Successful Hadsch 2025: Security and health of the pilgrims guaranteed!

Successful Hadsch 2025: Security and health of the pilgrims guaranteed!

The Hajsch, the important pilgrimage for Muslims, has been successfully completed. This was announced by Saud Bin Misaal, the Vice Chairman of the Standing Hadsch Committee, in a current message. The event went without any significant incidents, and no problems with health or security of the approximately 2 to 3 million pilgrims were reported that traveled to Mecca this year. Nevertheless, the concern for a safe pilgrimage remains in view of the tragic events of the previous year when more than 1,300 people died due to extreme heat of up to 50 degrees Celsius.

In the run-up to this year's pilgrimage, Saudi Arabia had taken extensive measures to prevent similar disasters. This includes strict controls that ensure that only approved pilgrims receive access to transport, air -conditioned accommodations and drinking water stations. In the previous year, not approved pilgrims had no access, which led to a dangerous situation.

vaccination regulations and health risks

Specific vaccinations that are requested by the health authorities have been established for the pilgrimage. This is of crucial importance to increase the safety of the pilgrims and to minimize the transfer of diseases. The mandatory vaccinations include vaccine against meningococcal meningitis, the seasonal flu vaccine and, if necessary, a covid 19 vaccine. Vaccinations against hepatitis A, hepatitis B and polio are also recommended. These vaccinations must be detected before entering Saudi Arabia, whereby the meningococcal vaccination is already necessary for pilgrims from the age of two years to ensure a high level of protection ( ThePilgrim.co ).

Despite all the precautions, the risk of diseases remains during the Haj. High crowds can lead to disease transmissions, and the risk of heat stroke due to extreme temperatures is also worrying. Before the trip, pilgrims should be well prepared to get used to regular walks to the foot marches and drink a lot of water to avoid dehydration. Hygiene practices, such as washing hands and avoiding direct contact with strangers, are also of great importance.

The nature of the Hadsch

The Hajsch is one of the five basic obligations in Islam and is a spiritual responsibility for every believing Muslim to complete the pilgrimage at least once in life, provided that it is healthy enough and is able to do so. This pilgrimage not only attracts people for religious reasons, but is also a unique cultural experience. The pilgrimage takes about 5 to 6 days and runs over significant places such as Mina, Arafat, Muzdalifa and Jamarat, before it finally leads back to Mecca ( Reisemedizin.uzh.ch ).

The coming years have some changes. According to the Saudi Center for Meteorology, the Hadsch will fall in cooler seasons, while in about 25 years it will be moved back to the hot summer months. Therefore, adjustments in the planning and implementation of the Hadsch will be necessary to enable the pilgrims to have a safe and pleasant experience.

Overall, this year's Hadsch shows that with the right safety and health measures, pilgrimage can be successful for both the pilgrims and the organizers. However, it remains essential to continue to pay attention to health risks and security aspects to avoid future tragedies.