As Muslims prepare for the annual pilgrimage, or hajj, season, Saudi Arabia's Supreme Court announced late Tuesday that Arafat Day, when pilgrims stand in prayer on Mount Arafat marking the climax of Hajj, will fall this year on Nov. 26.
The court ruled that a number of people had witnessed the Zul Hijjah crescent and “as a result, Nov. 18 will be the first day of Zul Hijjah...while Eid al-Adha will be on Nov. 27,” said Abdul Rahman al-Kelya, the chief justice of the court.
Despite fears of the swine flu virus, millions of Muslims from around the world are flocking to the holy city of Mecca to start hajj, the world's largest annual pilgrimage, which unites Islam's followers in mass religious devotion and duty.
Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam and is an obligation that must be carried out by every able-bodied Muslim who can afford to do so. It is a demonstration of the solidarity of the Muslim people and their submission to Allah, meaning God in Arabic.
Following the route Islam's Prophet Mohammad took 14 centuries ago, Muslims stand united in front of God. Practicing Muslims strive to perform the pilgrimage at least once in their lifetime.
Meanwhile Saudi Arabia said it has implemented “comprehensive” programs to combat H1N1, including thermal-camera screening at Jeddah’s international airport, Madinah’s airport and all seaports in the country, with health officials are working around the clock.
The Kingdom is particularly susceptible to potential outbreaks of the rarely fatal H1N1 virus because of the arrivals of millions of pilgrims from all over the world.
Health officials in the kingdom said that they are implementing the recommendations made by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United States Centers for Disease Control.
While the mortality rate for H1N1 is low, the young, old and those with immune-deficiency problems are at higher risk of death from swine flu.
Health officials prepare special plans every year for this tide of humanity, usually focusing on tropical infectious diseases and other health issues.
This year the global pandemic of the swine flu virus has caused these officials to focus heavily on assaying concerns about the virus.
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