More than one and a half million faithful are currently performing prayers five times a day in Haram Al-Sharif while their number keeps increasing by several thousands each day as more Muslims from abroad and Saudi Arabia arrive here for performing Haj, which is now 29 days away by the Hijra calendar as being observed here, reports UPP special correspondent, Mahmudul Aziz.
The number of Pakistani Haj pilgrims is also increasing with the arrival daily of special flights at Jeddah from where the Haj pilgrims are brought direct to Makkah.
The same applies to Haj pilgrims who reach Madina and after prayers at Madina are transported by special Haj transport to Makkah. At the prayer time five times each day, the entire Masjid Al-Haram and its surroundings are completely full of faithful while thousands are also performing the Umrah ritual on the first day of their arrival in Makkah.
Places of stay for the Haj pilgrims from different countries have already been properly demarcated and occupied.
Meanwhile, the High Haj Council is overseeing arrangements that will be in force during the Haj week in the first 10 days of January, 2006 with the Haj Day - Youme Waquf - to be notified by the Royal Court after sighting of the moon for the month of Zilhaj.
For the Muslims assembled here, the Islamic summit has been a unique occasion. It has excited considerable interest among the people here.