Hajj

Arab News reports that the government of Saudi Arabia is asking Muslims to postpone their performance of the Hajj this year, especially if they have done it before, in order to ease congestion amidst ongoing construction at the Masjid Al-Haram in Makkah.  In past years, nearly 3 million people have gathered for the Hajj. Saudi Arabia began the expansion project in 2011 to accommodate additional crowds in safety and comfort.  This year, with much of the mataf (space for tawaf) closed off for construction, the government has requested to reduce the number of domestic pilgrims by 50% and foreign pilgrims by 20%.  Anyone planning to travel for Hajj this year should be aware of the situation and anticipate restrictions.