Saudi Arabia Concerned Over Increasing Number Of Haj Pilgrims With Health Problems

MAKKAH, Sept 22 (Bernama) -- Saudi Arabia has expressed concern over the increasing number of haj pilgrims arriving with chronic or serious health problems as this posed a health hazard to others. This also put additional pressure on the health facilities in the holy cities, Arab News said in its news portal www.arabnews.com Sunday. Abdallah Al-Asiri, the Deputy Minister for Preventive Health, was quoted as saying by the portal that although the Haj is mandatory for Muslims if they are physically and financially able, many pilgrims were ignoring the stipulation, which was a matter of concern." He said many Muslims in different parts of the world strongly believe that death during the Haj or in holy cities would give them a place in heaven, and this belief had caused the pilgrims to hide their health problems when undertaking the pilgrimage. He urged Islamic scholars in other countries to emphasise the fact that physical ability was a condition for performing the Haj. --BERNAMA