Pakistan Has Highest Number of Umrah Pilgrims

TEHRAN (IQNA) – Pakistan has had the highest number of nationalities who visited Saudi Arabia until last week to perform the Umrah (minor Hajj).

The number of Umrah pilgrims from Pakistan reached 1.45 million pilgrims, followed by Indonesia with 9,22,018, while India has ranked third with 6,21,742 pilgrims this year, according to Saudi ministry of hajj and Umrah figures.

Egypt ranked fourth estimated at 5,10,119 pilgrims until May 16, according to the cumulative statistics of the weekly Umrah Index.

As the holy month of Ramadan is the month of purifying the soul and body, many Muslims across the world prefer to perform Umrah during Ramadan, as it is considered equal to the Hajj in reward, which makes this month a high season for Umrah.

The ministry said the Saudi Arabia’s Umrah index monitored 7.2m visa issuances until last Thursday, bringing the total number of arrivals to 6.6 million pilgrims.

Umrah is an Islamic pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, performed by Muslims that can be undertaken at any time of the year, in contrast to Ḥajj which has specific dates according to the Islamic lunar calendar.

Source: The Kashmir Reader