Around 3 million gather on Mount Arafat for Haj
Akbar Ponani | Nov 6, 2011, 08.14AM IST
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ARAFA: As many as three million pilgrims gathered on Sunday on the historic Mount Arafat and its surrounding plain, marking the peak of the annual Haj pilgrimage.
Swarms of pilgrims who had spent the night in Mina on Friday headed towards Arafa to attend the day long stay, praying to God and chanting in unison: "Allah, I am responding to your call,".
Many went on buses, while others set off on foot from Mina, a tent-village that comes to life only during the five-day pilgrimage. Others moved viaHaj metro train which was introduced this year for the first time in its full swing. The Haj train from Mina to Arafa and return carried 72,000 pilgrims per hour to ease congestion and prevent stampedes in which hundreds had been killed in past years.
By Saturday morning, the Jabal al-Rahma, or the Mount of Mercy - the highest point in Arafat, became mostly covered in white as pilgrims, dressed in white Ihram garments, climbed to the top to take up positions on the hills' slippery rocks and spend the day in prayers and reflection.
The gathering in the plain of Arafat symbolizes the climax of the haj. This year haj witnessed an increase of 1.8% in the number of foreign pilgrims compared to the last year's figures, said Makkah governor Prince Khaled al-Faisal.
By the dawn of Saturday, the ocean of pilgrims flowed to Mount Arafat and its surrounding plains, where Prophet Mohammed is believed to have delivered his final speech.
Saudi Arabia's Grand Mufthi, Sheikh Abdul Azees Abdullah Alu Shaikh said: "Solve your problems without seeking interference from your enemies...and beware of those provoke hostility between you and your leaders." He condemned those who provoke hostilities between the Ummah and its leaders.
"Islam is the solution for the problems of Muslims," Grand Mufthi continued and warned Muslims of cultural invasion by satellite channels and other media targeting to weaken their faith.
Al-Asheikh called on rulers of the Muslim countries not to oppress their people but to help them lead a dignified life. Namira Mazjid was overflowing with believers.
Just after sunset, pilgrims headed towards Muzdalifah, an open plain on the way back to Mina. The pilgrims will first pray and then collect a fixed number of chickpea-sized pebbles to stone the devil in Mina on Sunday. Haj completely ends on Wednesday.
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ARAFA: As many as three million pilgrims gathered on Sunday on the historic Mount Arafat and its surrounding plain, marking the peak of the annual Haj pilgrimage.
Swarms of pilgrims who had spent the night in Mina on Friday headed towards Arafa to attend the day long stay, praying to God and chanting in unison: "Allah, I am responding to your call,".
Many went on buses, while others set off on foot from Mina, a tent-village that comes to life only during the five-day pilgrimage. Others moved viaHaj metro train which was introduced this year for the first time in its full swing. The Haj train from Mina to Arafa and return carried 72,000 pilgrims per hour to ease congestion and prevent stampedes in which hundreds had been killed in past years.
By Saturday morning, the Jabal al-Rahma, or the Mount of Mercy - the highest point in Arafat, became mostly covered in white as pilgrims, dressed in white Ihram garments, climbed to the top to take up positions on the hills' slippery rocks and spend the day in prayers and reflection.
The gathering in the plain of Arafat symbolizes the climax of the haj. This year haj witnessed an increase of 1.8% in the number of foreign pilgrims compared to the last year's figures, said Makkah governor Prince Khaled al-Faisal.
By the dawn of Saturday, the ocean of pilgrims flowed to Mount Arafat and its surrounding plains, where Prophet Mohammed is believed to have delivered his final speech.
Saudi Arabia's Grand Mufthi, Sheikh Abdul Azees Abdullah Alu Shaikh said: "Solve your problems without seeking interference from your enemies...and beware of those provoke hostility between you and your leaders." He condemned those who provoke hostilities between the Ummah and its leaders.
"Islam is the solution for the problems of Muslims," Grand Mufthi continued and warned Muslims of cultural invasion by satellite channels and other media targeting to weaken their faith.
Al-Asheikh called on rulers of the Muslim countries not to oppress their people but to help them lead a dignified life. Namira Mazjid was overflowing with believers.
Just after sunset, pilgrims headed towards Muzdalifah, an open plain on the way back to Mina. The pilgrims will first pray and then collect a fixed number of chickpea-sized pebbles to stone the devil in Mina on Sunday. Haj completely ends on Wednesday.
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