SINGAPORE - All 800 Singapore pilgrims have managed to complete the major rituals of haj - the annual Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca - safely, said Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Yaacob Ibrahim in a Facebook post on Sunday night (Sept 3).

Majority of them will be completing stoning rituals in Mina, a pilgrimage site on the edge of Mecca in Saudi Arabia, on Sunday night and will then head next to Mecca or Medina.

Dr Yaacob, who is also Minister for Communications and Information , is leading the Singapore delegation on this year's haj.

"Haj has been an intensely personal experience for me and everyone here as we battle many physical and spiritual challenges but it has also been a celebration of the concept of community, within the Singapore delegation and beyond," he said on Facebook.

He added that he was grateful for the "excellent facilitation and warm hospitality" by the Saudi Hajj Authorities, and commended Singapore's medical support team for its services to Singaporean and Australian pilgrims.

He added: "I am touched by the patience, perseverance and discipline shown by our pilgrims... I am happy that they have been able to perform their haj without any major incident."