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Saudi Arabia concludes downsized hajj amid pandemic

Muslim pilgrims circled Islam's holiest site along socially distanced paths Sunday in the final ritual of the hajj, the smallest in modern history as Saudi authorities sought to prevent a coronavirus outbreak. Only up to 10,000 Muslims took part in the hajj, a far cry from the 2.5 million...

Hosting limited hajj required 'double efforts': Saudi king

Organising this year's scaled-down hajj required "double efforts" by Saudi authorities amid the coronavirus pandemic, King Salman said Friday after being discharged from hospital following gall bladder surgery. Only up to 10,000 people already residing in the kingdom are participating in...

Out of hospital, Saudi King tweets Eid greetings

Saudi Arabia’s 84-year-old ruler, King Salman bin Abdulaziz, tweeted Eid al-Adha greetings early on Friday, shortly after leaving hospital. The Saudi King, custodian of Islam’s holiest sites, left King Faisal hospital on Thursday after undergoing surgery to remove his gallbladder...

Very different, symbolic hajj in Saudi Arabia amid virus

Muslim pilgrims, donning face masks and moving in small groups after days in isolation, began arriving to Islam’s holiest site in Mecca Wednesday for the start of a historically unique and scaled-down hajj experience reshaped by the coronavirus pandemic. The hajj is one of Islam's most...