JEDDAH — Under the leadership of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman, Saudi Arabia's successful organization of Hajj amid exceptional circumstances in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic has drawn global praise. As the annual pilgrimage came to a close on Thursday, Bahrain's King Hamad Bin Isa Al-Khalifa and Kuwait's Emir Sheikh Nawaf Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah were among the first leaders who sent cables of congratulations to King Salman on the successful and hassle-free organization of this year's Hajj amid coronavirus precautionary measures to ensure the highest levels of safety and health for pilgrims. In his cable, King Hamad expressed best wishes to pilgrims and wished the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques good health, happiness, and long life. He also extended greetings to the Arab and Islamic world and wished for more security and prosperity for Saudi Arabia. The Kuwaiti emir commended Saudi Arabia's expansion works at Makkah's Grand Mosque to facilitate the performance of Hajj rituals and the services provided to the pilgrims, praying for more progress and prosperity of the Kingdom. Bahrain's Crown Prince Salman Bin Hamad Al-Khalifa also sent a cable of congratulations to King Salman and Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman on the successful organization of this year's Hajj. Bahrain's crown prince commended Saudi Arabia's extraordinary efforts, led by King Salman and Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman, to hold this year's Hajj season amid all precautionary measures to ensure the safety and health of the pilgrims. Meanwhile, Arab Parliament President Adel Bin Abdulrahman Al-Asoumi in a statement on Thursday lauded the health and security measures taken by Saudi Arabia to make the Hajj season a success. The Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Dr. Yousef Ahmed Al-Othaimeen, also congratulated the Saudi leadership in a statement. Al-Othaimeen confirmed that the Kingdom's government provided a lesson in managing crises and large crowds, as it is able to organize the rite of Hajj in light of the crisis of the novel coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) without recording any harm among the pilgrims. He attributed the successful Hajj season to a series of solid measures and decisions taken by Saudi Arabia since the outbreak of the epidemic, and confining the season to a limited number of pilgrims, to ensure that the ritual is held in a safe atmosphere as well as ensure the safety of everyone from the threats of the coronavirus pandemic. He also commended the Kingdom's adoption, during the Hajj season, of the principle of preserving the human soul of the pilgrims. Pakistan's Ulema Council also hailed the success of this year's Hajj season, expressing utmost thanks, gratitude and appreciation of the great endeavors exerted, wise decisions taken, and comprehensive plan endorsed and applied by Saudi Arabia to regulate the workings of this year's Hajj season.
