More than 6 million visited the Prophet's Mosque in first 10 days of Ramadan

Both the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque were provided with translated copies of the meanings of the holy Quran

During Ramadan 2020 and 2021 international visitors were barred from entering Saudi Arabia, but this year they have returned. SPA

Itikaf prayers at the Grand Mosque have also been allowed once more. SPA

During Ramadan, worshippers are met at the Grand Mosque with the smell of oud from more than 20 incense burners, which will be increased to 60 in the last 10 days of the fast. AFP

A Muslim woman prays in front of the Kaaba, Islam's holiest shrine, at the Grand Mosque. AFP

Saudi Arabia says it will permit one million Muslims from inside and outside the country to participate in this year's hajj. @SPA twitter

Muslim pilgrims circumambulate around the Kaaba. AFP

Muslims pray around the Kaaba. AFP

Makkah is alive with visitors from all over the world for the first time since the Covid-19 outbreak was declared a pandemic. AFP

The Prophet’s Mosque in Saudi Arabia’s Madinah city received 6,398,502 visitors during the first 10 days of Ramadan, officials said on Wednesday, while 132,345 worshippers were also able to pray inside Al Rawdah Al Sharifah, according to the department of General Affairs of the Grand Mosque and Prophet's Mosque.

Ramadan is the ninth and holiest month of the Islamic — or Hijri — calendar. It is also believed to be the month the Quran was revealed to the Prophet Mohammed.

Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset every day of the month, which is typically either 29 or 30 days.

The department said that it had distributed more than 1,285,543 bottles of Zamzam water to visitors to the Prophet’s Mosque, and provided more than 1,299,510 packaged meals to the fasting people.

“The Presidency's keen to provide comfort for visitors and worshippers to contribute to the development of the system of services being provided to achieve the aspirations of the Kingdom's leadership”, the statement said.

The Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque had also been provided with translated copies of the meanings of the holy Quran.

The step “confirms the civilizational message and global pioneering role of the two holy sites, directed by the country's wise leadership,” according to the state news agency.

A total of 82 multi-language digital screens have been installed inside the Grand Mosque and its halls to display directives, with globally approved symbols added to help with the visual delivery of information to worshippers.

The displays operate around the clock, presenting information about the most important sites inside the Grand Mosque, such as the tracks of tawaf (circumambulation around Kaaba) and Masaa (journey between the two mounts of Safa and Marwa).

It also displays Hadith (the Prophet Mohammed's sayings) and prayers that can be recited at the beginning and end of the circumambulation, in addition to educating visitors on health and security matters.