Hajj 2021: Why Hajj dey important for Muslims as Saudi Arabia ban foreigners

Despite say e be one of di fundamental practice by Muslims around di world, many pipo no go attend dis year Hajj.

Hajj for Islam be di pilgrimage to di holy city of Mecca for Saudi Arabia, wey every adult Muslim must make at least once in his or her lifetime.

Hajj na di fifth of di fundamental Muslim practices and institutions, wey dem sabi as Five Pillars of Islam.

On Saturday, authorities for Saudi Arabia, announce say dis year Hajj na only dia citizens and residents go attend sake of di coronavirus pandemic.

Di ministry wey dey manage di Islamic pilgrimage say dem go only allow 60,000 pipo - and dem must dey between di age of 18-65 years wey don collect di vaccine.

Di pilgrimage rite dey begin on di 7th day of Dhū al-Ḥijjah and end on di 12th day. Na Hajj be di last month for di Islamic calendar.

Last year, na just 1000 pipo dem allow to perform di pilgrimage because of di pandemic.

Why Hajj dey important for Muslims

Hajj dey compulsory for all Muslims wey dey physically and financially able to make the pilgrimage.

But dat one na on di condition say dia absence no go place hardships on dia family. Pesin fit perform Hajj by proxy, meaning say e fit appoint im relative or friend wey dey go for di pilgrimage to "stand in" for him or her.

Na prophet Muhammad establish Hajj, but variations don arise afta den, and di itinerary no dey strict like before as pipo no dey follow all di instructions wella.

Na about two million pipo dey perform Hajj each year, but coronavirus no gree make dat one happen since last year, and di rite dey serve as a unifying force in Islam as di believe na say e dey bring followers of diverse background togeda for religious celebration.

Any body wey don complete hajj, fit add di title Alhaji (for a male) or Alhaja (for a female) to im name. Di believe for muslims be say if dem perform dia hajj wella, e go wipe out previous sins for di sincere believer.

Why Saudi Arabia restrict attendance

Normally, more than two million pilgrims dey attend wetin be one of di five pillars of Islam.

"Those pipo wey dey wish to perform di Hajj must dey free of chronic diseases and dey vaccinated" and dey between di ages of 18 and 65, na so di ministry tok for statement on Saturday.

"Based on wetin di whole world dey witness wit di coronavirus pandemic … and di emergence of new variants, di relevant authorities dey monitor di global health situation," na so di statement add put.

So far Saudi Arabia don record more than 463,000 coronavirus infections, including 7,536 deaths.

Di health ministry say dem don give more than 15 million coronavirus vaccine doses, for di country wey dia population dey about 34 million.

'Hajj cancellation na di will of God'

Meanwhile di National Hajj Commission of Nigeria don accept Saudi Arabia decision to cancel dis year Hajj for international pilgrims.

Di Commission for statement say di cancellation "na di will of God"

"NAHCON respects di decision of Saudi Arabia in dis regard no matter how painful that decision be to us and to intending pilgrims worldwide.

"We don accept say na Allah divine design wey many pipo no go perform Hajj again dis year: di Kingdom of Saudi Arabia dey only play out script wey dey ordained by our Maker long before creation of di universe.