Over 1000 pilgrims leave for Mecca

Oct 04, 2013

A total of 1200 Muslim pilgrims have left to Mecca and Madina, Uganda Muslim Supreme Council spokesperson Nsereko Mutumba has said.

By Shamim Saad

A total of 1200 Muslim pilgrims have left to Mecca and Madina.  


The Uganda Muslim Supreme Council spokesperson Nsereko Mutumba said they left aboard Egyptian and Ethiopian airlines.

"Many Muslims would have gone for this year's pilgrimage but the Saudi Arabian government sent only 1200 visas," he said.

Some of the pilgrims included those who were blocked from travelling to Mecca last year when Uganda was experiencing an Ebola outbreak.

In October last year, the Saudi Arabian Government refused to allow Ugandan Muslims to go for pilgrimage for fear that they could be infected with the deadly Ebola disease.

Before they were blocked, 900 Muslims had paid part of their travel and accommodation costs.

Over 31 Hajj (pilgrimage) and travel companies have this year participated in the taking of the pilgrims to Mecca.

Nsereko urged Muslims who did not make it to Mecca this year to start saving earlier so that they can also go next year.

Mutumba said the pilgrims will return on October 24. Pilgrimage to the Holy places is the fifth pillar in Islam.

Rituals performed during pilgrimage include wearing white clothes (Ithram), walking around the Kaaba (sacred house) seven times (tawaf) and stoning the devil by throwing stones as a pillar symbolizing resisting temptation.   

 

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