No fewer than two million pilgrims from different parts of the globe have arrived in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for this year’s Hajj, and they have now converged on the plains of Arafat for the most important Hajj ritual.
From the early hours of Tuesday, the pilgrims started their journey from Makkah to Muna and then to Arafat Muzdalifah before returning to Muna. This marks the beginning of the Hajj exercise.
The pilgrims will be on the plains of Arafat to perform the Dhuhr (Noon) and ASR (Afternoon) prayers, supplicating and seeking forgiveness, blessings, and guidance from Allah for themselves, fellow Muslims, and mankind at large.
For Nigerian pilgrims, clerics will lead prayers for the peace, stability, progress, and development of the Nigerian nation, as well as for the country to overcome its security, political, and socio-economic challenges.
After sunset, the pilgrims will proceed to Muzdalifah, where they will spend the night before returning to Muna after the dawn prayer to carry out the symbolic stoning of the devil (Jamrah).
The Saudi Ministry of Health has made adequate preparations to provide medical care to all pilgrims in Arafat. Four fully equipped hospitals in the area have a capacity of more than 900 beds to address cases of sunstroke, heat exhaustion, and other emergencies.
The annual Hajj pilgrimage is one of the five pillars of Islam and is considered a crucial spiritual journey for Muslims worldwide. The gathering on the plains of Arafat holds immense significance and serves as a moment of reflection, repentance, and seeking Allah’s blessings and forgiveness.
NAN
