MADINAH – As part of their efforts to provide the  pilgrims with the best service, officials at Prince Mohammad Bin Abdel Aziz International Airport in Madinah have welcomed the pilgrims with gifts, desserts, and bouquets of flowers.

The special welcoming event was organized under a campaign that tells pilgrims: “Perform Hajj, We are Honored to Serve you!”, the Saudi Press Agency reported on August 8.

The department has increased the number of qualified staff members to complete the arrival procedures for pilgrims quickly and with accuracy.

Muslims from around the world pour into Makkah every year to perform hajj, one of the five pillars of Islam.

Hajj consists of several rituals, which are meant to symbolize the essential concepts of the Islamic faith, and to commemorate the trials of Prophet Abraham and his family, may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon them.

Every able-bodied adult Muslim who can financially afford the trip must perform hajj at least once in a lifetime.

Hajj is officially expected to fall this year between Sunday, 19th of August 2018 and will continue till Friday, 24th of August 2018.

To visit Madinah isn’t a Hajj or Umrah rite, but the unique merits of the Prophet’s city, his Mosque, and his sacred tomb attract every pilgrim to visit it. There is no Ihram nor talbiyah for the visit to Madinah or the Prophet’s Mosque.

Madinah is situated in central Hejaz. The Prophet’s Mosque in the city has unique merits. A prophetic hadith said that a prayer performed in the Prophet’s Mosque is better than a thousand prayers in any other place except Masjid al-Haram in Makkah.

The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) has also said: “The person who offers 40 prayers consecutively in my Mosque, without missing a prayer in between, will secure immunity from the fire of Hell and other torments and also from hypocrisy.” (Musnad Ahmad).