A sea of humanity envelops Mount Arafat and the area around it Thursday as about three million pilgrims arrived on the plains of Arafat to pray and supplicate marking the high point of the five-day Haj. (Insets) Pilgrims engrossed in supplication. — SPA/Agencies Abdul Rahman Al-Ali Saudi Gazette
ARAFAT – About three million pilgrims flocked to the plains of Arafat Thursday to perform the main Haj rite. Men, women, and children from 189 countries streamed from dawn to Arafat, praying to Allah to forgive them and bestow His mercy on them. Many of them went early to find a place in Nimrah Mosque. They crowded into the 110,000-square-meter mosque and its surrounding areas. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, Emir of Makkah region and Chairman of the Haj Central Committee, was in the front lines of pilgrims inside the mosque. Many other pilgrims headed to Mount Arafat from the foot of which the Prophet (peace be upon him) delivered his farewell sermon. A preacher urged pilgrims not to climb the slippery stone staircase leading up the hill, bellowing over loudspeakers: “Neither the Prophet, nor his followers have ever climbed the hill. Please do not climb it.” The pilgrims performed Dhuhr and Asr prayers – shortened to two rakas and combined following the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). Delivering the Arafat day sermon from Nimrah Mosque, Sheikh Abdulaziz Aal Al-Sheikh, Grand Mufti, urged the Muslim Ummah to unify ranks and fight schism. Sedition, catastrophe, bloodshed and vandalism have spread in the Muslim world, which is sorrowful, he said. “The leaders of the Muslim world should engage in dialogue and comply with Shariah in resolving differences,” said the Grand Mufti, warning Muslim leaders against falling prey to the schemes of their enemies, which seek to spark repugnant sectarianism and destabilize the security of the Ummah. The only way out for the Ummah is to get together and join forces. Muslim nations should exchange expertise to build economic, business, political and scientific relations. “O Muslims. This will achieve two benefits for Muslim nations. First, there will be a political advantage. A Muslim nation should run its own affairs without interference from outside. Second, there will be an economic advantage. Production will increase in Muslim countries and more job opportunities will be created. Moreover, the well-educated will stay and will not leave for non-Muslim countries.” The Grand Mufti called upon decision makers to urge Muslims to spend their money on projects inside Muslim countries to bolster their economies and warn them against depositing their funds in non-Muslim countries. “This is how we reduce poverty, unemployment and backwardness.” He reminded all people to fear Allah, be pious, and believe in the One and Only God. “Piety will lead you to the path of righteousness and spare the torment of the Day of Judgment. Be faithful to your religion so that you win Paradise in the Hereafter.” Some people use flimsy excuses and fake slogans in an attempt to cast doubts about this religion and its established values, the Grand Mufti said. This is done in the name of freedom. They want to distort the identity of Muslim nations. The Prophet (pbuh) asked us to abide by his traditions when there is sedition and turbulence. Salafism is not a new religion; it is a continuation of the methods the Prophet's companions used to interpret the Holy Qur'an and Prophet's Traditions, the Grand Mufti said. Earlier, Prince Khaled Al-Faisal announced that the transportation plan from Mina to Arafat has been successful and smooth, thanks to the extensive arrangements made by the government of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques. He also said that the health condition of all pilgrims has been excellent and no life-threatening accident has occurred. Prince Ahmad Bin Abdul Aziz, Interior Minister and Chairman of the Haj Supreme Committee, and Prince Khaled had personally overseen the process of transporting pilgrims from Mina to Arafat. “We've made all the necessary preparations to ensure that the transportation plan to Muzdalifah and back to Mina is successful,” said Prince Khaled. He also announced a new train project linking the eastern side of the holy sites with the Grand Mosque and Al-Haramain Train. Brig. Saad Al-Jibari, commander of traffic at Arafat, said the transportation plan from Mina to Arafat had been successful. He also said that this year there were large numbers of pilgrims who preferred to walk from Mina to Arafat using pedestrian pathways in view of new regulations which banned vehicles with a capacity of 25 passengers and less. Four pedestrian pathways and seven roads for vehicles and buses were used for transporting pilgrims. The Ministry of Health announced that 300,965 pilgrims visited its hospitals and primary healthcare centers in the holy sites. The Saudi Red Crescent Society announced that it received more than 1428 emergency calls, 20 percent more than the last year. Col. Nasser Al-Nahari, commander of Civil Defense forces at the Jamarat Bridge, said all forces have been put on alert to receive pilgrims on the morning of Eid Al-Adha. Some 1300 officers will ensure that the ritual goes smoothly. After sunset, the pilgrims started heading to Muzdalifah, where they collect stones to throw at the pillar of Al-Aqabah (largest Jamarat) Friday, which marks the first day of Eid Al-Adha. The symbolic stoning of the devil is followed by the ritual sacrifice of an animal. During the remaining three days of Haj, the pilgrims continue the stoning ritual before performing the circumambulation of the Ka'aba.
