More than 1.8 million Hajj pilgrims from around the world gathered at Mount Arafat on Saturday to offer prayers from midday until sunset before heading to Muzdalifah on one of the most important days in the Islamic calendar.
The rock formations of Mina, Arafat and Muzdalifah, a few kilometres east of Mecca, are where pilgrims gather to perform the sacred rites of the Hajj pilgrimage, which culminates in the Eid al-Adha festival on Sunday.
In Muzdalifah, pilgrims will collect pebbles for a symbolic stoning of the devil ceremony that begins on Saturday, which also marks the start of Eid al-Adha, the festival of sacrifice celebrated by more than 1.5 billion Muslims worldwide.
In Arafat, the pilgrims performed midday and afternoon prayers together at Masjid Nimra, and at sunset they performed Maghrib and evening prayers together before walking the 13 kilometres to Muzdalifah.
On Saturday, pilgrims held a vigil from noon until sunset to pray and seek repentance at the site where Islam's prophet Muhammad is believed to have delivered his final sermon. The ritual at Arafat is the holiest day of the hajj and is considered mandatory for a successful pilgrimage.
One of the world's largest annual religious festivals, the Hajj is one of the five major acts of Islam and is obligatory for all Muslims who are able to make the pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in their lifetime.
Muslim pilgrims gather at the top of a rock formation known as the Mount of Mercy in the Plains of Arafat near the holy city of Mecca for the annual Hajj pilgrimage. Associated Press
The rituals on Mount Arafat, also known as the Mount of Mercy, are often the most memorable for pilgrims, who stand shoulder to shoulder and foot to foot, praying to God for mercy, blessings, prosperity and good health. The mountain is about 20 kilometers southeast of Mecca.
“I feel very lucky to have reached this point in my life despite the scorching heat,” Khalifa Al Hammadi, a pilgrim from the UAE, told The National.
“We feel like we've lived our whole lives to get to this point and all we can do is pray to Almighty God for forgiveness.”
The hajj is one of the largest religious gatherings on earth. The ceremony officially began on Friday as pilgrims traveled from Mecca's Grand Mosque to Mina, a desert area on the city's outskirts where air-conditioned tents line the streets.
Saudi Arabian authorities expect pilgrim numbers to exceed two million this year, approaching pre-pandemic levels.
Muslim pilgrims gather at Mount Arafat during the 2024 Hajj pilgrimage, southeast of Mecca, Saudi Arabia. EPA
As Muslims around the world celebrate Eid al-Adha, they are doing so with solemn feelings, with no ceasefire in Gaza in sight.
Palestinians in coastal areas were unable to travel to Mecca for this year's Hajj due to the closure of the Rafah border crossing in May, but those who fled before the final border closure were able to make the journey at the invitation of Saudi Arabia's King Salman.
“We are grateful to the Saudi leadership and people for inviting us on this pilgrimage and for their generous efforts to try to alleviate our suffering. Perhaps this will give us some comfort,” Palestinian pilgrim Abdullah Hassan told The National.
He is one of 1,000 family members of Palestinians killed or injured in Gaza who have been invited to Saudi Arabia by King Salman to perform hajj this year.
The initiative saw 2,000 pilgrims receive the King's invitation.
During the day, many Muslims in Arafat also attend a sermon at Namira Mosque, delivered by prominent Saudi cleric Maher Al Muaikari and translated into 50 languages.
“The number of languages ​​into which the Arafat Day sermon, scheduled for Saturday, will be interpreted has increased to 50 to convey moderate Islam and promote closeness, fraternity and cooperation among mankind, reaching almost one billion people around the world,” said Sheikh Abdulrahman Al-Sudais, Head of Religious Affairs at the Two Holy Mosques.
After Saturday's prayers on Mount Arafat, pilgrims travel several kilometres away by foot and bus to a site called Muzdalifah to collect pebbles to use in a symbolic stoning of the devil's pillar in Mina. They spend the night in the open in Muzdalifah until Sunday.
The pilgrims then return to Mina for three days, coinciding with the holiday of Eid al-Adha, when Muslims around the world slaughter animals and distribute the meat to the poor if they can afford it.
After visiting Mina, pilgrims return to Mecca to perform the final pilgrimage, known as the farewell Tawaf.
According to Wam News Agency, Sheikh Mohammed on Saturday inquired about the situation and health of UAE pilgrims performing Hajj rites in the holy city.
In a telephone conversation, Sheikh Mohammed spoke with Dr Omar Habtoor Al Dalehi, Chairman of the General Authority for Islamic Affairs, Endowments and Zakat and head of the UAE Pilgrims' Office.
According to Wam, the UAE president praised Saudi Arabia's efforts to ensure the comfort of pilgrims and the facilities it provides so they can perform their rituals in safety and security.
Updated: June 15, 2024 6:50 PM
