Arafat Sermon To Be Translated into 14 Languages, Says Sheikh Al-Sudais

 

Arafat Sermon to be Translated into 14 Languages,

 says Sheikh Dr Al-Sudais

Dr Mozammel Haque

Two years after Covid-19 restrictions, Saudi Arabia has permitted upto one million people to join the Hajj this year, 2022. This year, 2022, the Government of Saudi Arabia allowed one million worshippers, 850 thousand from abroad and 150 thousand from inside Saudi Arabia which includes locals and expatriates.

The Custodian of Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud has appointed Sheikh Dr. Muhammad bin Abdul Karim Al-Issa as Khateeb of Hajj 1443 (2022), and he will deliver the Hajj Khutbah from Masjid Al-Namirah, Arafat on Friday, 9 Dhul-Hijjah 1443.

Arafat Sermon to be translated into 14 languages, says the President of the Haramain, Sheikh Dr AbdulRahman Al-Sudais.

Operational Plan

Saudi Arabia’s General Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques on Sunday, 19 June 2022 launched its operational plan for this year’s Hajj season The presidency confirmed its readiness to receive 1 million pilgrims, saying that it has mobilized 10,000 male and female employees and workers to serve the worshippers.

The President Sheikh Al-Sudais said that the presidency had launched smart applications and electronic platforms that would facilitate and enrich visitors’ experiences, revealing that the number of beneficiaries of this digital service had reached more than 160 million.

Entry Gate: Sheikh Al-Sudais also said that the presidency has allocated King Abdulaziz Gate, King Fahd Gate, and Bab Al-Salam Gate for the entry of pilgrims and visitors, adding that the presidency has allocated a total of 144 gates for the entry of worshippers to the Grand Mosque.

Zamzam water bottles As regards Zamzam water, the Presidency is working on distributing 3 million Zamzam water bottles in day in the Grand Mosque, and 1 million Zamzam water bottles in the holy sites.

Electric vehicles: President Sheikh Al-Sudais said that 2,000 electric vehicles had been provided to serve the elderly and people with disabilities, in addition to providing 500 engineering staff, and that the sermon of Arafa would be translated into 10 different languages.

4.8 million meals per day: Catering Companies provide 4.8 million meals per day during Hajj. A Muslim pilgrim receives food on the plains of Arafat during the annual Hajj pilgrimage outside the holy city of Makkah, Saudi Arabia (REUTERS).

Some 195 catering companies and kitchen owners approved by Makkah’s municipality are expected to provide around 4.8 million meals per day to pilgrims during the Hajj season this year, it is reported.

Grand Mosque fully prepared to receive worshippers

on the First Friday of Dhul Hijjah

The Grand Mosque in Makkah is fully prepared to receive pilgrims and worshipers on Friday, the General Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques has said. According to Jeddah-based English daily, Arab News, This Friday will one of the busiest during the year as many pilgrims have already arrived in Makkah ahead of Hajj which will start on the 8th of Dhul Al-Hijjah, 7 July, 2022. The presidency has enlisted 400 employees to receive worshipers and pilgrims, direct them to the mataf and various other prayer spaces, and regulate entry and exit to and from the Grand Mosque.

 

Cleaning and sterilization operations Cleaning and sterilization operations have also been intensified, the paper reported and mentioned, Around 4,000 employees clean the Grand Mosque ten times a day using 13,000 liters of disinfectants.

 

Distribution of Zamzam Water: As regards the distribution of Zamzam water,  there has been an increase in Zamzam water being distributed to visitors. It is reported and added, “There are 25,000 Zamzam containers dotted around the mosque, 20 smart carts holding 80 litres of water are in operation, and 516 drinking fountains are available.”

 

Arab News also reported, 600 employees have been enlisted at the doors of the mosque to receive visitors and direct them to the correct areas, organize entry and exit, and support security personnel in diverting and directing worshipers when prayer areas get filled up. 100 employees are on hand to help pilgrims perform tawaf and other rituals in accordance with the correct manner, the presidency added.

 

President Sheikh Dr Al-Sudais launched

“We welcome you on the ground in your languages

The President of the General Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques Sheikh Abdulrahman Al-Sudais launched the “We welcome you on the ground in your languages” campaign for Hajj pilgrims on Sunday. The campaign aims to guide pilgrims at the Grand Mosque in Makkah in their own languages so that they can communicate effectively and without hassle. 100 guides across the mosque are available 24 hours a day to communicate fluently with pilgrims in 23 different languages.

 

Arafat Sermon to be translated into 14 languages

Abdulrahman Al-Sudais, president of the General Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques, said that the Kingdom’s leadership is offering unlimited support to the development of the Prophet’s Mosque and Grand Mosque’s services. As the live translation of the Arafat sermon enters its fifth year, the project has been expanded to include 14 languages, he said.

 

During the meeting, Al-Sudais said that the leadership is keen to convey Islam’s message of moderation and tolerance to the world, using modern technology to serve pilgrims and visitors. Live translation of the Arafat Day sermon is a wide-ranging project for the world, and particularly for visitors to the holy sites, enabling non-Arabic speakers to listen in their native language, he said.

 

The translation benefitted 1 million people in its first year, 11 million in its second, 50 million in its third, 100 million in its fourth and will reach 200 million people around the world in 2022, he added.

 

Sheikh Dr Al-Sudais also said that the sermon was initially translated into two languages. This was increased to five and, later, 10 languages. The leadership later approved translations in English, French, Malay, Urdu, Persian, Russian, Chinese, Bengali, Turkish and Hausa, with Spanish, Indian, Swahili and Tamil added to the list this year.

 

Sheikh Dr. Al-Sudais said that the Saudi leadership supervised the advancement of the international live translation project to satisfy people of faith, fairness and wisdom around the world, adding that the project takes a stand against violence, extremism and terrorism.

 

King Salman emphasizes the importance of caring for pilgrims, and Saudi Arabia will always take pride in pursuing this mission with the highest efficiency, Al-Sudais said. With this year’s Hajj season the largest since the coronavirus pandemic, the Kingdom will also ensure the well-being of pilgrims, allowing them to perform rituals with comfort and ease, he said, it is reported in the Jeddah-based English daily Arab News.

 

The President of the Haramain Sheikh Al-Sudais added that the translation project aims to convey a message of righteousness, justice, tolerance and moderate Islam to the world. Along with human rights and the teachings of Islam, the Prophet affirmed the elimination of racism and sectarianism, he said.

 

Kiswa cover ready

Dr. Abdulrahman Al-Sudais, president of the General Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques, announced that all preparations have been finalized to cover the Kaaba with the kiswa this year. The kiswa, the cloth that covers the Kaaba, was sewn at the King Abdulaziz Complex for Holy Kaaba Kiswa, in accordance with the highest standards, Al-Sudais said, adding that after one year of hard work and meticulous attention to detail, the Holy Kabba was now ready.

 

Al-Sudais also inaugurated a campaign to facilitate pilgrims’ access to Zamzam water during their Hajj rituals in Arafat,. He also launched a campaign titled “In Your Languages, We Welcome You,” which aims to serve pilgrims at the Grand Mosque, guiding them in 23 languages with the help of 100 guides, around the clock mentioned earlier.