Umrah pilgrimage

Saudi Arabia’s announcement to re-open the Holy Sites for pilgrimage is a blessing. The pestering pandemic had barred worshipers from travelling for Umrah, as only a bare-minimum of locals were allowed the pilgrimage. Now all those in possession of authorised Covid-19 vaccination certificates can apply for pilgrimage. Sinopharm or Sinovac vaccines have been named formally, and the pilgrims are supposed to receive a booster shot on landing in the Kingdom. The travel advice also endorsed four vaccine brands — Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson. Quarantine on landing has been waived.

Over two million pilgrims are estimated to throng to the holy lands, and the Kingdom is also open for tourists. After a hiatus of more than 18 months this is a welcome development. It underscores the hard work done by the Saudis to first universally vaccinate their own subjects, and then gradually lift the bar for foreign guests. Saudi Arabia’s care and concern during the pandemic for pilgrims was lauded worldwide, as it was not an easy decision to bar or restrict the right to pilgrimage. The Saudi leadership and the religious cadres were unanimous, and upheld the canons of Shariah as Islam lays stress on prevention. Nonetheless, the fact that Haj was gracefully conducted during the pandemic — though restrained in terms of number of worshipers — is a credit to Saudi authorities.

With Umrah privilege open for all, pilgrims would be better advised to strictly follow the laid down procedures, and ensure that their paperwork is in order. The fact that vaccination had taken a centre-stage and endorsed in terms of religious admissibility had drawn a pertinent point. People who to this day are sceptical to polio vaccination should take a cue from it. Diseases are cured through diagnosis and drugs. No point in being superstitious over it. Thus, with Umrah getting back in full bloom, Saudi Arabia’s newly-opened tourism industry will get a shot in the arm. The news to cheer is that economic downslide and pandemic stand defeated.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 10^th, 2021.

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