What Hajj Looks Like During Covid-19

 Every year, around 2.5 million people perform Hajj. However, assembling this many people in one area could have dramatic repercussions in a global pandemic. For the second year in a row, due to COVID-19, the Saudi authorities declared that Hajj would be limited to the Kingdom's residents exclusively. What has Hajj looked like exactly during Covid-19? Read on to find out!

What Happened To Hajj In 2020 Due To The Pandemic?

In the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia declared on June 22, 2020, that it would host a "very restricted" Hajj. The Hajj was closed to the rest of the world, with a quota of just 1,000 pilgrims who were inhabitants of the Kingdom.

The decision, as wise, understandable and commendable as it was, made the heart of thousands upon thousands of Muslims around the world very heavy with sadness, as the chance to embark on the pilgrimage is hard to come by. It is held only once a year and requires a lot of planning and financing on the individual side.

It was particularly disheartening for many who had already been picked by Hajj agencies in their own countries but were unable to go to the Kingdom. The quota system is managed by each country's national Hajj organization, and pilgrims might wait up to 20 years in line.

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