#Hajj2020 to remember indeed : Hajj in time of coronavirus

There are millions of Muslims worldwide who envy those lucky few who enjoyed very unique and organized Hajj this year for the most unexpected reasons.

Earlier Saudi Arabia decided to downsize the Hajj or Islamic pilgrimage from 2.5 million pilgrims from around the globe to 10,000 pilgrims from residents and Saudis living in the Kingdom.

Saudi authorities had to downsize the Hajj due to Coronavirus outbreak.

They could have cancelled it as they did with Umra pilgrimage and the decision would have been supported religiously but because we are speaking about Hajj pilgrimage; one of the original pillars of Islam, I think it was kind of huge challenge. 

One can say that the Saudi authorities succeeded in arranging unforgettable Hajj Season for Hijri year 1441/2020.

The photos were amazing like every year but this time they were unique. This post is to memorize Hajj in time of coronavirus. 

The pilgrims around the Kaaba in Masjid Al-Haram  "CGG Saudi government"

Waiting for prayer at the Kaaba inside Al-Masjid Al-Haram "@Hsharifain"

Never ever Al-Masjed Al-Haram was that empty 
Amazing shot for the famous Al-Haram pigeons flying high by AP

Rain and Thunder at the Masjid Al-Haram in Mecca last Wednesday
by Mal Bustani

Masjid Al-Haram shot taken by Satellite in
2020 during the Hajj season, a very rare scene 
coz it was never empty like this before 

Here is the Farwell Tawaf time-lapse.

#فيديو
إدارة الحشود في المسجد الحرام
خلال #حج_1441#بسلام_آمنين
⬇️ pic.twitter.com/J0LOd9lRLS

— إمارة منطقة مكة (@makkahregion) August 3, 2020

The lucky 10,000 had a truly one-lifetime experience without a doubt.

May Allah accept their pilgrimage and cleanse them from all their sins.

Personally, I want to say this Hajj season 2020 was a lesson to the greedy Hajj merchants and business in Egypt; especially in Egypt.

Hajj prices were crazy in Egypt.

The prices of Hajj special flights on EgyptAir not Saudi Airlines for instance from Cairo to Jeddah in 2019 were more expensive than the economic flight to Japan or South Asia whereas we got the Red Sea between us and Saudi Arabia !!

The greedy Hajj and Omra organizers lost millions and I hope they had had a good time to rethink about their greed if they have any brains or self-respect.

By the way, I expect that next year inshallah Saudi Arabia will allow a bigger number but not 2.5 million because we have not seen the end of coronavirus yet.

Comparison between Hajj in 2019 and 2020 by Reuters