Saudi Arabian authorities have passed a significant reform by appointing female workers at the Holy Ka’aba to perform various duties. The core responsiblity of the workers will be to serve female worshippers who come to pray and visit the Holy Ka’aba.
— الهيئة العامة للعناية بشؤون الحرمين (@AlharamainSA) May 3, 2021
According to details, the General Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques has appointed an estimated 1,500 females in different departments. A total of 600 women have been recruited in the Technical and Service Affairs Agency.
Previously, in a first, the Saudi Ministry of Interior had introduced historic reforms, appointing female security officers for the first time at the Grand Mosque.
According to the preliminary findings of IMF- Saudi Arabia, the Saudi female labour force participation rate is estimated to have increased by 13 percentage points to over 33 per cent over the past two years. This increase in percentage will help boost productivity, growth, and household incomes as these women become employed.
In a short period of just two years, the labour force participation rate of of Saudi women in the labour market expanded by an incredible 64 per cent in just two years.
Saudi Arabia has announced that it will strictly limit the number of people who can take part in this year’s Hajj pilgrimage because of the coronavirus, putting to rest the fears that Hajj might be cancelled altogether. Saudi Hajj Minister Mohammed Banten had asked Muslims to delay finalising their plans “until the situation is clear” back in March.
In a statement, Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah said that the annual Holy pilgrimage would be restricted to a very limited numbers of pilgrims of all nationalities who are already residing in Saudi Arabia. The statement said that as COVID-19 cases continue to grow globally, and because of the risks of coronavirus spreading in crowded spaces and from other countries, the Hajj will “take place this year with a limited number of pilgrims from all nationalities residing in Saudi Arabia only, who are willing to perform Hajj.”
“This decision is taken to ensure Hajj is performed in a safe manner from a public health perspective while observing all preventative measures and the necessary social distancing protocols to protect human beings from the risks associated with this pandemic and in accordance with the teachings of Islam in preserving the lives of human beings,” the statement added.
Pakistan’s Ministry of Religious Affairs Noor-ul-Haq Qadri shared the Urdu version of the press release and said that the KSA’s Minister of Hajj and Umrah contacted him via telephone to let him know about Saudi Arabia’s decision about this year’s Hajj.
سعودی وزارت حج و عمرہ نے حج کی ادئیگی سے متعلق پریس ریلیز جاری کر دی، سعودی وزیر حج و عمرہ کا وفاقی وزیر مذہبی امور پیر نور الحق قادری سے ٹیلی فون پر رابطہ، ڈاکٹر صالح بن بنتن نے حج سے متعلق فیصلے سے باضابطہ طور پر آگاہ کیا: عمران صدیقی ترجمان مذہبی امور #HAJJ2020pic.twitter.com/h4K9BzaQdy
— Ministry of Religious Affairs & Interfaith Harmony (@MORAisbOfficial) June 22, 2020
Hajj is one of Islam’s most important religious obligations. Recently, singer Atif Aslam expressed his desire to recitethe Azaan at the Holy Kaaba in Makkah.
Atif Aslam has expressed that he wishes to recite the Azaan at the Holy Kaaba in Makkah.
“It is my biggest wish to recite the Azaan at the Holy Kaaba. I hope it will come true one day Insha’Allah” said Atif, in a recent interview with Hamid Mir.
Hamza Ali Abbasi, with whom Atif Aslam performed Hajj in 2019, said that he hopes Allah accepts his dua.
The award-winning singer also shared why he decided to recite and record the Azaan.
“I had heard that in Prophet Muhammad (S)’s time when things used to be tough, people used to go to their roofs and recite the Azaan. That is where the idea came from and without any hesitation or second thoughts, I went ahead with it,” said the singer.
“A day before recording it, I couldn’t sleep at night and couldn’t contain my excitement. The feeling was beyond words. I never thought I’d be blessed enough to get a chance like this,” he added. Atif’s recitation of the Azaan received acclaim from across the world.
Atif also talked about his rendition of Asma ul’ Husna [the 99 names of Allah] for Coke Studio.
“In life, we do a lot of things, some good, some bad. Just like I ended up performing Tajdar-e-Haram, Asma ul’ Husna also came my way and I consider myself very lucky to have gotten a chance to perform it. I cannot explain my feelings at the point when I was recording it.”
Atif also shared that Al Mu’izz (The Honourer, The Bestower), Al Muzil (The Dishonourer, The Humiliator) were his favourite names.
Meanwhile, Atif denounced and shut down all rumours and reports that he is quitting the music industry, like Junaid Jamshed.
“This is a very personal matter,” said Atif. “I want to keep my religion and my profession together as I move in life. I won’t say I will be giving up on music entirely, but I want to highlight important aspects of religion like the 99 names of Allah and Tajdar-e-Haram.”
“I feel very happy when young people tell me that they are listening to Allah’s names or Tajdar-e-Haram through my music. So, no I am still not quitting music.”
Atif also revealed that his all-time favourite musician is Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan.
“NFAK’s qawwalis and compositions have always been my favourite,” said Atif. “I feel sad that we did not appreciate him enough back then. And I wish he was alive so that I could have met him.”
Aslam also shared that when he was young, he wanted to be a cricketer and even pursued it in the U-19’s as a fast bowler. However, his parents advised him to focus on his studies instead.
“I wouldn’t be here without my parent’s blessings,” he remarked.
