CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Dozens of Muslim families in the Chicago area were planning to make a pilgrimage to Mecca during spring break, but coronavirus has forced them to cancel.
"It's definitely heartbreaking because you want to go and you want to get that spiritual experience, but safety comes first," Arjumand Khan said Thursday.
The north suburban resident and her siblings planned to take their parents to Mecca in Saudi Arabia for Umrah, an Islamic pilgrimage.
Khan said her parents haven't had a chance to make a pilgrimage in more than 30 years. This was to be the year.
Subhan Allah, the Ka'ba is empty, the tawaf has stopped as the authorities clean the Ḥaram because of the coronavirus scare.May Allah protect all of us! pic.twitter.com/LryyfRhn6J
— Dr. Yasir Qadhi (@YasirQadhi) March 5, 2020But Muslims worldwide who wanted to make a pilgrimage to the ka'ba at the center of the mosque courtyard are affected by coronavirus concerns.
"It was really surreal waking up this morning to see the images of the ka'ba - the first floor, the courtyard of the ka'ba - completely empty because they were cleaning and sterilizing that area."
Khan, who is president of H3M Media Consulting, says her family hopes to make the trip back to Mecca at some point.
