IMPACT ON HAJJ AND UMRAH WORSHIP

The covid-19 pandemic has affected all religious worship worldwide. Many religious
activities have to be cancelled or postponed. Besides having a profound effect other religious
activities, it also had a very significant impact on Hajj and Umrah worship for every Muslim
throughout the world. The Saudi government has urged Muslims around the world to abstain
from performing Hajj this year in light of the growing proliferation of the Corona virus. All
Muslims in the world are temporarily forced to discourage them from carrying out the Hajj
and Umrah. The savings they saved, the enormous effort, and the very serious intentions had
to be buried. God has planned it all through the universe with this deadly plague.

Since the beginning of March, Saudi Arabia has stopped Hajj and Umrah worship
until the time limit that has not been determined, the city of Mecca and Medina has been
temporarily closed by the government to anticipate the spread of the Corona virus. The news
was conveyed by Minister of Hajj and Umrah Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Muhammad Saleh bin Taher Benten. The two holy cities have been quiet without visitors for
a while, this has also been conveyed by the Indonesian Ministry of Religion, of course this
has big impact for Muslims in carrying out the fifth pillar of Islam, and the Sunnah in
performing the Umrah. Their worship had to be postponed for some time until certainty,
hundreds of Hajj and Umrah travel suffered many losses in their business.

Some mosque in Saudi Arabia are also closed like Masjidil- Haram and others, the
mosque will re-open if there is a schedule and only a few people are allowed into it. The
atmosphere of the two holy cities was so quiet and silent as usual, which was filled with a sea
of people in intention of hoping the pleasure of Allah SWT. The Saud Arabia government
now chooses to serve their communities affected by this outbreak, because they want the
disease to be widespread and prolonged. The Saudi Arabia government also promised to
serve Muslims who want to perform worship with pleasure. This is done by many authorities
which is none other than for the safety of millions of human beings. Government fears of
mounting casualties is one reason.

This pandemic has taken millions of soul, claimed millions of lives. Amid many
parties meritorious continued to strive in solving the puzzle of this terrible plague, serving the
infected with all their hearts, even ready to risk their lives. For the time being social
distancing is the best solution for everyone to prevent transmissions of this disease, and of
course this is one of the accurate reasons of government policy for the time being. Until now
it has not been determined how long the activities for this worship will begin again, many say
that the Hajj will be closed this year, but the Saudi Arabia government has denied it and said
that if there is a possibility the Hajj will reopen in 2020 again.