Number Of Pilgrims Research Articles

Itinerant Saint: The Architecture of Golden Goa and the 1952 Exposition of St. Francis Xavier’s Relics

Abstract Francis Xavier (1506–52) was Spanish, but it was the Portuguese who kept his legacy alive in their Asian colonies. Although Xavier died in China, it was Goa—capital of the Portuguese Empire in Asia—that received his mortal remains in 1554, which were believed to be miraculously preserved from blemish. This article concerns the 1952 exposition of the saint’s relics, which marked 400 years of Xavier’s death and was attended by a record number of pilgrims. Although the exposition was intended to celebrate a saint, the state (Estado Novo) used the occasion to showcase Goa’s Europeanised culture for propaganda. With the pressure from newly Independent India to oust the Portuguese from Goa, the Estado Novo refused to cede any part of its overseas territory on the basis of its uniqueness from the neighbouring region. The state used the exposition, and the large gathering of devotees attending it, to make a point that Goa continued to remain an integral part of the Portuguese nation. Ostensibly, the state changed the venue of the exposition from the Basilica of Bom Jesus to Sé Cathedral. Although the basilica had been hosting the periodic exposition from 1859 to 1942, the cathedral was considered to be architecturally a much bigger and richer monument. This shift of the exposition to the cathedral was also aimed at adding a new ritual to the event: a grand procession of Xavier’s body from one church to another. Located 1000 feet apart from each other, the procession traversed a public open space between these historical buildings, wherein a record number of devotees could witness/participate this event simultaneously. While the body of Xavier and architecture of Old Goa were relics from the heyday of the empire, the state also wanted to use the faithful, who came in large numbers to celebrate this occasion, as visual evidence to showcase the longevity of Portuguese presence in Goa.

Food waste recycling for compost production and its economic and environmental assessment as circular economy indicators of solid waste management

Organic waste management (OWM) currently follows the linear economy principle in most of the Gulf countries. Most CE studies to date revolve around the reduction, recycling, and reuse of the material in a production and consumption chain. In this study, the whole process chain's economic and environmental monetary values were investigated to convert organic food waste (OFW) into compost, following the CE indicators. The monetary savings from macronutrients (carbon and NPK) enrichment by applying compost to the soil and its replacement value of the mineral fertilizer have never been reported in the CE model. The OFW production of Makkah city is estimated to increase up to 1.60 Mt in 2030 because of domestic population growth and an increasing number of pilgrims traveling to perform religious rituals. This massive quantity of OFW can produce 0.23–0.40 Mt of compost in 2015–2030 and reduce 0.043–0.076 Mt of CH4 emission. The implementation of this technology will generate net revenue of 240–419 MSAR from compost selling along with a potential substitute of 124–216 kt of chemical fertilizers during 2015–2030, following the CE. The environmental savings (waste dumping and carbon crediting related to CH4 reduction) can be 618–1078 MSAR, while fertilizer replacement savings will be 74–129 MSAR in 2015–2030. In general, implementing the composting technology following the CE model has the potential to add a cumulative net revenue of 1626 MSAR to the national economy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 2030. Implementing the CE model in OFW generates compost, reduces waste management problems by closing the materials recycling loop, generating extra income, and adds net revenue to the national economy. It will also help the decision-makers devise a suitable sustainable waste management policy.

Simulation of crowd management using deep learning algorithm

PurposeThis study aims to propose a new simulation approach for a real-life large and complex crowd management which takes into account deep learning algorithm. Moreover, the proposed model also determines the crowd level and also sends an alarm to avoid the crowd from exceeding its limit. Also, the model estimates crowd density in the pictures through which the study evaluates the deep learning algorithm approach to address the problem of crowd congestion. Furthermore, the suggested model comprises of two main components. The first takes the images of the moving crowd and classifies them into five categories such as “heavily crowded, crowded, semi-crowded, light crowded and normal,” whereas the second one comprises of colour warnings (five). The colour of these lights depends upon the results of the process of classification. The paper is structured as follows. Section 2 describes the theoretical background; Section 3 suggests the proposed approach followed by convolutional neural network (CNN) algorithm in Section 4. Sections 5 and 6 explain the data set and parameters as well as modelling network. Experiment, results and simulation evaluation are explained in Sections 7 and 8. Finally, this paper ends with conclusion which is Section 9 of this paper.Design/methodology/approachThis paper addresses the issue of large-scale crowd management by exploiting the techniques and algorithms of simulation and deep learning. It focuses on a real-life case study of Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia that exhibits intricate pattern of crowd management. Hajj pilgrimage includes performing Umrah along with hajj that involves several steps which is a sacred prayer of Muslims performed at different time span of the year. Muslims from all over the world visit the holy city of Mecca to perform Tawaf that is one of the stages included in the performance of Hajj or Umrah, it is an obligatory step in prayer. Accordingly, all pilgrims require visiting Mataf to perform Tawaf. It is essential to control the crowd performing Tawaf systematically in a constrained place to avoid any mishap. This study proposed a model for crowd management system by using image classification and a system of alarm to manage millions of people during Hajj. This proposed system highly depends on the adequate data set used to train CNN which is a deep learning technique and has recently drawn the attention of the research community as well as the industry in changing applications of image classification and the recognition of speed. The purpose is to train the model with mapped image data, making it available to be used in classifying the crowd into five categories like crowded, heavily crowded, semi-crowded, normal and light-crowded. The results produce adequate signals as they prove to be helpful in terms of monitoring the pilgrims which shows its usefulness.FindingsAfter the first attempt of adding the first convolutional layer with 32 filters, the accuracy is not good and stands out at about 55%. Therefore, the algorithm is further improved by adding the second layer with 64 filters. This attempt is a success as it gives more improved results with an accuracy of 97%. After using the dropout fraction as a 0.5 to prevent overfitting, the test and training accuracy of 98% is achieved which is acceptable training and testing accuracy.Originality/valueThis study has proposed a model to solve the problem related to estimation of the level of congestion to avoid any accidents from happening because of it. This can be applied to the monitoring schemes that are used during Hajj, especially in crowd management during Tawaf. The model works as such that it activates an alarm when the default crowd limit exceeds. In this way, chances of the crowd reaching a dangerous level are reduced which minimizes the potential accidents that might take place. The model has a traffic light system, the appearance of red light means that the number of pilgrims in a particular area has exceeded its default limit and then it alerts to stop the migration of people to that particular area. The yellow light indicates that the number of pilgrims entering and leaving a particular area has equalized, then the pilgrims are suggested to slower their pace. Finally, the green light shows that the level of the crowd in a particular area is low and that the pilgrims can move freely in that area. The proposed model is simple and user friendly as it uses the most common traffic light system which makes it easier for the pilgrims to understand and follow accordingly.

Hajj Pilgrimage amidst covid-19 pandemic: a review

Hajj pilgrimage is a nobligation for every Muslim that must be carried out at least once in their lifetime. Every year, more than 3 million pilgrims from over 180 countries travel to worship within a confined area of twelve kilometres in Makkah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). The host country and participating countries need to institute effective measures for a safer and healthier Hajj pilgrimage. In the immediate Hajj season during the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of pilgrims need to be reduced to the optimum number that can be managed individual countries’ Hajj missions. Beside proof COVID-19 clearance before travelling and completed Covid-19 vaccination, the stay in KSA should be shortened for Hajj ritual only. The participating countries responsible to thoroughly select individuals with low risk of severe infections, provide health education program, offer all compulsory and recommended vaccines and allocate adequate healthcare/isolation centres in KSA. The participating countries are also liable to prepare adequate quarantine places for hajj pilgrims when returning home. Individual pilgrims are responsible to prevent respiratory pathogens from spreading. Prior to departure for Hajj, they need to undergo a thorough medical examination, received all compulsory and recommended vaccines and follow health education program. During Hajj, they need to follow instructions by Hajj authorities, practicing proper hygiene, wearing a face mask and avoid crowded places. They also need to report to countries’ Hajj mission healthcare if having any fever or respiratory syndromes. With adequate measures prior, during and post-Hajj, we hope health security risk during the next Hajj seasons will be minimized.
 Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science Vol.20(4) 2021 p.732-740

Impact of COVID-19 on livestock exports from Somalia and the Horn of Africa

Somalia has a significant place in the livestock sector in the Horn of Africa; livestock trade and export is one of the key economic contributors. Most of the livestock trade happens with the Middle East, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia being one of its biggest importers. The COVID-19 pandemic has led to both massive loss of life and huge economic losses as the result of measures to contain the virus. In June 2020, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia took the decision to restrict the number of pilgrims for the annual Hajj. Impacts resulted in a decline in income from the seasonal Hajj of 80 per cent, though domestically prices of livestock remained stable and local markets were used for livestock sales. This paper, besides highlighting the effects, provides recommendations which could inform strategic planning, humanitarian aid, and resilience building for the livestock value chain in Somalia and the Horn of Africa.

ВОЗРОЖДЕНИЕ СПАСО-КАМЕННОГО МОНАСТЫРЯ И РАЗВИТИЕ ФУНКЦИОНАЛЬНОЙ ЗОНЫ ПАЛОМНИКОВ И ТУРИСТОВ НА БЕРЕГУ КУБЕНСКОГО ОЗЕРА

The growing interest in Orthodox Christianity and the transfer of many monasteries that were previously closed to the Russian Orthodox Church have led to an increase in the number of pilgrims and tourists willing to visit the Orthodox monasteries. This resulted in some problems relating to the need for the development of the necessary infrastructure and the necessity to provide the best possible conditions for both the visitors and monastery inhabitants. These problems are particularly acute in the monasteries of the Russian North. Many of which were previously destroyed and abandoned. The Spaso-Kamenny monastery of the Vologda Diocese located on a small island of the Kubensky lake is one of such monasteries. In this work, recommendations on the development of this monastery in the current conditions were proposed. These recommendations are based on the previously formulated four main principles of reconstruction and development of Orthodox monastery complexes in the Russian North. Authors show that for the further development of the Spaso-Kamenny monastery, it is reasonable to create a functional zone for pilgrims and tourists on the shore of the Kubensky lake. The building complex was designed, where the necessary and important one element for this zone the monastery museum was proposed. In this work, specific recommendations for an arrangement of this museum were given. It was shown that the main principles for reconstruction and development of Orthodox monastery complexes are also applicable for the monasteries, restoration of which has not been completed yet.

РЕКОНСТРУКЦИЯ ВАЛДАЙСКОГО ИВЕРСКОГО, СПАСО-ПРИЛУЦКОГО, И КИРИЛЛО-БЕЛОЗЕРСКОГО МОНАСТЫРЕЙ В СОВРЕМЕННЫХ УСЛОВИЯ РАЗВИТИЯ ПАЛОМНИЧЕСТВА И ТУРИЗМА

The development of Orthodox monasteries in the north of Russia is facing difficulties due to the increase in the number of pilgrims and tourists, as well as the restoration of traditional and the emergence of new functions performed by monastic complexes. The four basic principles of reconstruction and development of Orthodox monastery complexes of the Russian North formulated earlier allow to develop specific recommendations aimed at reconstruction and development of monasteries. In this work, recommendations are developed for the Iver Monastery, Spaso-Prilutskiy Monastery and Kirillo-Belozerskiy Monastery that substantially differ in their preservation and performed functions. The developed recommendations are concerned with the general plans of the monastery complexes, as well as the buildings comprising the main functional groups of these monasteries. In all the monasteries considered in this paper, the application of these recommendations will lead to the formation of an accessible multifunctional architectural and spatial environment. Such environment provides optimal zoning of the monastery territory, preserves both architectural ensemble of a given monastery complex and the surrounding nature landscape and creates the best possible conditions for the monastery inhabitants and visitors. The approach proposed in this paper is planned to be developed and applied to a number of other monasteries in the Russian North

Santuário Nossa Senhora de Caravaggio [Brasil]: História e Devoção

The history of the Shrine of Our Lady of Caravaggio, in Farroupilha, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, is linked to the Italian immigrants who settled in the region in the last decades of the XIX Century. They were mostly peasants who came in search of better living conditions, bringing with them a deep foundation of faith, devotion and love for their homeland. These families built a chapel for them to pray and thus find strength to overcome the harsh difficulties they had encountered here. Over time, the now shrine has become not only very well known, attracting a vast number of pilgrims and becoming the largest Shrine in Southern Brazil in number of visitors, but also spreading the devotion to other locations. In this sense, the aim of this study is to trace the history of the Shrine and think through the increasing visitation and practice of solidarity, by the local community, in providing pilgrims a religious experience from the hospitality point-of-view. Local families strive to preserve, generously, the spirit of hospitality to pilgrims, developing initiatives that, over time, have marked the life of many generations and made of that place an attractive location for religious tourism.

Pilgrimage Sites – Heritage Sites: The Evaluation of Authenticity of Selected Cases

Preserving heritage sites promotes local identities and strengthens their link with local communities. It also raises pride that encourages locals to invite others to visit and celebrate. It is thus crucial to involve all parties in managing heritage sites to ensure sustainability. Such principles are challenging if the subject is a pilgrimage site due to its moral association with different cultures embracing the religion. The presentation/interpretation of the historical attributes in pilgrimage sites is crucial to reflect their religious association as well as to respect historical facts. Accentuating authenticity also strengthens the bond of the believers. The mandate is then protecting those valuable attributes, which are usually marginalized due to the tyranny of some spiritualties and to the admission of large numbers of pilgrims to raise economic profits. The research evaluates those contradictions in selected pilgrimage sites: Makkah in Saudi Arabia, Santiago de Compostela in Spain, and Fushimi Inari Shrine in Japan. It applies the Nara Grid to verify the authenticity of their historic attributes and to confirm that the conditions of pilgrimage in the three sites drastically differ from what they originally were. This paper points to the reasons that led to these differences, the impact on the authenticity of values and attributes, and the status of the cultural heritage if managed away from the participatory process. The research aims to draw on the results of scientific analysis of the current situation of those sites to decipher the management deficiencies affecting the authenticity of their historic attributes.

Pilgrimage and Religion: Pilgrim Religiosity on the Ways of St. James

Pilgrimages on the Ways of St. James are becoming increasingly popular, so the number of pilgrims registered in Santiago de Compostela has been rising continuously for several decades. The large number of pilgrims is accompanied by a variety of motives for a contemporary pilgrimage, whereby religion is only rarely mentioned explicitly. While pilgrimage was originally a purely religious practice, the connection between pilgrimage and religion is less clear nowadays. Therefore, this paper examines whether and in which way religion shows itself in the context of contemporary pilgrimages on the Ways of St. James. For this purpose, 30 in-depth biographical interviews with pilgrims are analyzed from a sociological perspective on religion by using a qualitative content analysis. This analysis reveals that religion is manifested in many ways in the context of contemporary pilgrimages, whereby seven forms of pilgrim religiosity can be distinguished. They have in common that pilgrims shape their pilgrim religiosity individually and self-determined, but in doing so they rely on traditional and institutional forms of religion. Today’s pilgrim religiosity can therefore be understood as an extra-ordinary form of lived religion, whose popularity may be explained by a specific interrelation of individual shaping and institutional assurance of evidence.

The Impact of COVID-19 on Pilgrimages and Religious Tourism in Europe During the First Six Months of the Pandemic.

This study presents the results of the examination of the influence of the SARS-Cov-2 coronavirus pandemic on religious tourism and pilgrimages to selected Catholic pilgrimage sites in Europe during the first six months of the COVID-19 pandemic (March–September 2020). Field research conducted in shrines and on several pilgrimage routes involved interviews with shrine custodians and staff as well as pilgrims. Data regarding tourism and pilgrimage movement were also gathered. Research results have shown that the tourism and pilgrimage movement to the analysed shrines decreased by 90–95% during the first six months of the pandemic. The shrines in Santiago de Compostela and Lourdes were closed for a few weeks during the first wave of coronavirus spread. The influence of the pandemic on the age structure of pilgrims is noticeable, with a distinct decrease in the number of pilgrims aged 60 + . Also, the reasons for pilgrimages to shrines have changed. The overriding principle followed by shrine custodians and organisers of pilgrimages was to ensure the safety of pilgrims on their way to shrines and, most importantly, in the shrine areas. The largest Catholic shrines in Europe encouraged pilgrims to deepen their bonds with the shrine through participation in online services and prayers and to pursue spiritual and virtual pilgrimages. The study also shows a model of the development of pilgrimages and religious tourism during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Prevalence of Diabetes and Hypertension among Hajj Pilgrims: A Systematic Review.

The Hajj mass gathering is attended by over two million Muslims each year, many of whom are elderly and have underlying health conditions. Data on the number of pilgrims with health conditions would assist public health planning and improve health services delivery at the event. We carried out a systematic review of literature based on structured search in the MEDLINE/PubMed, SCOPUS and CINAHL databases, and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, to estimate the prevalence of diabetes and hypertension among Hajj pilgrims. Twenty-six studies conducted between 1993 and 2018 with a total of 285,467 participants were included in the review. The weighted pooled prevalence rates of hypertension and diabetes among Hajj pilgrims in all included studies were 12.2% (95% CI: 12.0–12.3) and 5.0% (95% CI: 4.9–5.1), respectively. The reported prevalence of other underlying health conditions such as chronic respiratory, kidney or liver disease, cardiovascular disease, cancer and immune deficiency were generally low. Potentially a large number of pilgrims each Hajj have diabetes and/or hypertension and other underlying health conditions. Hajj could be a great opportunity to reduce the burden of these diseases within the over 180 countries participating in the event by identifying undiagnosed cases and optimizing patients’ knowledge and management of their conditions. Prospero registration number: CRD42020171082.

The Hajj and COVID-19: How the Pandemic Shaped the World's Largest Religious Gathering.

ABSTRACTThe Hajj pilgrimage, one of the five pillars of Islam, is held in Saudi Arabia in the second week of Dhu’l-Hijjah, the last month of the Islamic calendar. It is one of the world’s largest mass gatherings, constituting more than 2.5 million Muslim pilgrims from more than 180 countries. The COVID-19 pandemic posed a significant public health threat for such mass gatherings. Thus, a health risk assessment for the 2020 Hajj was held by the Saudi Arabia Ministry of Health and the WHO Collaborating Centre for Mass Gatherings Medicine, which concluded that foreign pilgrims should be excluded from the 2020 Hajj and that the number of pilgrims should be significantly reduced. Timely decisions allowed the Saudi government to conduct the Hajj, despite an initial postponement. However, the number of pilgrims was significantly downscaled, and extensive new protocols were set in place because of the pandemic. This article aims to shed light on the challenges faced and efforts made by Saudi Arabia to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 during the religious proceedings of the Hajj.

L’abbaye de Loosduinen. D’un lieu de pèlerinage à un site touristique

According to the legend (ca. 1300) the Countess Margaret of Henneberg gave birth to as many children as there are days in the year. The children were baptized in extremis and buried together with their mother in the church of the abbey of Loosduinen, next to Den Haag. The analysis of this legend and of its cult allows us to point out the fundamental dissonance between the popular and the learned perception of the legend, as well as their mutual interpenetration till the 18th century. The popular and learned approaches to the miracle started contradictory, but then converged to merge in the early 16th century. After this period of synchrony, a strong dichotomy reappears in the beginning of the Modern Period. As a result of the sceptical movement, Loosduinen gradually lost its attractiveness as a destination for pilgrimage. Although it was still visited in the 17th century by a reduced number of pilgrims, it mainly developed into a touristic site visited by people driven by curiosity, eager to mock the superstitious beliefs of the “boors”.

Hajj and the chaos of the Great War: Pilgrims of the Dutch East Indies in World War I (1914-1918)

The outbreak of World War 1 in 1914 had a major effect on global interactions during the early 20th century. Travel from one country to another to conduct trade, study, research, and religious pilgrimages become disrupted. Hajj (pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca) is one of the areas affected by the outbreak of this great war. The number of pilgrims from the Dutch East Indies dropped dramatically. Hajj ships also ceased operations. Besides, many Dutch East Indies pilgrims in Mecca were unable to return home and suffered life misery during World War I. This article investigates the impact of World War I (1914-1918) on Dutch East Indies pilgrims. The purpose of this article is to find out how Dutch East Indies Muslims responded to hajj during World War I. In this study, the researcher used historical methods that emphasised the exploration of the sources of Early 20th century Malay and Dutch newspapers. The researcher argues that in line with the events of World War I, the Dutch colonial government still intervened against religious practices in the Dutch East Indies, especially the hajj, thus worsening the situation of the Dutch East Indies pilgrims in Mecca. Opponents of this policy, such as R.A.A. Djajadiningrat, Hasan Mustapa, Cokroaminoto, Tafsir Anom, and Rinkes, formed the Hajj Assistance Committee to help pilgrims return to the Dutch East Indies.

مَثــاراتُ الغَلَـــطِ ومُسَبـِّبــاتُ اللَّغَـــــطِ فی الاستِدْلالِ عَلَى إِغْلاقِ المَساجِدِ لأَجْلِ کُورُونا

مَثــاراتُ الغَلَـــطِ ومُسَبـِّبــاتُ اللَّغَـــــطِ فی الاستِدْلالِ عَلَى إِغْلاقِ المَساجِدِ لأَجْلِ کُورُونا

Tackling COVID-19 in the Eastern Mediterranean Region

Tackling COVID-19 in the Eastern Mediterranean Region

التحليل المکاني للحج من الولايات المتحدة الأمريکية " دراسة في جغرافية السياحة "

Hajj is one of the pillars of Islam and it is obligatory for every able and capable Muslim. It is obligatory for every Muslim to perform Hajj to the sacred land of God once in a lifetime. It is a hope for every Muslim from the day God imposed Hajj on Muslims; Therefore, with the passage of time, there has been a change and fluctuation in the number of pilgrims, until their number today is more than 2,300,000 pilgrims, and the share of Islamic countries who wanted to perform Hajj to the Sacred House of God is variable and limited to certain percentages, and the costs and patterns of Hajj trips have changed with the change in economic characteristics and social factors for pilgrims, in addition to political factors. The study of Hajj and pilgrims is of great importance; Because it has more than one aspect, the first is for the country from which the pilgrims come, the second is for the economic and social characteristics of the pilgrims, and the third is for the sacred land of God and what the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia places.

Long-distance hikers and their inner journeys: On motives and pilgrimage to Nidaros, Norway

Several historic pilgrimage routes called Saint Olav Ways terminate at the Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim, Norway. All have status as European Cultural Routes. Most popular is the 643 km Gudbrandsdal route from Oslo. The number of pilgrims along this route increases every year, currently totalling a few thousand annually. Our study – the first quantitative analysis of pilgrims in Norway – is based on two years of surveying on-site hikers (using self-registration boxes) and a follow-up, e-mail based, online questionnaire (N = 276). The survey sought information about pilgrims’ motives, pilgrimage behaviour and demographics; how they differ from modern pilgrims and pilgrimage elsewhere; and how similar they are to long-distance hikers, and hiking, generally. Drawing from literature on motives for pilgrimage, (thru-) hiking, and certain domains from the Recreation Experience Preference (REP) scales, we used a list of 49 motivational items. An exploratory factor (PCA) analysis revealed eight motivational dimensions. Foreigners dominate, and the “average pilgrim” has little or no previous pilgrim experience, hikes for 22 days and appreciates the simplicity tied to the hiking experience. They walk at a low pace through quiet, natural and unfamiliar environments, reflect on life, develop spirituality, and enjoy contact with local people and heritage. The religious dimension is, on average, not prominent but more evident for those with previous pilgrimage and extensive multi-day hiking experience. The hiking journey is more important than reaching Nidaros. These findings are comparable to studies of modern pilgrimage elsewhere. However, the motives/preferences tie just as well to research findings on long-distance hiking, though the majority (68%) find a great difference in hiking a pilgrimage route compared to other long distance routes. We found this – the knowledge, experience, or image of the SOW route – to be the most influential variable in revealing motivational variation in the studied population.

Prediction of the Epidemic Strength of COVID-19 in the Holy Places of Saudi Arabia during the Forthcoming Hajj Season 2020

The first outbreak of the COVID-19 epidemic in Saudi Arabia was reported on March 2nd, 2020. Every year more than 2 million people come from more than 188 countries to Saudi Arabia to perform pilgrimage (Hajj in Arabic). Therefore, extrapolating the epidemic strength during the Hajj season (end of July) in the holy places has become essential. In this paper, we employ the power of mathematical modeling to infer the epidemic intensity over a 300 days’ time span in Saudi Arabia generally and the Holy places specifically. In particular, we obtain the following epidemiological insights such as the number of infections, the daily infection increase, the expected number of death cases, and the epidemic peak. Results indicate that, the epidemic peak has already been reached in both Makka and Madina. In addition, the number of infections will reach its saturation point by the first week of October 2020 as the daily increase in the number of infections will diminish. This means that, Hajj can be conducted safely only by reducing the number of pilgrims and providing suitable sets of preventive and precautionary measures.