RIYADH: Millions of Muslims from across the world have arrived to perform Hajj in Makkah during the hottest season of the year in the Kingdom, leading to concerns regarding the challenges that may await them in the days to come. 

Unpredictable weather can affect the health and safety of pilgrims, especially the elderly. A primary concern is the extreme heat. As global temperatures continue to rise, heat waves in the region have become more frequent and intense every year.

Last year, temperatures in Makkah ranged between 43-45 degrees Celsius during Hajj, affecting the health of pilgrims, particularly the elderly, who are vulnerable to heat-related problems such as heat stroke and dehydration.

Ayman bin Salem Ghulam, CEO of the Saudi National Center for Meteorology, recently told a press conference in Makkah that maximum temperatures at the holy sites were expected to reach between 45-48 degrees Celsius in the afternoons.

Many elderly pilgrims have underlying medical conditions that can be triggered by heat, making them even more susceptible to health complications. 

Dr. Fakhr Al-Ayoubi, president of the Cardio Clinical Pharmacy Group in Saudi Arabia, explained to Arab News how the rising temperatures impact the immune system and increase the risk of developing critical health conditions. 

“Increased heat can lead to dehydration, heat stroke, and other heat-related illnesses, which can weaken the immune system and make individuals more susceptible to infections or illnesses,” she said. “It is therefore advisable for Hajj pilgrims to take appropriate precautions to stay hydrated, cool, and healthy during the pilgrimage, especially in the face of changing climate conditions.”

She also talked about the significance of vaccination prior to performing Hajj, not only to protect the health of the individual but also that of other pilgrims.

“Vaccines save lives, prevent diseases, and keep people safe. Sometimes it’s easy to forget this with how busy our lives get, but by ensuring that we stay safe as individuals through immunizations, we can all play a role in building a healthier, more productive community,” she explained.

Al-Ayoubi emphasized the importance of strengthening and safeguarding the immune system to protect pilgrims. 

“If pilgrims become faced with weakened immune systems, that means that they are more vulnerable to catching diseases, and this creates a need to safeguard their health through vaccination,” she said. “This is especially important during Hajj, where it is commonly crowded, and people are in very close proximity to each other.”

The Saudi government and Hajj authorities have implemented a range of measures, including expanding medical facilities at various Hajj locations, providing more areas for pilgrims to rest in, and enhancing transportation and logistics to better accommodate the needs of pilgrims.

The imams and khatibs of the Two Holy Mosques have been directed to shorten Friday sermons and prayers during the Hajj season in consideration of the severe heat pilgrims are facing this year.

Sheikh Abdulrahman Al-Sudais, head of the Presidency of Religious Affairs at the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque, said the directive aims to ensure the safety of worshippers in the mataf, roof, and courtyards of the mosques.

The decision is based on the Islamic principle of alleviating the difficulties of worshippers, such as those attending Friday prayers during the Hajj season.

Al-Sudais noted the importance of delivering concise and impactful messages during sermons. He had previously instructed imams to reduce the amount of recitation and the gap between the adhan and iqamah during the Hajj season to ease the burden on worshippers, particularly considering overcrowding and the presence of vulnerable and elderly people.

RIYADH: The historic pilgrimage route known as the Zubaida Trail, which connected the Arabian Peninsula and Iraq, was marked by trade points and centers and served as a passage for Arab tribes, remaining active throughout history.

According to Dr. Muna Abdulkarim Al-Qaisi, an ancient archaeology specialist and professor at the University of Kufa in Iraq, various people traveled along this road, with the first reference dating back to the third century B.C.

In an interview with the Saudi Press Agency, Al-Qaisi explained that Akkadian peoples, who came from the Arabian Peninsula, arrived in southern Iraq, specifically on the outskirts of the city of Uruk, via this route.

The route saw a second period of activity during the Achaemenid era, when it was called Al-Muthaqaf. Later, it was named Al-Hira route, extending along the Euphrates River. It connected with the Silk Road, linking Nasiriyah, Dumat Al-Jandal, Seleucia (Ctesiphon), Hatra, the Tharthar Valley, Sinjar, and Anatolia. In the Islamic era, the Zubaida Trail began from Kufa and led to Makkah.

Al-Qaisi said that excavations between Samawah and Diwaniyah yielded significant findings, including evidence of ancient peoples entering the region and visiting the lands of Sumer and Akkad. Continued excavations, she added, could lead to further tremendous archaeological and historical revelations.

Khalaf Al-Ghufaili, a tour guide, history professor, and archaeology enthusiast, said that the Akkadian Arabs were the first to take the ancient trade route, now known as the Zubaida Trail. They migrated from the Arabian Peninsula and headed northward toward Mesopotamia in the fourth millennium B.C., settling alongside the Sumerians who had been in Mesopotamia before them.

Their language became known as Akkadian Arabic, and the Akkadians, along with the Sumerians, Assyrians, and Babylonians who preceded them, dominated Mesopotamia, Al-Ghufaili added.