Saudi King to host 50 Filipino Hajj pilgrims

Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz will host 50 Filipino Muslim pilgrims for the Hajj program in the oil-rich country this month, according to the Saudi Embassy in Manila.

A send-off ceremony for the 50 pilgrims was held in Manila on Friday by the Saudi Embassy. The pilgrims will visit Mecca where they will perform their Hajj and Umrah.

The Hajj program “emphasizes the leading and prestigious stature of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the Islamic world level, considering that it is the direction of prayers 'Kiblah' of all Muslims and as a leader in all Islamic endeavors benefitting the Muslim nation 'Ummah'," said Charge d' Affaires Abdulelah Aljebreen of the Saudi Embassy during the ceremony.

The 50 Filipino pilgrims are among the 1,400 pilgrims from 80 countries who were sponsored by the Saudi King to perform Hajj, which is known as the fifth pillar of Islam.

Aljebreen said Saudi has been persistently exerting continuous efforts to achieve Muslim unity and to alleviate their status.

A special program and arrangement for the guests to allow has been prepared by the King for the pilgrims "to perform their pilgrimage completely in accordance with the virtuous Islamic manner," said Aljebreen.

"Working teams have been deployed and assigned to look after the guests by providing them luxurious accommodations and other services that befit them as guests," he added.

Besides performing Hajj and Umrah, the 50 Filipino Muslim guests of the Saudi King will also visit Madinah Al Munawwarah for them to pray at the Holy Mosque of Prophet Mohammed.

The Saudi envoy said there have been more than 22,000 Muslims across the world who have been sponsored by King Abdullah in performing their Hajj in Saudi Arabia.

Commissioner Mirkarl Allian of the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) said a total of 5,600 Muslim Filipinos will go to Saudi this month for the Hajj program. — KBK, GMA News