Millions of pilgrims from around the globe have gathered at an extensive tent city in Mina near Mecca, marking the start of the yearly Hajj pilgrimage. These devotees will stay overnight in this temporary encampment.
This morning, the pilgrims will proceed to Maidan-e-Arafat to carry out the crucial part of Hajj known as Rukn-e-Azm, or Waqoof-e-Arafat. Following the directives from Saudi authorities, the pilgrims will hear the Hajj sermon within their camps, with translations available in multiple languages. They plan to combine the Zohr and Asr prayers before dedicating the entire day to prayer, recitation, and chanting "Labbayk Allahuma Labbayk."
Nearly 73% of the Pakistani pilgrims will travel to Arafat using trains, whereas the remaining individuals will proceed with their spiritual journey via buses.
According to reports, over 1.5 million international pilgrims have arrived in Saudi Arabia for this year’s Hajj, as stated by a government representative on Wednesday.
The Hajj is among the Five Pillars of Islam, representing a mandatory act of devotion and ritual that all Muslims should undertake provided they possess sufficient financial means and physical capability.
The Hajj Ministry spokesman, Ghassan Al-Nuwaimi, gave an estimated figure for foreign participants in this year’s pilgrimage. However, he did not disclose the count of local pilgrims involved. In the previous year, there were approximately 1,611,310 individuals from abroad participating in the event.
On Wednesday, crowds of pilgrims converged upon Arafat; many made the trip on foot, lugging their belongings under sweltering conditions approaching 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit). Some assisted the older individuals among them. Individuals took breaks from walking, sitting down on the earth either for respite or sustenance prior to proceeding to their designated encampments.
Mount Arafat, a rocky elevation located southeast of Mecca, bears great importance within Islamic tradition. The site is referenced in the Quran, and it is believed that the Prophet Muhammad delivered his concluding sermon during his final pilgrimage at this very location.
As per the ancient teachings attributed to the Prophet, the Day of Arafat stands as the holiest date of the year, during which Allah comes close to the believers and pardons their transgressions.
The pilgrims stay in Arafat for prayers and contemplation from just after midnight until past sundown. Following Thursday evening at sunset, they will move to the desert area of Muzdalifah to gather stones, intended for a ceremonial rite.
Saudi Arabia has invested billions of dollars in crowd control and safety measures; however, managing the vast number of participants remains challenging. In recent years, one of the biggest hurdles during the Hajj has been extreme temperatures.
Earlier this week, Health Minister Fahad bin Abdulrahman Al-Jalajel informed the wire service that about 10,000 trees were planted to offer additional shading. Additionally, there has been an expansion in hospital bed availability along with a tripling of paramedics.
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