SAUDI ARABIA: TENS OF THOUSANDS OF MUSLIMS PILGRIMS DECEND ON MEDINA ON ROUTE TO MECCA TO VISIT RESTING PLACE OF PROPHET MOHAMMAD

Record ID: 189802

  • Title: SAUDI ARABIA: TENS OF THOUSANDS OF MUSLIMS PILGRIMS DECEND ON MEDINA ON ROUTE TO MECCA TO VISIT RESTING PLACE OF PROPHET MOHAMMAD
  • Date: 26th February 2001
  • Summary: MEDINA, SAUDI ARABIA (FEBRUARY 26, 2001) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1. WS: THOUSANDS OF PILGRIMS, WEARING WHITE SHEETS, HEADING TO PROPHET'S MOHAMMED MOSQUE FOR NOON PRAYERS 0.12 2. VARIOUS OF EXTERIOR OF PROPHET'S MOHAMMED MOSQUE (2 SHOTS) 0.21 3. VARIOUS OF IRANIAN PILGRIMS OUTSIDE THE MOSQUE (2 SHOTS) 0.32 4. VARIOUS: NOON PRAYER IN PROGRESS (6 SHOTS) 1.06 5. MV: SAUDI SOLDIERS IN THE MOSQUE'S COURTYARD 1.11 6. SCU: (SOUNDBITE) (English) INDIAN PILGRIM ABDUL QADER SAYING: "I do not think we can ever be much more happier. And the content that we get when we come (into Prophet's mosque)... brings up all last history of fourteen thousand years". 1.25 7. WS/MV: VEILED WOMEN LOOKING TO PROPHET'S COMPANIONS GRAVES AT A CEMETERY BESIDE THE PROPHET'S MOSQUE (2 SHOTS) 1.36 8. VIEW OF THE CEMETERY THROUGH GATE AND DOVES BEING RELEASED THERE (2 SHOTS) 1.45 9. SLV: PILGRIMS 1.48 10. SCU: (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) PALESTINIAN PILGRIM BAKER IBRAHIM SAYING: "Pilgrims come to Prophet's mosque and to visit his tomb, greet the Prophet and ask God forgiveness and blessing" 1.58 11. SLV/WS'S: WORKERS CLEANING THE MOSQUE'S COURTYARDS (3 SHOTS) 2.13 12. VARIOUS: BUSES WAITING FOR PILGRIMS TO TAKE THEM TO THE HOLY CITY OF MECCA /PILGRIMS WAITING (4 SHOTS) 2.31 13. LV/CU: QUBA'A MOSQUE, THE FIRST MOSQUE TO BE BUILT UNDER ISLAM (2 SHOTS) 2.40 14. VARIOUS OF QIBLATAIN MOSQUE (4 SHOTS) 3.00 15. VARIOUS OF PROPHET'S MOSQUE AT DUSK 3.11 16. VARIOUS OF PILGRIMS OFFERING (MAGREB PRAYER), (SUNSET PRAYER) AT THE PROPHET'S MOSQUE (2 SHOTS) 3.26 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 13th March 2001 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: MEDINA, SAUDI ARABIA
  • Country: Saudi Arabia
  • Reuters ID: LVA7Z4GJFDRB45PC3887W0S2SKWV
  • Story Text: Tens of thousands of Muslim pilgrims have visited the
    resting place of Prophet Mohammad in the holy city of Medina
    in Saudi Arabia before heading to Mecca for the annual haj
    pilgrimage at the start of next month.


    Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims visited Medina on
    Monday (February 26) before or after they perform haj, the
    fifth pillar of Islam, in Mecca.

    "I do not think that we can be much more happier than now",
    said Indian pilgrim Abdul Qader.

    Just under two million pilgrims, around two thirds of whom
    are from outside Saudi Arabia, are expected to take part in
    the five-day ritual that starts on March 3 this year.

    Saudi authorities, who have the daunting task of ensuring
    another trouble-free pilgrimage, say preparations have been
    completed and the season was off to a good start with no
    incidents. The authorities, keen to ensure a haj free from the
    tragedies of the recent past, have spent more than 180 million
    U.S. dollars this year to improve facilities.

    A blaze in 1997 killed 343 pilgrims while up to 119 people
    died in a stampede in 1998. The last two years have seen a
    smooth haj and unlike other occasions, there has been no
    political bickering this year.

    More than 1.16 million pilgrims from around the world had
    arrived in the kingdom as of Sunday, local newspapers
    reported.

    Scores of buses, loaded with men in seamless white robes
    and women in veils and long dresses, later headed from Medina
    to Mecca.

    Masjed al-Nabawi, the second holiest shrine in Islam after
    Mecca's Grand Mosque, was built by the prophet after he moved
    from Mecca to Medina, some 500 km (320 miles) to the north, to
    avoid persecution from his tribe which rejected at first his
    call.

    Mohammad built a solid base of support in Medina and led a
    Muslim army that conquered Mecca without shedding a drop of
    blood and led to the flourishing of Islam across Arabia 14
    centuries ago.

    The mosque today is an impressive structure with 10
    340-feet high minarets, marble floor and delicately colourful
    ceiling. It can take just under 200,000 worshippers inside and
    another 450,000 in the immediate vicinity.

    The mosque is surrounded by five-star hotels and shopping
    centres. Cleaning teams ensure the mosque and nearby streets
    remain clean and tidy while police in civilian clothes look
    after security.

    Every able-bodied Muslim who has the financial means must
    perform haj at least once in a lifetime. Muslims believe those
    who perform it with a sincere heart will be as pure again as
    the day they were born.

    The haj, which culminates with Eid al-Adha (Feast of
    Sacrifice), reaches a climax on March 4 when the faithful pray
    at Mount Arafat, the site of Prophet Mohammad's last sermon 14
    centuries ago.
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