King Salman to host 1,000 Palestinian Hajj pilgrims
King Salman bin Abdul-Aziiz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia has issued a royal order, inviting 1,000 family members of martyred Palestinians to perform Hajj this year as guests of the Custodian of the two holy mosques.
A statement issued on Wednesday by the Saudi Arabian government indicated that King Salman wants to have 1,000 pilgrims from the families of the martyrs, prisoners and wounded Palestinians among the 2,322 pilgrims picked from around the world under the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques’ Guests Program for Hajj. Some 22 pilgrims are from the families of conjoined twins, who underwent successful surgical separation in the Kingdom.
The Minister of Islamic Affairs, Call and Guidance and general supervisor of the program, Sheikh Abdullatif Al-Sheikh, described the gesture as a reflection of the kingdom’s keenness on the care of Islam and Muslims from all over the world.
“This will help to deepen the bonds of unity and brotherhood through the guests’ gathering for Hajj at the expense of King Salman amidst an integrated system of services arranged by the ministry in Makkah and Madinah,” Al-Sheikh said.
“Since the issuance of the royal order, the ministry has made elaborate preparations to host these pilgrims and prepare a strategic plan for it through a number of committees whose mission is to take care of the King’s guests from departure from their respective countries until their arrival in the Kingdom, receiving them and enabling them to perform their Umrah and Hajj rituals in ease and comfort, in addition to facilitating their visit to Madinah, and offer prayer at the Prophet’s Mosque,” he added.
The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques’ Guests Program for Hajj, Umrah and Visit program was launched 26 years ago and has since hosted more than 60,000 pilgrims.
Meanwhile, there was excitement in the royal court on Tuesday after the 88-year-old King Salman was discharged from Al Salam Palace in Jeddah where he has been receiving treatment for a lung inflammation since May 19.
