Cairo: The Prophet’s Mosque, Islam’s second holiest site in the Saudi city of Medina, last week received 5.6 million worshippers and visitors amid a seamless network of services and care, figures from a state agency in charge of the place showed.
The General Authority for Care of the Prophet’s Mosque said the figure included 367,729 who visited and prayed at Al Rawda Al Sharifa where the tomb of the Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) is located in the mosque.
The visits were made according to crowd-management rules and separate schedules set for women and men.
Saudi authorities have repeatedly stressed that visitors to Al Rawda Al Sharifa must make electronic reservations before arriving at the revered site, and show up according to the fixed appointment to get smooth access.
Over the past week, 46,731 non-Arabic-speaking worshippers benefited from multilingual communication services available in the mosque, according to the figures.
Sterilisation and disinfection works were, meanwhile, carried out with the use of 24,256 litres.
In addition, 1,460 tons of Zamzam water were provided for the worshippers across the mosque as 179,056 fast-ending (Iftar) meals were distributed at designated places.
After performing the Umrah or minor pilgrimage in the Grand Mosque, Islam’s holiest site in the Saudi city of Mecca, many pilgrims would head to Medina to offer prayers in the Prophet’s Mosque and visit other Islamic landmarks in the city.
