Hajj Flakes – Wednesday, 4 June 2025 | 8 Dhul-Hijjah 1446 AH
By Abdullahi Yusuf
1. Hajj 2025 begins as pilgrims arrive at Mina, marking the start of the annual rites. Pilgrims will spend the day and night in Mina before heading to Arafat at dawn on 9 Dhul-Hijjah.
2. Pakistan Hajj Mission issues new ‘Rami’ and Sacrifice schedules, directing Maktab leaders to strictly observe designated time slots on 10 Dhul-Hijjah. Pilgrims must follow Nazims to perform Jamarat rites accordingly.
3. Forum of State Muslim Pilgrims Executives raises alarm over Nigerian pilgrims without Nusuk registration, warning such pilgrims risk being excluded from key Hajj activities. Also highlights acute bed shortage in Madinah.
4. NAHCON Chairman, Prof. Abdullahi Saleh Usman, reaffirms commitment to pilgrims’ welfare, applauds staff for dedication during a pre-Arafah stakeholders’ meeting in Makkah.
5. New guidelines issued for pilgrim transport from Makkah to Mashair, as Taradudhiyah experts urge compliance with scheduled movement to avoid disruption.
6. Kwara State Governor performs Umrah ahead of Hajj, prays for peace and prosperity in Nigeria, and seeks divine guidance for leadership.
7. Saudi Arabia bans photography, chanting, and political flags at Holy Sites to maintain sanctity. Offenders face strict penalties across Masjid al-Haram, Mina, Arafat, and Muzdalifah.
8. Lagos State disburses 180 SAR to 1,315 pilgrims, with Governor Sanwo-Olu fulfilling earlier pledges for upkeep, ihram wear, ziyarah, and Hadiyah.
9. Indonesian lawmakers urge stricter immigration control, to stop citizens travelling for Hajj using non-Hajj visas or illegal channels.
10. Saudi Arabia provides free high-speed internet to all pilgrims, deploying 10,500 WiFi points across Makkah, Madinah, and holy sites to enhance digital access.
11. 62 air carriers operate 3,314 Hajj flights from 238 destinations, with 4,700 Haramain Rail trips scheduled this season, an increase of 400,000 seats over 2024, according to Saudi Transport Ministry.
12. Did You Know?: The First World War disrupted Hajj travel, especially from India and Southeast Asia, due to sea blockades and collapsing Ottoman infrastructure.
13. Fun Fact: In 1954, radio broadcasts from Makkah allowed Muslims across the world to hear the takbeerat and khutbah of Arafah for the first time.
14. Fun Fact: The first plane journey for Hajj was recorded in the 1930s from Cairo, a trip that took over 12 hours and required several stops.
15. Fun Fact: In some eras, pilgrims engraved their names into rock outcrops near Makkah and Arafah, these historic inscriptions, some over 1,000 years old, have been preserved by Saudi authorities.
16. Did You Know?: Some Jewish and Christian travelers disguised themselves as Muslims to witness Hajj, one example is Joseph Pitts, an Englishman who published a rare 17th-century Hajj account.
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