The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has advised Nigerian pilgrims to delay performing the Jamarat rite (symbolic throwing of pebbles at the devil) until after 4 pm (local Saudi Arabia time) to avoid the intense midday heat.
The temperature in Mecca as of Monday is between 47 to 51 degrees celcious.
NAHCON issued this advisory on Monday, citing a directive from the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Hajj and Umrah. The commission also shared this guidance through its social media platforms.
The full statement reads:
Urgent Notice to All Hajj Office Heads
By the directives of His Excellency the Deputy Minister of Hajj and Umrah, and to ensure the well-being of pilgrims amidst high temperatures and to prevent heat stress, the following measures have been implemented:
Pilgrims are prohibited from proceeding to the Jamarat Bridge for the ritual of throwing stones from 11 am to 4 pm.
Security personnel will be stationed at camps to enforce this restriction and prevent any pilgrim from departing before 4 pm.
The Office of Hajj Affairs and service providers are tasked with ensuring compliance, and they will bear responsibility for any violations thereof.
We pray for Allah’s protection over the pilgrims and the acceptance of their Hajj.
At least 14 Jordanian pilgrims have died while on the Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia as temperatures soar in the kingdom.
Mohammed Al-Abdulaali, a spokesperson for the Saudi health ministry, told reporters that more than 2,760 pilgrims suffered from sunstroke and heat stress on Sunday alone. Saudi Arabia has not provided any information on fatalities.
The heat reached 47C (116.6F) in Mecca on Sunday, a temperature that was forecast to continue on Monday.
The kingdom has implemented heat mitigation measures, including climate-controlled areas, distributes water, and offers advice to pilgrims on protecting themselves from the sun.
The Hajj, which will end on Wednesday, is one of the largest mass gatherings in the world, with more than 1.8 million Muslim pilgrims expected to take part this year, according to the Saudi General Authority for Statistics.
