MAKKAH — More than 100 religious scholars, researchers and experts met here for a second day on Wednesday to discuss as many as 60 working papers on the jurisprudence of Haj and Umrah, in addition to a host of other issues pertaining to the pilgrimage, including among others environment, economy, media, awareness, architecture, crisis management, contagious diseases and the development of services being offered to the guests of God. On behalf of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman, Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Naif, deputy premier, minister of interior and chairman of the Supreme Haj Committee, opened the gathering on Tuesday. He was welcomed on arrival by Makkah Emir Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, Minister of Haj and Umrah Mohammed Saleh Banten and other top officials. The crown prince and other participants watched a documentary about the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Haj Research Institute, which is organizing the meeting, and the programs it has so far implemented, aimed at ensuring the pilgrims and visitors with consummate services that will enable them do their rites in ease, peace and comfort. The institute was established 42 years ago to undertake studies and research relating to the Haj and Umrah. It started its activities as a research unit of King Abdulaziz University in Jeddah before it became affiliated to Umm Al-Qura University in Makkah. In its first session, the meeting discussed the issues of management, economy and the jurisprudence (Fiqh) of Haj and Umrah. Abdullah Mohammed Abdul Rahman, a researcher at the institute, presented a working paper titled "The social and economic dimensions of vendors at the central area of Madinah: a field study". The impact of contagious diseases on the performance of Haj and Umrah was the second working paper. It was presented by Khaled Al-Jiraisi of Umm Al-Qura University. The paper said sick people with epidemic diseases should not be allowed to perform Haj or Umrah so as not to transfer their diseases to healthy pilgrims. Fatima Al-Zuwaihri, a female professor at Yanbu University College, presented a working paper titled "Crisis management and its role in the safety and security of the pilgrims". The crown prince honored former Haj Minister Bandar Hajjar for his distinguished efforts in promoting the Haj services, former president of the Islamic Development Bank Ahmed Mohammed Ali for his role in the Sacrificial Meat Project, which the bank carries out every year during the Haj, and Habib Zainul Abideen for the great efforts he had exerted while he was the chairman of the central department for the promotion of development projects in the Holy Sites.
