Malaysian pilgrim dies after collapsing in Grand Mosque courtyard

MAKKAH – A Malaysian haj pilgrim for the 1447H/2026 season has died here on Friday due to heart complications.

Malaysian Haj Delegation head Mohd Hisham Harun said the deceased was a 65-year-old man from Pahang who had travelled to the Holy Land with his wife.

He said the pilgrim, who was part of the KT12 group and staying at Maktab 65, Al Kiswah Hotel, collapsed in the courtyard of the Grand Mosque while on his way to perform Friday prayers.

"Initial resuscitation assistance was administered at the scene before he was taken to Jiwar Jabal Omar Hospital.

"However, he was pronounced dead at about 12.15pm at the medical facility due to a heart attack," Hisham said in a statement on Friday.

The deceased’s body was later brought to the Grand Mosque for funeral prayers after Maghrib before being laid to rest at the Al Sharayea Cemetery, here.

Hisham added that welfare officers from Tabung Haji (TH), along with counsellors and haj religious guides, had visited the pilgrim’s wife to provide support and assistance.

He said TH would also perform the badal haj on behalf of the deceased and provide RM48,000 in benefits under the TH Khairat protection scheme to the next of kin.

"The deceased had registered for two protection certificates and the benefits are doubled specifically for haj pilgrims.

"Tabung Haji will also organise a tahlil prayer session with other pilgrims," he said.

He also extended his condolences to the family and prayed that the deceased would be placed among the righteous.