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Muslim faithfuls pray Maghreb (evening prayer) after break-fast in Makkah, Saudi Arabia.

The Grand Mosque authorities have intensified efforts to address the increasing number of pilgrims and worshippers and to facilitate their performing of rituals inside the mosque.

Most of the pilgrims coming from Asian countries are elderly and the local authorities are paying extra attention to ensure their visit to the holy sites is carried out smoothly and comfortably. Such services include an official translation and brief summary of the Qur’an and Islam after taraweeh prayer.

“We have been providing translation and brief summary and recitation of verses of Qur’an in Taraweeh into Urdu, English, French and Malay languages to foreign pilgrims immediately after the Taraweeh” Walid Al-Saqabi, manager of translation services in Grand Mosque told Arab News on Sunday.

Al-Saqabi added that the translation of tafseer of Qur’an will be available in an area near the King Fahd Gate and will start after the Taraweeh, adding that for some technical obstacle it was not possible to provide live translation of the Qur’an recitation during the prayer, as it is the case during the Friday prayer.

He noted that this service could be possibly expanded in accordance with the demand of visitors to the Holy Mosque, highlighting that special attention will be given to the sick and elderly by providing them with wheelchairs inside the Grand Mosque.

Around 10,500 wheelchairs are available for the use by people who are in need for such service, Mashleh Al-Mahmadi, manager of carts at Grand Mosque, told Arab News, adding that the relevant authorities will increase the number of wheelchairs as needed and all will be offered to worshippers free of charge.

Moreover, this year, authorities are testing 200 electrically operated carts, which will be offered to the pilgrims’ services once they are proven successful and pass the tests, adding that an additional 500 wheelchairs will be available for rent and will be operated by pushers who are authorized to work as such and will be wearing barcoded identification badges with their photos.

Al-Mahmadi said that the barcode system would enable the authorities to trace the wheelchair pusher in case of any violation, adding that the free wheel chairs are available in three locations at eastern part of Grand Mosque towards Ajyad area.

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