Cairo: Children in strollers are denied access to a courtyard of the Grand Mosque, Islam’s holiest site in Mecca, where Muslims perform a ritual circumambulation around the Holy Kaaba.
The General Authority for the Maintenance of the Two Holy Mosques, a Saudi state agency, has designated spaces where strollers are allowed or prohibited, the Saudi newspaper Okaz reported.
The prams are not allowed to enter the circumambulation area known as mataf, while they are allowed into the upper floors of the mataf as well as into the ma’sa area where the ritual running between Safa and Marwa inside the mosque is performed.
However, strollers are not allowed on the upper floors of the mataf and ma’sa domain in case of congestion.
The Grand Mosque of Mecca is home to the Holy Kaaba, and attracts millions of Muslims from all over the world to offer prayers and perform Umrah or a small pilgrimage.
Umrah, which can be performed annually at the Grand Mosque, includes two key rituals: Tawaf or circumambulation of the Holy Kaaba; and Sa’i, which makes seven circles between the hills of Safa and Marwa.
The numbers of Umrah pilgrims reached record 13.5 million last year, Saudi Minister of Hajj and Umrah Tawfiq Al Rabiah said earlier this month.
Saudi Arabia, Islam’s birthplace, has in recent months introduced a host of facilities for Muslims wishing to come to the country for Umrah. Saudi authorities have extended the Umrah visa from 30 days to 90 and allowed holders to enter the kingdom via all land, air and sea outlets and leave from any airport.
In addition, Saudi Arabia has allowed its citizens to apply to invite their friends to stop in the kingdom and adopt Umrah. Pilgrim MTAs are no longer required to be escorted by male guardians.
The kingdom also said that expatriates living in Gulf Cooperation Council countries can apply for a tourist visa, regardless of their profession, and perform Umrah.
Initial preparations are already underway in Saudi Arabia for the annual Hajj pilgrimage that will take place this year in June in Mecca.
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