Eid al-Adha

Eid al-Adha
Meaning of "The Festival of Sacrifice"


What is Eid al-Adha

At the end of the Hajj (annual pilgrimage to Mecca), Muslims throughout the world celebrate the holiday of Eid al-Adha (Festival of Sacrifice). In 2009, Eid al-Adha will begin November 27th, and will last for three days.

What does Eid al-Adha commemorate?

During the Hajj, Muslims remember and commemorate the trials and triumphs of the Prophet Abraham. The Qur'an describes Abraham as follows:

"Surely Abraham was an example, obedient to Allah, by nature upright, and he was not of the polytheists. He was grateful for Our bounties. We chose him and guided him unto a right path. We gave him good in this world, and in the next he will most surely be among the righteous." (Qur'an 16:120-121)

One of Abraham's main trials was to face the command of Allah to kill his only son. Upon hearing this command, he prepared to submit to Allah's will. When he was all prepared to do it, Allah revealed to him that his "sacrifice" had already been fulfilled. He had shown that his love for his Lord superceded all others, that he would lay down his own life or the lives of those dear to him in order to submit to God.

Why do Muslims sacrifice an animal on this day?

During the celebration of Eid al-Adha, Muslims commemorate and remember Abraham's trials, by themselves slaughtering an animal such as a sheep, camel, or goat. This action is very often misunderstood by those outside the faith.

Allah has given us power over animals and allowed us to eat meat, but only if we pronounce His name at the solemn act of taking life. Muslims slaughter animals in the same way throughout the year. By saying the name of Allah at the time of slaughter, we are reminded that life is sacred.

The meat from the sacrifice of Eid al-Adha is mostly given away to others. One-third is eaten by immediate family and relatives, one-third is given away to friends, and one-third is donated to the poor. The act symbolizes our willingness to give up things that are of benefit to us or close to our hearts, in order to follow Allah's commands. It also symbolizes our willingness to give up some of our own bounties, in order to strengthen ties of friendship and help those who are in need. We recognize that all blessings come from Allah, and we should open our hearts and share with others.

It is very important to understand that the sacrifice itself, as practiced by Muslims, has nothing to do with atoning for our sins or using the blood to wash ourselves from sin. This is a misunderstanding by those of previous generations: "It is not their meat nor their blood that reaches Allah; it is your piety that reaches Him." (Qur'an 22:37)

The symbolism is in the attitude - a willingness to make sacrifices in our lives in order to stay on the Straight Path. Each of us makes small sacrifices, giving up things that are fun or important to us. A true Muslim, one who submits his or herself completely to the Lord, is willing to follow Allah's commands completely and obediently. It is this strength of heart, purity in faith, and willing obedience that our Lord desires from us.

What else do Muslims do to celebrate the holiday?

On the first morning of Eid al-Adha, Muslims around the world attend morning prayers at their local mosques. Prayers are followed by visits with family and friends, and the exchange of greetings and gifts. At some point, members of the family will visit a local farm or otherwise will make arrangements for the slaughter of an animal. The meat is distributed during the days of the holiday or shortly thereafter

http://islam.about.com/od/hajj/a/adha.htm

Adduunyada Ummad aan Xoogga & Aqoonta Gabdhohooda aan wax moodini , waa innaga, Cilmi ahaan dumarku ka fiiro dheer ragga, laakiin!!

Haddii aynu yara baadhanno arkiifiyada Dhaqanka Ummaddeenna, waxa kaaga soo baxaya cajaa'ib garasho oo ku dahsoon Hableheenna aynu dhaqan ahaan ku tirinno ma kasto!! ee aynu talo iyo Go'aan qaadasho midna ugu joojin, waxana hubaal ah in ay ku dhexjiraan qaar nin kasta oo aqoon isbidayaba , fadhiiso odhanaya. Laakiin waxa jirta Saddex arrimood oo aan suuragelin dhaqan ahaan inay dawr wax ku ool ah ka qaataan goleyaasha Siyaasadaha lagu go'aamiyo!!     Midi waa mid EEbbe oo lagama hadli karo in uu Raggu ka mudan yahay Dumarka wanaagga nololeedna ku jiro in haweenku ragga ka dambeeyo qaddarin ahaan, Eebena innaga war roon. Midina waa dhaqanka soo jireenka ah ee aynu leenahay oo Maxas, magarato iyo wax la mid ahi ay ugu soo jireen, arrinta Saddexaad ee hadheyna , waa iyaga oo isugu wacan in ay ku ekaadaan edeg yar oo dayiq ah oo ama secreteeriyadnimo, Nurse, Macallimad iyo karraaninimo , wax dumuux  ah oo ka sarreeyana aan isku Hawlin.   Maanta oo qarnigii 21aad kaahiisu Dunida wada gaadhey, waxa Gabdhaha Somaliland maanta ka soo burqanaya xirfado cilmi ahaan Carro-Edeg u casr ah , adduunkase ka soo jirey wax badan. Waxa maanta laga helayaa Electronic Engrs. Sales Engrs, Architects, structural Engrs, IT, system, IT technicians, iyo ka badan, Way ka khajili jireen in ay warbaahinta quuddarreeyaan , maantana inta ugu cad-cadi waa iyaga. Bulsho-weynta Xisbiga Mucaaridka ah ee Kulmiye ayaa marka aynu aragney sida Maamul-xumadu ay u aafeysey Dalka isha ku haysa in ay Xooggan Dihin ee aan weli Maamul Somaliland si cilmi ah u fiirin arrimohooda u hanweyn in ay Taariikhda doorkan saxaan oo ay ummadda Tusaan in ay Aqoontu tahay inta Qofba Eebe, korreeye Gesho, in aanay aqoontu wax lays amaahiyo iyo Af-qalaad midna ahayn ee ay afafku yihiin marinka laysku af-garto keliya , aqoontuse tahay wax ka duwan. Bal Eega Aabbaha iyo Hooyadu sida ay kala fahmaan ilmo yr oo imka dhashey tabashadiisa!! Aabbo wax kasta oo la cabbo ayuu soo ag-dhigay, kuna deyey, ilmihiise wuu sii ooyey uun, halka ay hooyadii, dhab u gratey waxa uu la ooyayo oo ama qabow ay wax ka huwiso noqdey, ama xanuun dhakhtar loola cararo noqdey, ama wax qaniinaya oo maryaha yaryar u galey noqdey!! Midba wax ku xeldheer sababta ay lamaane ku noqdeenna weeyaan, Xeerka Alle, Midna keligii dhadhan noloshu uma yeelneyso, haddii wax kasta haysto xataa, waayo waa siyaasad Eebbe u doorey aadmiga. Sidoo kalena loo kala faro-dhuudhuuban Hawlaha Maamul ee loo qabanayo qaranka midba Hawsha ku habbon!!.    Maanta oo aynu ka bilaabeyno "Ground Zero " Xagga Maamulka , Madaxweynaha soo socda , waxa la gudboon in uu si aragti qoto dheer leh iyo aragti Mas'uul oo Muddada fog ahna Ubadka Dalka ee Rag iyo Dumarba leh, si qawminimo leh ugu saleeyo dhismaha Maamulka uu dhisi-doono. Dumarka Dalkan u dhasheyna waxaan leeyahay, Edegga yar ee aad isku xidheen iskaga baxa oo la kaalaya aqoonta aad dhab ahaan leedihiin, Cidda ku habboon hawl-gelinteedana horgeeya. Uma maleynayo in Guriga y kuugu imaneyso!! Ilaahay khayr ha siiyo Hablihii Dalkan ee Ummadaha isa soo dabajoogey, soo koriyey, kuwaasi oo duruufo qallafsan oo Ummadda soo marey ahaa , qaar aan damqasho, daal iyo is-makeeki midnaba aqoon marka ay timaaddo danta qoyskoodu. haddii aan tusaale yar idin xusuusiyo, laba hablood oo mid ay i aan caadi ahayn u qurux-badneyd ayuu nin guur -doon ahi wada weydiiyey, Saddex su'aalood oo isku mid ah, ahaana: Rag gogoshii, Geel xeradii iyo Garow gasiinkii!!? Jawaabihii ay kala bixiyeen kolley intiinna waaweyni waad garaneysaan in badani, cibro waxay ka joogtaa, intee u gudbisey hablohooda sheekadan? Haddii aanu Waalidku hablaha wax u sheegin sow internetku wax u sheegi maayo? Goor-dhawna kuma ceebsaaysid ama ku dili maysid !! waxaan rajeynayaa in Waalidku xil iska saaro soo nooleynta dhaqanka aynu fasaxa dheer siinney, innanana kallifey badhax badan oo soo dhex galey , dhaqanka dadka qaarkoodna aad maanta ka qalooneysaan!!   Ummadi waa dhaqan iyo Akhlaaq, haddii ay labadaasi lumaanna, iyana la luntay. Dal waa loo dhashaaye , laguma dhasho oo qudha, nafta waxa aad doonto ugu sheekee, laaakiin meesha qudha ee uu qofku qiimihii Alle ku siiyey Dunida ku leeyahay waa dalkiisa oo qudha!! Wey jirtaa in aynu dhaqaale ka dalka yaalla ka badan qurbaha ka hello, waxase aynu ku khamaarney Xorriyaddii Ubadkeennu Dalkiisa ku heli lahaa oo jeel furan oo aan askar lahayn ayey qurbaha ku jiraan, waxa Cadaadis iyo culeys u dheer shaqooyinka y nolol maalmeedka ubad iyo Ehelba ay wax ka taraan haystaa Waalidiinta qurbaha, stresskanna kuma jiri karaan muddo intan ka sii dheer.   Innaga oo og Bulshada Dibadda ee Dalkanu inay si ka badbadis ah u guteen xilkoodi qaranka ka saarnaa, haddii ay tahay ololeyn siyaasadeed, adeegyo sameyn iyo dibu dhis dhulba oo aad Magaalooyinkii Dundumooyinka u ekaa markeynu soo galley, maanta la jaan-qaadayaan magaalooyinka Dunida, Hudheelo Dawliya, Gaadiid nooc walba ah, isgaadhsiin Casri ah. Adeegyo Booseed oo Degdegh ah i.w.m ay qabteen, 19ka sano ee Waxqabadkii Maamulku hurdada dheer ku jirey, Maanta oo Samirkii Qurba-joogga iyo kuwii Guduhuba ay Gabaabsi yihiin, Ummadda kama qabato waxaan isbeddel siyaasadeed oo ka duwan kuwii aynu hore u soo argney ahayn. Waa in aynu Muujinno Kalgacalka iyo abaalka aynu u haynno qurbajooggeenna oo innana illeyd Ummad xadaarad leh ayey nahaye aynu sidii aynu u tusi lahayn in uu reerkii (qarannimadii) loxos tahay, wax walibana u dhan yihiin, Ummadduna garatey danteedii u muujinnaa oo ka muuqan doonta sida Maamulka Cusub loo soo dhisi doono iyo Siyaasadda guud ee Dawladdu qorshaha ay yeelan doonto.   Alle ha xafido Reer Somaliland Dal, Dad iyo Hantiba , inta noo maqanna , ikhtiyaarkooda iyaga oo nabad baskbash iyo barwaaqo ku sugan ha noogu soo celiyo marka ay go'aansadaan iyagu. Aamiin. Nabad ku Ciida   Dr. Cali Cabdi Muxumed.

Shalay Iyo Maanta:Mahadhooyinka Weedhaha Siyaasaded Ee Xaaji Cabdi Waraabe

Shalay Iyo Maanta:Mahadhooyinka Weedhaha Siyaasaded Ee Xaaji Cabdi Waraabe-HAATUF

Axmed Siilaanyo waa nin madaxweyne qaadi kara laakiin anigu isma jeclin"

Qormadan 13aad ee shalay iyo maanta oo aanu ku daraasaynayno weedhaha siyaasiyiinta iyo xubnaha miisaanka leh ee Somaliland ay wakhtiyo kala duwan ka yidhaahdeen madasha siyaasadeed lagaga jeediyo iyo isbedelka mawqifyada siyaasaddeed hadba halka ay Itijahooda siyaasadeed ula guuraan ayaa waxaynu manta qormadeenan isha qalinka ku mudi doonaa Xaaji Cabdi Xuseen (C/ Waraabe) oo ka mid ah odayaasha rug-cadaaga ah ee golaha guurtida Somaliland muddo dheer, oo ka soo tirsanaan jiray guddida joogtada ee golahaasi muddo toban sano ah xilkeeda soo qabtay, islamarkaana lagu tilmaamo shakhsi aftahanmo iyo balaaqad codkarnimo leh, mawaaqiifta siyaasadeedna si weyn ugu taageera xukuumada Rayaale, balse aan mawqifkiisa siyaasadeed aan mar kaliya bedelin.

Hadaba Xaaji Cabdi Waraabe aynu soo qaadano weedhihiisa mahadhooyinka ah ee uu ka jeediyay wakhtiyo kala duwan fagaarayaasha dalka.

Xaaji Cabdi Xuseen, mar uu ka hadlayay waxyaalaha sababay inuu xukuumada taageero waxa uu yidhi 1. "anigu waligay xukuumad kama hor imaado oo kursga ayaan la saaxiib ahay, ninka ka hor yimaadaana fariid maaha.

2. "anigu madaxweynaha lama socdee nabadgelyada ayaan la socdaa"

3. "hadba madaxweynihii yimaada ee la doorto ayuun baan la shaqaynayaa"

4. "Axmed Siilaanyow haddii Faysal Cali Waraabe iyo Saleebaan kula tartamayaan kaamaanu qaadneen ee Daahir Rayaale waa baalayaasha"

5. 'Axmedow inamada waad ka da'weyn tahay ee iyaguna adeeradood bay soo kaxaysan"

6. 'Axmed Siilaanyo waa nin madaxweyne qaadi kara laakiin anagu isma jeclin'

7. Raga madaxweynayaasha doonaya waxaan leeyahay hadaladiinu ha u eekaadeen hadalo madaxweyne"

8. Waxaan leeyahay haddii Daahir Rayaale doorashada laga helo waa inuu si sharaf leh xilka u wareejiyo.

9. Anagu sharci maanaan eegin ee maslaxad baanu eegnay oo waxaanu nidhi mucaaridka ayuu Dhiilkoodii madhan yahay ee ha loo daayo xubnaha shirguddoonka, madaxweynuhuna wuu naga aqbalay.

10. Wixii aanu idinkala xishoonay shirguddoonka wakiiladoow ummadda kala xishooda, doorashadii guddoomiyaha guurtida ee uu ka geeriyooday Sheekh Ibraahim Sheekh Yuusuf Sheekh Madar kadib markii loo doortay Saleebaan Maxamuud Aadan oo uu ka hadlay madashii codka gacantaaga ah goluhu ku go'aamiyey ayaa waxa uu yidhi Xaaji Cabdi .

11. Madaxweyne Rayaale halbaa seegtay, Saleebaana halbaa Seegtay aniga se hal ima seegin oo madaxweynaha waxa seegtay haddii uu Saleebaan xilkaasi la rabay inuu ii sheego, Saleebaana waxa ay ahayd haddii uu hunguri ku jiray inuu ii sheego oo uu yidhaahdo Xaaji xilkaasi ayaan doonayaa, aniga se hall ima seeginoo qaranimada Somaliland difaaceeda halkii uun baan u fadhiyaa.

12. Daahir Rayaale Kaahin geeridii Cigaal ka dib mar uu ka hadlayey shakhsiyadiisa waxa uu yidhi Daahir waa Dhuxul dambas huwan.

13. Dawladdi qalooc iyo qumaatiba wax way ku xidhaa.

14. Shacabka reer Somaliland waa inay Afxabashiga Bartaan wax muhiim ah ayaa inagaga xidhan.

15. Inamadaasi taladaydii way diideene oo taladii Jaamac Yare ayay u dhego nuglaadeen oo waxaan idhi, haddaad taliso oo taladaadii la diido in la jabo ma jeceshahay.

16. Anigu ma ihi nin kursi u cadhoonaya ee Raali baan ka ahay cid kasta oo guddoomiyuhu xilkaasi guddida Joogtada u magacaabo, waxba kama qabo oo waan nasanayaa.

17. Axmed Siillaanyo Ragga u sharaxan Madaxweynaha Isagaa ugu da' Weyn.

La soco……….

Xigasho: Haatuf

Performing four duties on the same day

Performing four duties on the same day Adil Salahi | Arab News

When the Prophet (peace be upon him) arrived in Mina shortly after sunrise on 10th Dul Hijjah, the day after attending at Arafat and staying in Muzdalifah, he proceeded to do more of the pilgrimage duties. He started by stoning at the Grand Jamrat, throwing seven pebbles. He then slaughtered his sacrificial animals, before going to Makkah where he did his tawaf of ifadah and finished by shaving his head. These four duties fall due on that day. Should they all be performed on the same day and in the order the Prophet performed them? A certain school of thought maintains that these duties should be done in this order. This is a mistaken view because the Prophet’s companions did not follow the same order. Many of them came to the Prophet saying that they performed their duties in different orders. Every possible permutation was put to him. To all those who asked he gave the same answer, approving the way they performed their duties. This is in line with the nature of this particular act of worship. It is based on making things easy for the pilgrims, because if we were to insist on a particular form, many pilgrims would not be able to complete their rituals and duties. If we were to imagine that all three million pilgrims were required to do the stoning at the Jamrat, then slaughter their sacrifice and proceed to Makkah for their tawaf of ifadah and return to Mina before nightfall, we realize that this could not be completed in two days, let alone one day. God does not impose on us any duty that is too hard for us to fulfill. The Prophet was keen to illustrate that opting for the easier way is of the essence of the pilgrimage. Therefore, we should opt for the same. How to ensure the fulfillment of these duties without much difficulty? First of all, the stoning at the Jamrat must be done on that day. Its time range, however, is long. It can be done at any time between sunrise and sunset. It does not take long. With the new system that allows one-way movement, it has been made much easier. Slaughtering the sacrifice can be done at any time on the four days of the Eid, i.e. 10-13 Dul Hijjah. However, with the voucher system that allows the pilgrims to buy their sacrifice and assign the Bank to do the slaughter on their behalf, this duty has been made easy. It also ensures that the sacrifice is fully utilized. What the Bank does is to ensure that the sacrifice is slaughtered on those four days and that all the needs of the poor in the Haram area are satisfied. What is left is sent to various parts of the Muslim world, particularly poor areas. Thus, the purpose of the sacrifice is achieved in the most beneficial way. We should explain that although the Prophet shaved his head as one of the rituals of the pilgrimage, cutting a small portion of one’s hair is enough to fulfill the duty. It is certainly better to follow the Prophet’s example, but people should consider their own circumstances and needs. For women, shortening a small bunch of hair by two centimeters is all that is required. The shaving of one’s head or cutting some of one’s hair can be done at any time on 10 Dul Hijjah. It signals the ending of all restrictions associated with the state of consecration that applies during the pilgrimage, except for sexual intercourse between man and wife. This last restriction ends when the tawaf of ifadah is completed. Therefore, on the day that follows the Arafat day, we must do the stoning and we follow it with shaving our heads or cutting a portion of our hair. If we use the voucher system for the sacrifice, then we have completed three of the four duties. There remains the tawaf of ifadah. This is the second most essential duty of the pilgrimage. If omitted, it cannot be compensated for in any way. The time range allowed for this duty varies according to different schools of thought. Most scholars agree that it should be fulfilled during the four days of the Eid. However, the Maliki school of thought says that its time extends to the end of Dul Hijjah. Therefore, pilgrims should choose the time at which they can do it most comfortably.

 

GLOBAL: Children's rights not yet a reality

GLOBAL: Children's rights not yet a reality

DAKAR, 20 November 2009 (IRIN) - Children's rights advocates are taking 20 November, the 20th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), to highlight legal advances, but say when it comes to education, healthcare and protection in conflicts and natural disasters, children are often the first to be deprived of their rights.

"The Convention has revolutionized the way children are viewed in our societies," said Susanna Vilaran with the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child in a 20 November communiqué. "In many countries.governments, individuals and most importantly children, know [children] should be treated with respect."

The CRC is the most widely ratified human rights treaty.

Legal instruments introduced as a result of the CRC include the 2005 UN Security Council Resolution 1612, which established a mechanism to track six violations of children's rights in conflict, including rape, abduction, killing and maiming, and recruitment into armed forces.

The CRC also triggered regional child rights acts and policies, including the 1999 African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child and the European Commission's launch of a child rights strategy.

"The CRC has encouraged politicians to listen to children's views and pushed their rights up the political agenda," said Save the Children's child rights adviser and advocate Jennifer Grant.

She pointed to a 2001 decision by the Indian Supreme Court directing the government to provide free lunches in government primary schools. This has turned into the world's largest mid-day meal programme, reaching over 100 million children, according to Grant.

In another case the European Court of Human Rights ruled that the Czech Republic had practiced racial discrimination in 2007 by wrongly channeling Roma children into remedial schools; the court awarded damages to affected families.

Rights have no meaning if you can't hold people to account when they are broken

National level improvements include the incorporation of children's codes into 70 countries' national legislation, say child rights groups.

Many national poverty reduction strategies are beginning to call for more funding for children's access to healthcare, education and social services, say Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) president Mohammed Ibn Chambas and UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) West Africa director Gianfranco Rotigliano in a joint statement.

"[When] children are better fed, and have access to health facilities...there is a multiplier effect in that the family and community economy is boosted and people may stand a chance of moving beyond the subsistence level," Rotigliano told IRIN.

However 77 million primary-school-age children worldwide are not in school while millions of children are unable to access even basic healthcare, according to the UN.

In West Africa three million children die before age five annually and 25 million are out of school, according to UNICEF.

For Save the Children's Grant more accountability is critical. When children's rights are violated and the national legal system does not protect them, children cannot access an international complaints procedure, she said. "This is a case of age discrimination. Every other UN treaty with reporting obligations has such a mechanism."

An "era of enforcement" is needed to improve the lives of children, said Grant. National governments must make their laws comply with the CRC. "Rights have no meaning if you can't hold people to account when they are broken."

DHANXIIR

DHANXIIR Maansha Allaah, Alleylehe waa kaa ninkii Faysal tooshka ku ifiyey fadhiidnimadda Raayale iyo xertiisa ku hareeraysan, kolhadii uu yidhi caalamkii oo dhami markay ka yaabeen beentoodii iyo balanfurka badan ay albaabadii ka qufusheen, eesha caala nin dheh. Weger; Adeer; guddo iyo dibadba magac kuma laha oo carruurta ayaa ku hadaaqda xukuumad xumadda ina haysatee igadaa warkooda, bal eeg Ina Daa'uudkan difaacaya dhiiga laga jaqayo maatida, Cabdi Haybahan aan weedhiisana u fiirsanayn iyo rag kale oo docda ku jira.

Jamhuuriya Online

Haj boost Muslim unity’

Haj boost Muslim unity' Hamid Al-Sulami | Arab News

SEEKING BLESSINGS OF ALLAH: Faithful attend Friday prayers at the Grand Mosque in Makkah. (AN photo by Ahmad Hashad)   MAKKAH: Millions of pilgrims, who have come from different parts of the world for this year's Haj, attended Friday prayers at the Grand Mosque in Makkah and the Prophet's Mosque in Madinah. The Makkah imam reminded the faithful of the annual pilgrimage's role in strengthening Muslim unity. "We can see here people praying to God in different languages, who have come from different corners of the world. They try to know each other and understand the meaning of unity and solidarity," Sheikh Saud Al-Shuraim said at his Friday sermon. He urged the Muslim faithful to stand united under the banner of Islam, following the teachings of the Qur'an and the Sunnah. At the Prophet's Mosque, Sheikh Abdul Mohsen Al-Qassim led the Friday prayer. "The Haj will cleanse the faithful of sins they committed in the past," the imam said in the Friday sermon, quoting a Hadith of the Prophet (peace be upon him). "Paradise is the reward for a blessed Haj," he pointed out. Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims who have been in Madinah since the beginning of the Haj season are arriving in Makkah now. "A bus departs for Makkah every five minutes," said Muhammad Abdul Rahman Al-Bijawi, director of the Madinah branch of the Haj Ministry. Almost 800,000 pilgrims have visited Madinah to pay homage to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and pray at his mosque. They have also visited the historic sites, including the Quba Mosque, the Qiblatain Mosque and Al-Baqeea graveyard. Of these pilgrims, half arrived by land and the rest by plane. Faisal bin Abdul Rahman Usra, director of the office for pilgrim bus guidance, said 28,656 buses carried 1.24 million pilgrims to Makkah as of Friday. Meanwhile, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah arrived in Jeddah on Friday en route to Makkah to closely supervise this year's Haj operation. Senior officials including Intelligence Chief Prince Muqrin and Education Minister Prince Faisal bin Abdullah accompanied him. Nearly three million pilgrims are expected to perform Haj this year, which begins on Nov. 25. According to a Haj official, there was a 13 percent increase in the number of pilgrims who have come from abroad this year compared to last year. — Input from Yousuf Muhammad and Muhammad Humaidan