, especially women, avail this opportunity to spend the entire day in the Grand Mosque praying and doing tawaf (circumambulation) around the Kaaba.

The Kiswa is made of pure silk with gold threads at the cost of more than SR22 million. It is manufactured in a special factory in Makkah which is manned by 240 technicians, weavers and administrators.

The Kiswa is 95 centimeters wide and nine meters high. It is made upon 47 pieces which are joined together to cover all the corners of the Kaaba.

Some 86 technicians and weavers take part in changing the Kiswa (the cloth that covers the Kaaba) in the Grand Mosque in Makkah on Sunday. The Kiswa is changed once a year when pilgrims leave for the plains of Arafat for Haj.