ISLAM’S HOLIEST & SITE. MATT BRADLEY HAS &
MORE ON THE &
CHANGES TO THIS
YEAR. &
>> YOU CAN CHALK &
THIS UP TO &
ANOTHER MASSIVE &
RELIGIOUS EVENT &
BEING SEEN &
DURING THE TIME &
OF THE PANDEMIC &
WHERE RELIGIOUS &
LEADERS WHO &
NORMALLY WOULD &
BE IN CHARGE OF &
BRINGING PEOPLE &
TOGETHER ARE &
ONCE AGAIN &
TRYING TO
ACTUALLY KEEP
PEOPLE APART. &
I SPOKE TO YOU A &
COUPLE OF MONTHS &
AGO FROM ROME &
DURING THE &
EASTERN &
CELEBRATION. &
SAME THING &
THERE.
THE HODGE IS SO &
MUCH BIGGER AND &
INVOLVES 2 &
MILLION TO 2 AND &
HALF MILLION &
PEOPLE COMING &
FROM ALL OVER &
THE WORLD, ONE &
OF THE FIVE &
PILLARS OF &
ISLAM. &
MUSLIMS ARE &
EXPECTED AT SOME &
POINT IN THEIR &
LIVES TO ATTEND
THE HODGE.
THAT IS ONE OF &
THE MAJOR &
TRAGEDIES WE ARE &
SEEING UNDER &
COVERT BECAUSE &
ALL OF THOSE WHO &
WILL BE &
ATTENDING THIS &
YEAR HAVE AND
CAREFULLY VETTED &
BY THE SAUDI &
GOVERNMENT. &
THEY HAVE ALL
BEEN TESTED AND &
ELDERLY PEOPLE, &
THOSE MOST IN &
NEED TO COMPLETE &
THE PILGRIMAGE &
BEFORE THEY DIE, &
THEY HAVE BEEN &
EXCLUDED.
>> AUTHORITIES &
HAVE SAID THAT &
NO ONE OUTSIDE
SAUDI ARABIA &
WILL BE ALLOWED
TO ATTEND.
ONLY THOSE WHO &
ARE NATIONALS &
LIVING IN SAUDI &
ARABIA, OR THOSE &
WHO ARE &
FOREIGNERS &
LIVING IN SAUDI &
ARABIA ARE AMONG &
THOSE WHO HAVE &
BEEN SELECTED. &
THEY HAVE TO GO &
THROUGH SOME &
VERY SERIOUS &
PRECAUTIONS.
THEY ARE &
EXPECTED TO &
QUARANTINE FOR A &
WEEK BEFORE &
ARRIVING IN
MECCA AND, FOR &
TWO WEEKS, &
EXCUSE ME, AND &
SUPPOSED TO &
SPEND THE LAST
SEVERAL DAYS AT &
A HOTEL IN &
MECCA. &
THEY ARE &
SUPPOSED TO &
QUARANTINE AGAIN &
AFTER THE HODGE &
IS OVER IN ORDER &
TO JUST ENSURE
THAT THEY DO NOT
HAVE THE DISEASE &
AND THEY ARE &
GOING TO BE TEST
FOR FEVERS AND &
FOR THE ACTUAL &
DISEASE &
THROUGHOUT THE
ENTIRE TIME.
WHAT THEY ARE &
PERFORMING, THEY &
ARE ALSO &
EXPECTED TO &
SOCIALLY &
DISTANCE. &
THEY ARE NOT &
ALLOWED TO SHARE
RUGS OR TOUCH
THE CUBE IN THE &
CENTER OF THE &
MOSQUE IN MECCA
THAT IS THE &
FOCAL POINT OF &
THE HODGE
CEREMONIES. &
ALSO, WHEN THEY &
ARE SUPPOSED TO &
BE THROWING &
STONES OF THE &
DEVIL, THIS IS &
ONE OF THE &
CEREMONIES
INVOLVED IN THE &
HODGE, THOSE &
STONES ARE GOING &
TO HAVE BEEN &
BASICALLY &
STERILIZED BY &
THE SAUDI
GOVERNMENT, SO
THAT IS A MAJOR &
DIFFERENCE &
BECAUSE AGAIN, &
THIS CEREMONY, &
LIKE SO MANY OF
THE RELIGIOUS
CEREMONIES THAT
HAVE BEEN &
CURTAILED OR &
CANCELED, THIS &
IS ALL ABOUT
UNITY, ABOUT
BRINGING PEOPLE &
TOGETHER.
IT IS A &
DEMONSTRATION OF &
THE GLOBAL SPREAD
OF ISLAM, AND &
NOW IT HAS BEEN &
IMPACTED BY THE &
GLOBAL SPREAD OF
THE CORONAVIRUS.
A LOT OF THE &
FAITHFUL ARE &
HOPING THIS IS &
GOING TO CHANGE &
FOR NEXT YEAR. &
WE SPOKE WITH &
ONE WOMAN &
ATTENDING THE &
HODGE THIS YEAR. &
THIS IS WHAT SHE &
HAD TO SAY.
>> WE DID SEVEN &
DAYS, AND WE ARE &
DOING THE REST.
IT IS NOT ONLY &
QUARANTINE.
WE ARE BEING &
TRACKED. ACTUALLY
, WE HAVE BEEN &
SAFE. OF COURSE
WE DON’T FEEL ANY&
DISAPPOINTMENT.
WE ARE VERY &
HAPPY. &
>> MANY ARE &
FEELING LUCKY &
THAT THEY WERE &
AMONG THE SELECT &
FEW TO ATTEND,
BUT IT REQUIRES &
A LOT OF &
SACRIFICE, AND
ONE THAT FOR &
THESE MUSLIMS &
WHO ARE ALLOWED
TO ATTEND THIS &
YEAR, THEY FEEL