With millions of Muslims from around the world flocking to Mecca to perform Umrah during the holy month of Ramadan, the Saudi Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance, through its General Secretariat for Islamic Awareness in Hajj, Umrah and Visitation, has intensified its awareness and guidance efforts. The Ministry launched a series of intensive outreach programs in mosques surrounding the Grand Mosque in Mecca as part of its operational plan for the current Umrah season, aiming to serve the pilgrims and enable them to perform their rituals with ease, tranquility, and understanding.
Historical background of serving the Two Holy Mosques
These efforts are an extension of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's historical role in serving the Two Holy Mosques and caring for their visitors, a role it has been honored to fulfill since its founding. Over the decades, the Kingdom has developed a comprehensive system of services to manage and organize the Hajj and Umrah seasons, which witness a continuous increase in the number of visitors. Religious guidance and awareness of Islamic law are fundamental pillars of this system, aiming to enlighten pilgrims and visitors about the rulings of the rituals, correct misconceptions, and provide a spiritual environment that helps them achieve the objectives of worship.
Integrated and multilingual guidance programs
The programs launched by the Ministry include a series of scholarly lectures, daily lessons, and sermons delivered after the obligatory prayers. These programs are presented by a select group of officially accredited preachers with the Ministry's expertise in Islamic jurisprudence and experience in interacting with pilgrims. To ensure the awareness message reaches the widest possible audience, the Ministry employs specialized translators to translate the content into several major international languages, such as English, Urdu, French, and Bengali, reflecting the global reach of this service and taking into account the cultural diversity of the pilgrims.
The importance and expected impact of these programs
The importance of these initiatives lies in their direct impact on the pilgrim's experience, contributing to a deeper understanding of the rituals and their significance, and answering their jurisprudential inquiries, thus enabling them to perform their worship with confidence and tranquility. Locally, these programs enhance the Kingdom's positive image as the custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and highlight its efforts to provide every comfort for the pilgrims. Internationally, these programs present Islam's tolerant message based on moderation and balance, and work to intellectually immunize pilgrims against extremist and radical ideologies, thereby solidifying the Kingdom's position as a trusted religious authority in the Islamic world.
Key themes for promoting religious awareness
The programs cover a wide range of topics, most notably a detailed, step-by-step explanation of the rulings and rituals of Umrah, the virtues of Ramadan and the rules of fasting, and the reinforcement of sound Islamic beliefs and monotheism. They also focus on promoting the values of moderation and balance, explaining the rulings on transactions, and emphasizing the status and sanctity of Mecca. Furthermore, the programs include a segment dedicated to answering pilgrims' questions and inquiries on the spot, creating direct and effective interaction that enriches their spiritual journey.
