The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia says Nigerians and other foreigners would not be allowed to perform Umrah, also known as lesser hajj, more than once in the ongoing 2024 Ramadan fasting.
According to a report by Saudi Gazette, this was announced by the country’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah on Sunday, March 17, 2024.
The Saudi authorities in the statement said the reason for the regulation was to ease the challenges of overcrowding during the spiritual rites in the month of Ramadan, adding that the period was the peak of the Umrah season of the year.
“Permits to perform two or more Umrah pilgrimages will not be issued during the holy month. This move is to ease congestion and provide the opportunity for all other pilgrims to perform Umrah in ease and comfort during the holy month.”
The report further explained that the Nusuk application system, a platform where pilgrims plan their Hajj and Umrah trips, anyone who has been issued a permit for Umrah during Ramadan would not be issued for the second time.
It stated that if such a person tried to apply for the second time, it would say, “Issuance of the permit failed.”
The ministry then noted that there are many benefits to performing Umrah during the fasting month of Ramadan.
Ramadan is the most sacred month of the year for Muslims. During the entire month, Muslims fast every day from dawn to sunset. It is meant to be a time of spiritual discipline — of deep contemplation of one’s relationship with God, extra prayer, increased charity and generosity, and intense study of the Quran.
This 2024 Ramadan begins on March 11 and Eid al-Fitr 2024 is anticipated to fall on or near April 9.
Meanwhile, the Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, Abdullahi Tijjani Muhammad Gwarzo, has urged Islamic scholars to use their Ramadan preaching to push for national unity.
The minister also appealed for fervent prayers from Nigerians for the nation to overcome its challenges.
Gwarzo made the call in a statement signed by his Special Assistant on Media, Adamu Abdullahi.
“The month of Ramadan is one of the sacred periods in Islam when Muslim ummah all over the world devote themselves to the worship of Almighty God and as such Muslims and the Islamic scholars should do more in prayers for the nation,” he said.
He appealed to all Nigerian Muslims to use the opportunity to offer prayers for peace, development, and progress of the country.
Gwarzo, while expressing concerns over the current security situation and economic hardship in the county, urged Nigerians to support the Federal Government led by President Bola Tinubu.
He also implored all Muslims to use the Ramadan fasting period to seek Allah’s intervention in the country’s current challenges.
