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Arab News
20 hours ago
- Politics
- Arab News
Pakistan seeks higher 2026 Hajj quota after 455,000 register for pilgrimage
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's religious affairs minister, Sardar Mohammad Yousaf, said on Tuesday the country has requested a higher Hajj quota in proportion to its population for the next year from Saudi Arabia, after early registrations for the pilgrimage reached 455,000 this month. Pakistan's current Muslim population is approximately 230 million, according to the latest census cited by the minister. He added the government had urged the Kingdom to raise the country's Hajj quota from 179,210 to 230,000 in a formal letter, aiming to enable more citizens to perform the annual Islamic pilgrimage. "A gazette notification has ... been issued regarding the population, so based on that population, our [Hajj] quota should be 230,000," Yousaf said during a news conference. "For this, we've written to the Saudi government and demanded [an increase], and a letter has been sent [to them] by the Ministry of Religious Affairs," he continued. "We hope they will consider this [request] and adjust our quota in proportion to our population." Yousaf highlighted that the registration of 455,000 intending pilgrims by the deadline reflected their strong eagerness to perform Hajj. The government announced the initiation of next year's Hajj process early, asking aspiring pilgrims to register themselves first. No fee was required at the registration stage. All registered applicants will now be able to choose between the government and private Hajj schemes. A large portion of the private Hajj quota for 2025 remained unutilized due to delays by tour operators in meeting payment and registration deadlines, while the government fulfilled its full allocation of over 88,000 pilgrims. Private operators attributed the shortfall to technical issues, including payment processing problems and communication breakdowns.
National Post
15-06-2025
- Politics
- National Post
Mohammed Rizwan: What I, a Muslim, did not know about Israel
Walking down a beautiful corniche walkway along Mediterranean in Jaffa district not far from downtown Tel Aviv, criss-crossing my way amidst evening joggers and jovial teenagers, I suddenly froze, as I heard sound of Azan — an Islamic call to prayer — blaring from a nearby mosque. None from my group of visiting Canadian journalists took much notice, as few of them have already been to Israel, but for me, it was a shocker. I live in Canada, where religious freedoms are guaranteed and enshrined, but I never heard Azan blaring from loudspeakers here, or in Europe or the United States, even though there are mosques, churches, synagogues, temples that remain busy throughout the year there. Article content Article content It heard it in Israel. A supposedly Muslim-enemy state, a Jewish national home, an 'apartheid' state that has been at war with its Muslim Arab neighbours for the last 75 years. Article content Article content Article content So, which Israel is real? The one that allows Azan to play from loudspeakers for its two-million Muslim population, the one that employs a Muslim IDF soldier, who I met at the Lebanese border, or one that houses a large and affluent Muslim population in Haifa. Article content The problem lies in perception and perspective, I would say. Article content People around the world see Israel through their television screens and in context of a 75-year-old conflict, territorial disputes, and the Palestinian question. For most of the world, this is the only lens they hold to look at Israel. Depending on where you live in the world, and what world outlook you grew up with, one essentially looks at Israel through a geo-political binary. Article content Article content I think this is not the only way to look at the history and national character of a country. But to look at Israel differently has a prerequisite: leave your preconceived notions out of the bubble you currently live in, get to know the country first-hand, wear the hat of tolerance and love for all faiths, and then try and see the Israel story. Article content Article content There is a good chance that you would still see enough to criticize foreign policy choices Israel has made over the years, or, if you know enough context, one should be able to see why those choices were made, when they were made, over the last few decades. Article content Take for example two-state solution theory. How many people care to remember that there were three occasions in history when Israel agreed to and accepted a two-state solution (1948, 1991, 2000) but Palestinians refused. And finally, when they got the autonomy for Gaza and West Bank (which, in a way, was two-state, what else?), they used that autonomy and aid to perpetuate terrorism.
Associated Press
11-06-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Middle East and North Africa Halal Food Market Analysis Report 2025: Food Safety and Ethical Consumption, & Increasing Demand for Packaged Food Bolster Opportunities - Forecast to 2030
DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jun 11, 2025-- The 'Halal Food Regional Market Analysis: Middle East and North Africa' report has been added to offering. The Halal Food Regional Market was valued at USD 253.9 billion in 2025, and is projected to reach USD 380 billion by 2030, rising at a CAGR of 7.1%. The report provides an analysis of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) halal food market. Using 2024 as the base year, the report provides estimated market data for 2025 through 2030. It explores various market drivers, such as technological developments, economic influences and strategic business factors. The countries included in the analysis are Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Iran, the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries (Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, and Kuwait), and the rest of the MENA region. The MENA region offers a compelling and strategic halal food market research opportunity. With a rapidly expanding Muslim population, the demand for halal products is growing across diverse demographic segments. Rising consumer awareness of halal standards and the increasing influence of ethically conscious buyers are also key drivers of market expansion in the region. Recent improvements in regulatory frameworks across several MENA countries have further enhanced the market landscape. Governments have simplified the halal certification process and created a more supportive environment for industry players. As government and private-sector investments in the halal food industry gain momentum, the MENA region is set to play a pivotal role in the global halal food market. Conducting a market study of the region is crucial for businesses to understand shifting consumer preferences, uncover untapped growth areas and maintain a competitive edge. For companies seeking to scale their presence in the halal sector, the MENA region is too significant to ignore. The report includes: Key Attributes: Key Topics Covered: Chapter 1 Executive Summary Chapter 2 MENA Halal Food Industry Outlook Chapter 3 Market Dynamics Chapter 4 Market Segmentation Analysis Chapter 5 Emerging Markets Chapter 6 Russia-Ukraine War Impact Analysis Chapter 7 Competitive Landscape For more information about this report visit About is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. View source version on CONTACT: Laura Wood, Senior Press Manager [email protected] For E.S.T Office Hours Call 1-917-300-0470 For U.S./ CAN Toll Free Call 1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 KEYWORD: MIDDLE EAST AFRICA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: FOOD/BEVERAGE RETAIL SOURCE: Research and Markets Copyright Business Wire 2025. PUB: 06/11/2025 09:39 AM/DISC: 06/11/2025 09:37 AM
National Post
11-06-2025
- General
- National Post
Islam growing, Christianity slipping as share of world population, survey finds
While Christians remained the world's largest religious group at the end of the decade that ended in 2020, Christianity's growth did not keep up with global population increase. But Islam – the world's fastest-growing major religion – increased its share of the world population, as did the religiously unaffiliated, the Pew Research Center found in a report released Monday. Article content Article content Even as the overall number of Christians – counted as one group, across denominations – continued to climb to 2.3 billion, the religion's share of the world's population decreased by 1.8 percentage points to 28.8 per cent, a falloff driven in large part by disaffiliation. The Muslim population, on the other hand, increased by 1.8 percentage points to 25.6 per cent, according to the report, which examined changes in religious demographics through an analysis of more than 2,700 censuses and surveys. Article content Article content Article content 'It's just striking that there was such dramatic change in a 10-year period,' said Pew's Conrad Hackett, the lead author of the report. 'During this time, the Muslim and Christian populations grew closer in size. Muslims grew faster than any other major religion.' Article content The report attributed the growth in Islam to a younger Muslim population – with an average age of about 24, as opposed to a global average age among non-Muslims of about 33 as of 2020 – along with higher fertility rates in some areas and lower rates of disaffiliation as compared with other religions, including Christianity. Article content Article content 'Among young adults, for every person around the world who becomes Christian, there are three people who are raised Christian who leave,' Hackett said. Article content Article content The largest share of Christians – about 31 per cent – can be found in sub-Saharan Africa, according to the study. Previously, Europe was home to the largest number of Christians in the world. Article content 'And that's the result of high fertility, youthfulness and rapid growth in general of sub-Saharan Africa,' Hackett said, 'as well as the aging, lower fertility and disaffiliation going on in Europe.' Article content Religion switching – seen in high numbers among Christians – contributed to the global rise of unaffiliated people, the report found. Nearly a quarter of the world's population did not identify with a religion in 2020 (24.2 per cent), as opposed to 23.3 per cent in 2010. Article content Researchers previously predicted the unaffiliated population would shrink because of older age and fewer people having children, Hackett said. However, people leaving religion, and especially departing Christianity, has led to the increase of the population, Hackett said.
Washington Post
09-06-2025
- General
- Washington Post
Islam grows, Christianity slips as share of world population, survey finds
While Christians remained the world's largest religious group at the end of the decade that ended in 2020, its growth did not keep up with global population increase. But Islam — the world's fastest-growing major religion — increased its share of the world population, as did the religiously unaffiliated, the Pew Research Center found in a report released Monday. Even as the overall number of Christians — counted as one group, across denominations — continued to climb to 2.3 billion, the religion's share of the world population decreased by 1.8 percentage points, a falloff driven in large part by disaffiliation. The Muslim population, on the other hand, increased by 1.8 percentage points, according to the report, which examined changes in religious demographics through an analysis of more than 2,700 censuses and surveys. 'It's just striking that there was such dramatic change in a 10-year period,' said Pew's Conrad Hackett, lead author of the report. 'During this time, the Muslim and Christian populations grew closer in size. Muslims grew faster than any other major religion.' The report attributed the growth in Islam to a younger Muslim population — with an average age of about 24, as opposed to a global average age among non-Muslims of about 33 as of 2020 — along with higher fertility rates in some areas and lower rates of disaffiliation as compared with other religions, including Christianity. 'Among young adults, for every person around the world who becomes Christian, there are three people who are raised Christian who leave,' Hackett said. The most Christians — about 31 percent — can be found in sub-Saharan Africa, according to the study. Previously, Europe was home to the largest number of Christians in the world. 'And that's the result of high fertility, youthfulness and rapid growth in general of sub-Saharan Africa,' Hackett said, 'as well as the aging, lower fertility and disaffiliation going on in Europe.' Religion switching — seen in high numbers among Christians — contributed to the global rise of unaffiliated people, the report found. Nearly a quarter of the world's population did not identify with a religion in 2020 (24.2 percent), as opposed to 23.3 percent in 2010. Researchers previously estimated the unaffiliated population would shrink because of older age and fewer people having children, Hackett said. However, people leaving religion, and especially departing Christianity, has led to the increase of the population, Hackett said. The world's biggest unaffiliated population is estimated to be in China: 1.3 billion people, out of 1.4 billion, followed by the United States, with 101 million disaffiliated out of 331.5 million, and Japan, with 73 million out of 126.3 million. In China, it is common for people to have religious beliefs, but only 10 percent of the population formally identify with a particular denomination or religion, the Pew Research Center reported in 2023. In a similar way, the new report measures the self-described affiliations of people around the world and may not capture the nuances and fullness of complex and evolving identities. Many people hold religious or spiritual beliefs or attend worship services but eschew formal labels. Another group that underwent significant loss in population were Buddhists, the only religion that had fewer members in 2020 (324 million) than in 2010 (343 million); this was due to disaffiliation and low birth rate. Those who identified as Hindu and Jewish maintained a steady rate with the world's population, the report found. 'Sometimes we hear rumors of religious revival, and it's certainly possible that in particular places religion could grow,' Hackett said. 'But in this careful 10-year study that we've done, the broad trend is that in many places people are moving away from religion.' Based on patterns of religion switching and differences in age and fertility, Hackett estimated that the 'movement towards convergence' between Christians and Muslims will continue, with Islam set to grow to become the world's largest religion in years ahead, unless trend lines shift. 'The next step of our ongoing work in this project will be to do some demographic population projections to provide new estimates of sort of exactly when they might converge,' Hackett said.
