Swine Flu May Curtail Hajj for Many

A meeting of Arab health ministers  took place in Egypt last week. Recommendations adopted there may place restrictions on who may make hajj this year.  It is not certain yet which countries will place the recommendations into effect. In an effort to disrupt the spread of  the H1N1 swine flu virus,  Muslims with chronic illnesses, under 12 or over 65 may  be banned from hajj.

Authorities in Egypt, India and Pakistan have said that bureaucratic problems arising from efforts to enforce the ban while simultaneously fulfilling alloted hajj quotas would present many difficulties for their respective countries. Over 20% of hajj applicants in each these countries is over 65 years old.

Your Sacrifice at Hajj

Here is  information about what happens to the animal you paid to have sacrificed during hajj.  If there are 30 people or more, one of their party actually go to the slaughterhouse on behalf of the group .  On that same site, you can find why each animal is priced the way it is: 

The price per head of sheep includes the cost of the animal and the contribution of the pilgrim towards the cost of Shari’ah and veterinary-related services, as well as the cost of slaughtering, skinning, cleaning and transportation of meat for distribution to the eligible poor.

Service and Infrastructure Improvements for Hajj

 

The Saudi government is working to improve conditions for hajj.  Improvements come in both services and infrastructure.  Among the service upgrades, there will be more ATMs and pharmacies available during hajj this year.

A lot of building is also going on to improve the infrastructure in and around the hajj precincts.  Construction is proceeding on the Jamarat bridge, and other projects that may be ready for the 2009 hajj include:

…potential housing for pilgrims on the foothills of Mina mountains; the southern railway project; improving guidance in the holy sites; designing, planning and improving toilets; connecting the Shabain and Muaisim areas to the entry and exit of the Jamrat Bridge’s third floor; and connecting Al Aziziyah District to the bridge’s fourth floor….

Another big improvement will be the construction of a new hospital  as workers will begin “…demolishing Mina Al Wadi Hospital… to build a new 136-bed hospital in its place. This project will take less than a year and the new hospital will be operational during Hajj 2009“.

The Saudia Hajj Transportation Survey

The Ministry of Hajj has a questionnaire for Muslims who have made hajj posted on its website. The questions have to do primarily with transportation and levels of service. Click here to participate.

Take the Hajj Train

All aboard for hajj?  By 2010, part of a new train system developed by a Chinese company.  The train will take hajjis from Muzdelifah to Mecca  and from Mecca to Medinah.  The full system is projected to be finished by 2012.