Why are Muslims finding it harder to complete the haj?

[mota bhai 2,675]

Oct 13th 2013, 23:50 by S.B. | CAIRO

The Koran says that all Islam's followers who are physically and financially able should make the annual pilgrimage—one of five pillars of Islam—once in their lifetime ... This year many who had hoped to make the pilgrimage have been disappointed. Why?

...

The growing global Muslim population of 1.6 billion, coupled with cheaper international travel, has brought its own problems. Back in 2004, 2.2m Muslims went to Mecca. Last year the number was 3.2m, the highest ever ... This year Saudi Arabia, which gives a quota of haj visas to each country on the basis of the size of its Muslim population, has slashed the number of visas for foreign pilgrims by 20%, as it carries out renovation works to expand the capacity of the Grand Mosque. Thanks to an outbreak of the coronavirus in the Kingdom, many countries have asked elderly and sick Muslims not to travel. First-time pilgrims have been given priority.

...

Some disappointed would-be pilgrims have come up with more novel solutions. In Istanbul Turkish Muslims watched videos of Mecca as actors gave them a virtual tour of the holy land. Next year the renovations should mean more visas once again. But the growing number of Muslims, and growing prosperity in many Muslim countries, means the backlog is likely to grow: South Africa recently announced that citizens on the waiting list may face another six years before they get a slot.

http://www.economist.com/node/21587947?fsrc=scn/fb/wl/bl/ee/whyaremuslimsfindingharderhaj

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

Oct 13th 2013, 23:50 by S.B. | CAIRO

The Koran says that all Islam's followers who are physically and financially able should make the annual pilgrimage—one of five pillars of Islam—once in their lifetime ... This year many who had hoped to make the pilgrimage have been disappointed. Why?

...

The growing global Muslim population of 1.6 billion, coupled with cheaper international travel, has brought its own problems. Back in 2004, 2.2m Muslims went to Mecca. Last year the number was 3.2m, the highest ever ... This year Saudi Arabia, which gives a quota of haj visas to each country on the basis of the size of its Muslim population, has slashed the number of visas for foreign pilgrims by 20%, as it carries out renovation works to expand the capacity of the Grand Mosque. Thanks to an outbreak of the coronavirus in the Kingdom, many countries have asked elderly and sick Muslims not to travel. First-time pilgrims have been given priority.

...

Some disappointed would-be pilgrims have come up with more novel solutions. In Istanbul Turkish Muslims watched videos of Mecca as actors gave them a virtual tour of the holy land. Next year the renovations should mean more visas once again. But the growing number of Muslims, and growing prosperity in many Muslim countries, means the backlog is likely to grow: South Africa recently announced that citizens on the waiting list may face another six years before they get a slot.

http://www.economist.com/node/21587947?fsrc=scn/fb/wl/bl/ee/whyaremuslimsfindingharderhaj

They need to build out reach meccas kind of like the traveling Vietnam wall

3.2 million visitors.. that is a serious tourist draw..We need one here

[mota bhai 2,675]

They need to build out reach meccas kind of like the traveling Vietnam wall

3.2 million visitors.. that is a serious tourist draw..We need one here

Mormonism is well funded and is the one major religion that was invented right here in the United States. All we need to do is remove that pesky Establishment clause, embrace Mormonism as the national faith and spread it worldwide the way those medieval armies once spread Islam. Except we'll use drones instead of swords. You know, to keep it contemporary.