Pilgrims circumambulating around the Kaaba. (Photo: AFP)
The phrase Yalla Hajji is often heard at the Grand Mosque in Makkah. This phrase is used by the security forces to guide directions to the pilgrims and ensure a smooth movement of worshippers.
Yalla Hajji is a common term used by the security workers at the Grand Mosque in Makkah. If you have been lucky enough to visit the holy place you would have heard this phrase often.
The chanting of security forces using this phrase while managing huge crowds to ensure a smooth movement of pilgrims, however, the meaning of this Arabic word is not known to many.
The phrase Yalla Hajji is a combination of two Arabic words which comes as a single phrase meaning ‘Come on Pilgrims‘. Yalla in particular means ‘let’s go‘ or ‘come on/keep moving‘ and Hajji refers to the pilgrim.
The security forces in the Grand mosque keep shouting these phrases to tell pilgrims to move without stopping thus ensuring proper flow of worshippers and to prevent any crowding.
Security forces at the Grand Mosque are found shouting ‘Yalla Hajji Tareeq‘ as well. This phrase means ‘come on, pilgrims, make way’. Tareek refers to ‘give passage‘ in Arabic.
It is important to understand these phrases to not get confused in the mass crowd during Hajj which is one of the biggest annual gatherings in Saudi Arabia.
Effective management of the crowd of pilgrims is mandatory for smooth operations. These phrases are often used by security personnel to maintain proper movement of worshippers in the area.
Pilgrims should learn the meaning of certain phrases before going to perform Umrah or Hajj to respond properly to the directions given by the security staff.
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This post was last modified on May 24, 2024 5:29 pm
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I wonder why the Saudi government doesn't consider deploying security guards who speak English at Harmain Sharif to guide the pilgrims. Most pilgrims visiting Harmain Sharif use English as their common language. While there are signboards in Arabic, English, and Urdu in some places, it's still confusing and challenging to understand the Arabic language spoken by the security guards in Harmain Sharif, where people are lost in the vast crowd. It is time for the management to create more ease for the pilgrims by reducing the language barriers and creating orderly conduct to improve the system and human traffic flow.