Pilgrims will climb Mount Arafat as the Hajj pilgrimage reaches a climax on Tuesday. [Picture: Hajee Muhammed Mia]
Mount Arafat will be the centre of attention on Tuesday as more than two million pilgrims from around the world gather here. The day holds much significance for pilgrims and Muslims back home alike.
After spending the previous night in the tented city of Mina, where they engaged in various acts of worship, hujaaj will today scale Mount Arafat. They rose early to pray Fajr and prepare for the 21km journey to the next stop. Some will choose to make the trip on foot, while others will catch a bus.
One of the highlights of today, the 9th of Dhul Hijjah, will be the Arafat sermon. This year, it will be delivered by Sheikh Yousef bin Mohammad. It will be translated into 20 languages, including English, French, Italian, Urdu, Persian, Spanish and Swedish.
Speaking from the plains of Arafat in a live crossover with Salaamedia, first-time pilgrim Irfaan Ahmed said his first sight of the Ka’bah left him awestruck.
“It being my first time, landing onto the holy lands, the feeling is indescribable. There were no words [to describe] the beauty of the Ka’bah. You get so mesmerised by the beauty that Allah has blessed you to be part of,” he said.
SMread: Biggest Hajj in history kicks off in Saudi Arabia
Blessed day
The day of Arafat is important not only for pilgrims. While it is in fact the most important day of the Hajj, Muslims around the globe will engage in acts of worship and devotion. The lecture is expected to be widely followed as well.
According to Mufti Muhammad Ismail, quoted by Muslim Hands website, Muslims are encouraged to engage in supplication (du’a), fast, seek forgiveness and recite adhkaar.
To quote Ismail, “You may know that Laylat al-Qadr is the pinnacle of the last ten nights of Ramadan, and is thus the best night of the year. Similarly, the Day of ’Arafah is the pinnacle of the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah. It is thus the best day of the entire year.
Meanwhile, pilgrims will scale Mount Arafat, where they will combine their Dhuhr and Asr prayers and then “spend the entire day making du’a. They will stand until sunset facing the Qiblah and seeking forgiveness for their sins”.
