Pakistan, June 6 -- Imam Sheikh Saleh bin Abdullah bin Humaid, who leads prayers at the Grand Mosque in Mecca, offered special supplications for the Palestinian people during his Friday Khutbah at the Hajj.
Approximately 1.5 million devotees from around the world took part in Waqooyi Arafah, the most significant pillar of Hajj, at Mount Arafat today. This day holds the highest sanctity throughout the year as Allah approaches his servants, forgiving their transgressions.
During the Hajj sermon, the Imam-e-Kaaba highlighted the significance of caring for one’s neighbors, showing empathy towards orphans, widows, and those less fortunate, and being kind to parents.
He encouraged Muslims to keep up with their prayers and provide zakat (charity) for those in need. The Imam appealed to Muslims to foster righteousness, thankfulness, and continuous devotion to Allah.
He additionally highlighted the significance of the basic foundations of Islam.
Sheikh Humaid urged Muslims to keep their vows, adhere to honesty, and maintain humility, stating that these elements are fundamental aspects of belief. Additionally, he highlighted that virtue and vice are not equivalent, and that countering negativity with positivity has the potential to turn adversaries into trusted friends.
The Imam likewise conveyed his thanks to the Saudi government for its endeavors in smoothing the way for the pilgrimage and looking after the pilgrims.
Following dusk, the pilgrims will make their way to Muzdalifah, which lies midway between Arafat and the extensive tent settlement at Mina. There, they will collect stones for the ceremonial pelting of Satan that is scheduled for Friday.
Muslim devotees offered prayers atop Mount Arafat during the peak moment of the Hajj pilgrimage today, with officials advising them to steer clear of the sun’s strongest rays following last year’s tragic incident.
Hundreds of pilgrims chanted verses from the Holy Quran at daybreak atop a 70-meter (230-foot) rocky hill near Mecca, the site where Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) delivered his final sermon.
However, by midday, the crowds had decreased due to official advisories urging pilgrims to remain indoors from 10 AM to 4 PM. This came one year after 1,301 individuals perished when temperatures reached up to 51.8 degrees Celsius.
"I arrived early to escape the sun and plan to pray inside my tent later," stated 54-year-old Adel Ismail from Syria.
The Saudi government has implemented multiple measures to mitigate the dangers posed by extreme temperatures during the Hajj pilgrimage, attended this year by approximately 1.5 million devotees in one of the most scorching zones globally. Authorities have increased shaded spaces by an additional 50,000 square meters (about 12 acres). Additionally, they've stationed extra medical personnel and installed over 400 air-cooling devices throughout the area, as reported by the Hajj minister to AFP recently.
On Thursday, ice packs were distributed to individuals heading toward Mount Arafat, with many positioning the small pouches atop their heads.
As temperatures soared to 42 degrees Celsius, authorities encouraged individuals to move if they remained stationary for an extended period near the rocky hillock. The area was equipped with fans at the base, releasing mists of cooler air.
I don't consider the sun
Following dusk, the pilgrims will make their way to Muzdalifah, which lies midway between Arafat and the extensive encampment of tents at Mina. There, they will collect stones for the ceremonial “stoning of the devil” scheduled for Friday.
Even though it was extremely hot, they were mostly thrilled about carrying out the Hajj, which is one of the five fundamental duties in Islam that every Muslim capable of doing so should accomplish at least once.
“I don’t consider factors such as sunlight or heat,” said Ahmed, a 44-year-old Egyptian. “Standing at Arafat is an incredible experience and a wonderful moment, and just look around—every pilgrim here shares this sentiment.”
Ali, who is 33 years old and hails from Pakistan, expressed feeling "fortunate" for being able to participate.
"I would often watch this annually on my television during the Hajj, and I frequently thought to myself, 'I hope I can one day be part of it,'" he stated.
Iman Abdel Khaleq stated through tears of joy that she had been longing to undertake the hajj for a decade and felt profoundly emotional upon reaching Arafat.
"A significant aspiration for me that I had nearly lost all hopes of achieving," shared the fifty-something Egyptian woman with AFP at the base of the mountain.
High-tech hajj
In addition to heat protection strategies and additional staff, Saudi Arabia is employing advanced technological resources to improve crowd management. Over 15,000 surveillance cameras integrated with artificial intelligence software are keeping watch over the sacred locations and pathways throughout an occasion notorious for fatal crushes.
This year, authorities have taken strict action against unregistered pilgrims attempting to enter Mecca illicitly, employing tactics such as raids, drone monitoring, and an onslaught of text message warnings. By late Thursday, a source from the Hajj Ministry informed AFP that these efforts have successfully prevented overcrowding at the sacred locations up until now.
The allocation of Hajj permits to countries is done based on quotas, which are then assigned to individuals through a lottery system.
However, despite being able to acquire them, the high costs lead numerous individuals to try undertaking the Hajj without proper authorization, knowing fully well that they could face detention and expulsion if discovered.
Saudi Arabia generates billions of dollars annually from the Hajj, as well as from the smaller pilgrimage called Umrah, which occurs at various times throughout the year.
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