Dr al-Sudais calls on Muslims to reduce number of pilgrims

President General for the Grand Holy Mosque and the Prophet's Holy Mosque's Affairs, Sheikh Dr. Abdulrahman bin Abdulaziz Al-Sudais has confirmed that the leaders of this country are aware of the size of the responsibility entrusted to them, related to the service of the Two Holy Mosques and their visitors and pilgrims, so they have exerted great efforts in order to provide comfort and reassurance to them.
"Given the current huge and historical ambitious projects and expansions being witnessed by the Grand Holy Mosque aiming to make it easier for pilgrims to perform the ritual circumambulation, and since the work in this giant project is still in progress, resulting in a narrow space of the circumambulation and eventually congestion and overcrowding of pilgrims, visitors and Umrah performs, which may cause harm to their safety and security as well as a threat to their comfort and health, the necessary legitimacy and the public interest require the temporary and exceptional reduction in the numbers of pilgrims until the completion of this great and blessed project, taking into account the intensity of the crowds during this interim period where the Grand Mosque experiences a major workshop these days in the expansion and services", Al-Sudais said in a statement carried by Saudi Press Agency (SPA) today.
Dr. Al-Sudais also called on Muslims not to repeat the Hajj and Umrah, especially in this period and make way for their brothers who have not had the opportunity to perform the rituals, for safety of their lives and to perform their rituals easily, conveniently and securely in comfort and contentment.
He urged them to take into consideration the reducing rates in the numbers of those want to perform Umrah during this limited period, stressing the legitimate purposes of keeping lives and not to throw them into destruction as that of the rules prescribed in the Islamic (Sharia) law that warding off evil takes precedence over bringing benefits.
Dr. Al-Sudais stressed that this call is also directed to the Islamic nation's leaders and scholars in promoting the opinions of leaders of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia regarding this matter.
He also explained that the efforts of the Kingdom's leadership, government and people, regarding the Two Holy Mosques, are in interest of the pilgrims and to ensure their comfort and safety, especially since we are in the holy month of Ramadan and on the doors of the pilgrimage season.