Grand Hajj Symposium's 50th Edition Commences in Jeddah

The 50th edition of the Grand Hajj Symposium commenced today in Jeddah Governorate. Organized by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah in cooperation with the Council of Senior Scholars, this year's symposium is held under the theme: "The Symposium: An Effective Platform in Serving the Guests of Allah... Half a Century of Knowledge Enrichment." The event features the participation of an elite group of dignitaries, scholars, thinkers, researchers, and specialists from across the Islamic world. 

In his opening address, the Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Dr. Tawfiq bin Fawzan Al-Rabiah, emphasized that the Grand Hajj Symposium is an extension of a well-established academic legacy spanning over fifty years of scholarly dialogue aimed at developing the Hajj service ecosystem. He noted that it reflects the care and dedication given to this sacred ritual by the wise leadership—may Allah support them—and underscores their keenness to ensure that knowledge remains a key partner in elevating the quality of services provided to the Guests of Allah. 

He explained that throughout history, Hajj has represented the greatest human and spiritual gathering known to mankind, where knowledge converges and visions align. He stressed that the symposium was established to keep pace with this legacy as a platform for rigorous scientific dialogue that addresses emerging issues and bridges the core principles of Islamic Sharia with contemporary realities. 

The Minister pointed out that the 50th edition serves as an academic milestone that calls for a conscious review of the symposium's journey, drawing inspiration from its past experiences and exploring its future potential. This will reinforce its role as a knowledge base that contributes to developing the Hajj system and elevating the experience of the Guests of Allah. 

The Minister of Hajj and Umrah added that the themes of the symposium reflect the profound transformations the Hajj ecosystem has undergone over the past decades. During this time, the Kingdom has established an advanced global model in crowd management and humanitarian services, built on the integration of planning, institutional development, and modern technologies. 

He stated that the Hajj system has successfully transitioned from a management style reliant on responding to challenges to an ecosystem driven by science, planning, data, and modern technologies. This transition enhances operational efficiency, elevates service quality, and enables pilgrims to perform their rituals with ease and tranquility. 

Following his speech, the Grand Mufti of the Kingdom, Chairman of the Council of Senior Scholars, and President of General Presidencies for Scholarly Research and Ifta, Sheikh Dr. Saleh bin Fawzan Al-Fawzan, delivered an address read on his behalf by the Secretary-General of the Council of Senior Scholars, Secretary-General of the Permanent Committee for Fatwa, and General Supervisor of the Grand Mufti’s Office, Sheikh Dr. Fahd bin Saad Al-Majed. In the speech, he emphasized that Allah has honored the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with the privilege of serving the Two Holy Mosques and caring for their visitors. He noted that Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince—may Allah protect them—pay utmost attention to serving the Two Holy Mosques and their visitors, enabling pilgrims to perform their rituals in peace and tranquility. 

The Grand Mufti explained that the Grand Hajj Symposium, which has been organized and supervised by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah for half a century, represents a fundamental pillar in the pilgrim service system. Throughout its history, it has successfully addressed vital jurisprudential (Fiqh) and awareness themes related to the Hajj ritual, serving as an effective platform to elevate the services provided to the Guests of Allah from both jurisprudential and educational perspectives. 

Subsequently, the Minister of Hajj and Umrah inaugurated the book "The Safe Crossing," published by the General Authority for the Care of the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque. The book features a collection of photographs documenting the Two Holy Mosques during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Minister then honored the General Secretariat of the Council of Senior Scholars, as well as the former Undersecretary of the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah for Umrah Affairs, Dr. Issa Mohammad Rawas. 

The symposium's program featured three panel sessions. The first was titled "The Efforts of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Developing the Service Ecosystem for the Guests of Allah Across Decades." The second was titled "Islamic Jurisprudence and Manifestations of Facilitation," and the third was titled "Awareness Discourse and its Role in Guiding Pilgrims' Behavior and Enhancing Experience Quality." Additionally, a keynote speech was delivered focusing on the role of modern technologies in crowd management and organization. 

The program also included a series of specialized workshops addressing feedback from Hajj agencies, support and facilitation for media delegations during the Hajj season, international awareness communication for Hajj affairs offices, and an introduction to the rules and regulations of the healthcare system. Furthermore, workshops covered the digital transformation of the crowd management and movement control system, alongside the role of Hajj affairs offices in the Nusuk Hadis and Adahi project, aiming to enhance distribution efficiency and curb unauthorized slaughter. These sessions reflect the Ministry's commitment to boosting institutional integration and operational readiness for the Hajj season of 1447 AH. 

The 50th edition of the Grand Hajj Symposium embodies half a century of organized academic efforts in the service of Hajj. It reflects the Kingdom’s approach to bridging the gap between knowledge and field operations, solidifying the symposium's position as a premier global scientific platform that adapts to the development of the Hajj ecosystem and envisions the future of services for the Guests of Allah.