TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - King Salman bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud has instructed authorities to open the newly-expanded areas of Masjidil Haram in Mecca for use by the growing number of hajj and umrah pilgrims every year.
“King Salman has approved the opening of the completed areas of King Abdullah Haram Expansion Project for worshipers,” said Sheikh Abdul Rahman Al-Sudais, head of the Presidency of the Two Holy Mosques, as reported by Arab News on Sunday.
“The opening of the expanded area of King Abdullah project would ensure smooth flow of pilgrims and worshipers,” Al-Sudais said.
The expansion project will create additional space for at least 500,000 worshipers. The move is important as it will help accommodate the thousands of pilgrims from around the world for hajj and umrah.
King Salman also ordered the translation of the Juma sermon at the two holy mosques in Mecca and Medina in Turkish, Hausa, English, French, Urdu and Malay. The project also consists of additional prayer mats, Qur’an copies, sound systems and zamzam water cans.
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