In addition to the preceding, there are directives of Islaam pertaining to medicine. Islaam's teachings seek to ensure people's health and physical wellbeing, and that includes its directives to maintain the cleanliness of oneself and to keep the environment clean. Islaam's directives permit wholesome foods, and prohibit harmful ones. In addition, Islaam's teachings prescribe measures to protect communities against the spread of epidemics. Allaah, the Most Exalted, said ((People of eemaan, when you want to perform prayers but you are in a state of lesser impurity, you must first perform wudoo' by washing your faces, washing your forearms up to and including the elbows, passing your wet hands over your heads, and washing your feet up to and including the ankles. If you are in a state of major impurity, you must first perform ghusl by washing your bodies in their entirety)) [5:6]. Allaah further said, ((And purify your garments)) [74:4]. Allaah also told us that His Prophet Ibraaheem had said, ((And when I am ill, it is Allaah who cures me)) [26:80]. Additionally, Allaah described His Prophet Muhammad (may Allaah grant him commendation and protection) by saying, ((He will permit wholesome things for them and prohibit them from all that is detestable)) [7:157]. Furthermore, the Prophet (may Allaah grant him commendation and protection) said, "Servants of Allaah, seek cure for ailments, since there is no ailment which does not have a cure." The Prophet (may Allaah grant him commendation and protection) also said, "Flee from a person with leprosy as you would flee from a lion", as well as "Do not put one who is ill with one who is healthy." The Prophet (may Allaah grant him commendation and protection) further said, "If you hear of an epidemic in a place, do not enter it; and if an epidemic spreads in a place where you are, do not leave it." Based on this hadeeth which prohibits travelling from one location to another during times when there are highly contagious diseases spreading, a decision was made by the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to limit the number of people performing Hajj this year, and to only have it consist of individuals from a wide array of nationalities who are already within the nation's borders. This allows for Hajj to still be performed while taking all necessary measures for protecting people's health and maintaining social distancing. Precautions have been put in place to protect lives against the damage that the pandemic can cause, and also to actualize Islaam's teachings pertaining to safeguarding human life by Allaah's permission. Deep gratitude is also extended to all Muslims for their positive response to comply with our nation's precautionary regulations that were implemented in Makkah and al-Madeenah to protect people from the potential effects of the current pandemic. We pray that Allaah rewards the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salmaan ibn 'Abdil-'Azeez, as well as his Crown Prince, Muhammad ibn Salmaan, and all individuals of the nation's leadership and government for the efforts they expend to serve and protect the Two Holy Mosques. O Allaah, bless their efforts, reward them immensely, and protect them against all harms and against all individuals who want ill for them. --More 13:26 LOCAL TIME 10:26 GMT 0012 www.spa.gov.sa/w1381406