More than 1.5 million Muslims from all over the world are heading today, Saturday, to Upper Arafat to perform the greatest pillar of Hajj, where Muslims stand at Arafat from sunrise until sunset.
On Mount Arafat, known as the Mount of Mercy, pilgrims spend the day reciting the Qur’an, praising God and chanting “Labbayk, O God, atbayk,” until sunset.
The temperature is expected to reach 43 degrees Celsius on this day, and the Saudi authorities have encouraged pilgrims to drink sufficient amounts of water and protect themselves from the scorching rays of the sun. Many men carry umbrellas as they are prohibited from wearing hats.
The Prophet Muhammad delivered his last sermon, known as the Farewell Sermon, on the Holy Mountain 1,435 years ago. In the sermon, the Prophet called for equality and unity among Muslims.
Yesterday, the pilgrims left Mecca by bus or on foot, heading to Mina, a few kilometers from the Grand Mosque, on the eve of their stand on Mount Arafa, chanting: “God is Great” and “At your service, O God, at your service.”
More than one and a half million Muslims are participating in the Hajj season this year, and official media reported that about 1.5 million people had arrived in the Kingdom by late Monday.
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