Jakarta (Indonesia Window) – Saudi authorities on Tuesday (Apr. 6) said that 150,000 people would be allowed to perform umrah (the minor hajj) or prayers daily at Grand Mosque in Makkah during Ramadan 1442 Hijri, which starts next week, Arab News reported.

The General Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques said up to 100,000 worshippers would be allowed to pray at the Grand Mosque and that 50,000 pilgrims will be allowed to perform umrah, as part of its plan to increase operational capacity.

The Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Guidance and Dawah said that umrah permits will be given to pilgrims aged 65 and over who had already been vaccinated against the coronavirus.

Head of the Presidency of the Two Holy Mosques Sheikh Abdulrahman Al-Sudais said that inoculation is a requirement for entering the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah.

Meanwhile, Minister of Islamic Affairs Abdullatif Al-Asheikh on Tuesday (Apr. 6) issued a directive with precautionary measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus during Ramadan.

It said that iftar (the fast breaking), suhur (the dawn meals) and i’tikaf inside mosques during Ramadan would be suspended, while the number of locations for Eid Al-Fitr prayers would be expanded.

Al-Asheikh said that matters related to holding tarawih and qiyam prayers in mosques would be announced later.

According to Deputy Minister of Hajj and Umrah Abdel Fattah Mashat said that people wishing to perform umrah during Ramadan would have to submit a permit application through the Tawakkalna app, not the Eatmarna app, and that there would be an update in the coming days to provide the permits.

Permits will be distributed on a weekly basis during Ramadan for pilgrims and people wishing to pray at the Two Holy Mosques, he added, and new openings would be available with any cancellations.

Reporting by Indonesia Window