Cairo: More than 80 samples are collected inside the Grand Mosque, Islam’s holy site in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, to ensure the quality of the air, holy water of Zamzam and food provided to worshippers, according to Saudi data. SPA Agency.
The sampling and testing process, carried out through the state-run agency, the General Authority for the Maintenance of the Two Holy Mosques, also includes the rooftops of the site that attracts millions of people from Saudi Arabia and abroad during the year.
The samples were analysed in an epidemiology laboratory at the mosque and come from 50 samples from Zamzam, 20 from food products and dates, 10 from rooftops and others from the air, according to the SPA.
“The lab uses three types of research with the highest quality standards,” said Hassan Al Sawhiri, head of the mosque’s prevention and physical care department.
He cited Zamzam’s strict monitoring of water, food quality, carpet cleaning and sterilization paints, as well as other amenities at the sprawling site.
“Samples are also taken from carpets, drinking establishments, escalators, stalls, shelves containing copies of the Holy Quran, plastic barriers, doors and ceilings, etc. ,” the official added.
Saudi Arabia expects around 10 million Muslims to come from abroad during the current Umrah season.
The season started six months ago after the end of the annual Hajj pilgrimage season that around 1.8 million Muslims attended in Saudi Arabia for the first time in three years after the pandemic-related restrictions were lifted.
Zamzam containers are already provided for the faithful at the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque in the Saudi holy city of Medina.
The Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah urged pilgrims to pour Zamzam on the ground, keep sites blank and dispose of used water vessels in designated areas. Worshippers are also asked not to use water reserves to perform ritual ablutions.
Robots were introduced during the annual Hajj pilgrimage season to give away Zamzam bottles at the Grand Mosque without human intervention.
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