On Saturday, over 1.5 million Muslims from nearly 180 nations began their prayers on mount Arafat. This marks the “Day of Arafah,” a highpoint of the sacred journey, on Zil Hajj’s ninth day, following the Hajj 1445 initiation from the tent city, Mina. The prior day was known as the Day of Tarwiyah.
This year, about 160,000 Pakistanis join the holy journey along with tons of domestic and global pilgrims, despite the soared temperatures. The pilgrims have now arrived at Jabal al-Rahmah and will hear the Hajj sermon at Masjid-e-Nimrah. The sermon will also be translated into 50 languages, including Urdu. Additionally, they will pray Zuhr and Asr at Arafah.
Sheikh Maher Al Muaiqly, a leader at the Grand Mosque in Makkah, is all set to give the Hajj sermon. Devoted pilgrims will dedicate an entire day to prayer in Arafah’s field before heading to Muzdalifah at dusk.
Once there, they’ll mark the end of the day with the Maghrib and Isha prayer. Subsequently, the act of Rami al-Jamarat will take place; the pilgrims will gather stones for the symbolic stoning of the devil ritual in Mina. This meaningful ceremony happens tomorrow, on Sunday. Then, it’s back to Makkah for the pilgrims to ring in Eid ul Adha with sacrifice.
Faithful travelers globally scale the uneven, 70-meter hill, located roughly 20 kilometers from Makkah. Here, Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) delivered his final teachings, as conveyed by AFP.
Challenging heat
Desert temperatures are predicted to reach 43°C during the summer. The outdoor Hajj ritual takes no less than five days. “The heat is intense, unlike our home in Ghana, but I’ll pray to Allah at Arafat for his support,” the 26-year-old Abraman Hawa states. Saudi authorities suggest hydrating well and avoiding sun exposure. Male devotees aren’t allowed hats, so they bring umbrellas for shade.
Last year, heat diseases marked over 10,000 counts, with 10% being heat stroke, an official shared with AFP. Rising regional temperatures, up by 0.4°C every decade, indicate that the large Hajj pilgrimage is increasingly influenced by global warming, a Saudi study reveals. Mohammed Farouk, 60-year-old Pakistani pilgrim, remains undeterred by the fierce Saudi summer sun.
Financial windfall
Countless devotees spent their evening in a large tent city in Mina, which is a few kilometers from Makkah, Islam’s sacred city. Many found themselves packed closely in cooled tents, nestled side by side on slim mattresses. They assembled according to their country and the cost paid for their Hajj deals— generally in the thousands of dollars.
The Hajj purportedly emulates the course of the Prophet Mohammed’s (PBUH) last pilgrimage, dated back nearly 1,400 years. It’s a significant aspect of legitimacy for the Al Saud lineage, with its ruler earning the title “protector of the two sacred mosques” in Makkah and Madina.
It’s also a notable economic boon for the reserved nation, aiming to foster religious tourism in order to lessen their reliance on oil. Last year, the kingdom welcomed over 1.8 million Hajj pilgrims, with nearly 90% arriving from other countries.
Additionally, it received 13.5 million Muslims for Umrah, a lesser pilgrimage available throughout the year, hoping to boost this to 30 million by 2030. The Hajj this year occurs against the backdrop of the Gaza conflict, following eight months of violence that remains a deep concern for many in the Muslim realm.
First stage of Hajj successfully completed
In Makkah, a press conference was held on Hajj’s first day. The spokesperson from Saudi Arabia’s Interior Ministry shared updates from the Ministry of Information’s Media Centre. The initial phase of Hajj 1445 concluded successfully they said.
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The transfer of pilgrims to Mina was timely, sticking to the set timetable. They emphasized that any disruption of the sanctity and peace of Hajj and its pilgrims isn’t acceptable.
The authorities have shut down 160 phony Hajj service providers so far and detained 6,135 individuals who broke Iqama regulations, the spokesperson reported.