PILGRIMS STARTED EARLY FRIDAY MORNING TO MOVE TO FROM MINA TO ARAFAT IN PREPARATION OF THE HIGH POINT OF HAJJ, THE FIFTH PILLAR OF ISLAM. THE HAJJ WILL CLIMAX TODAY IN THE PLAINS OF ARAFAT. THANKS TO THE EXCELLENT ARRANGEMENTS MADE BY THE SAUDI GOVERNMENT AT THE HOLY PLACES, THE PILGRIMS MOVED EASILY FROM MINA TO ARAFAT. THE SECURITY AND TRAFFIC MEN WERE DEPLOYED ALONG THE ROADS AND STREETS TO ENSURE THE SMOOTHNESS OF THE TRAFFIC AND TO PREVENT ALL FORMS OF TRAFFIC JAM. ALL THE REQUIRED MEDICAL SERVICES IN ADDITION TO AMPLE QUANTITIES OF FOOD STUFFS AND FRESH WATER ARE AVAILABLE AT ARAFAT . PRINCE NAIF BIN ABDULAZIZ, THE INTERIOR MINISTER, AND WHO IS ALSO THE HEAD OF THE HAJJ SUPREME COMMITTEE, AND PRINCE MEQRIN BIN ABDULAZIZ, THE PRESIDENT OF THE GENERAL INTELLIGENCE AND VICE-GOVERNOR OF MAKKAH REGION, FOLLOWED UP THE ASCENDANCE OF THE PILGRIMS TO ARAFAT, AND ISSUED THEIR DIRECTIVES TO THE CONCERNED AUTHORITIES TO PROVIDE THE PILGRIMS WITH ALL POSSIBLE SERVICES AND FACILITIES SO AS TO ENABLE THEM PERFORM THEIR HAJJ RITUALS IN COMFORT AND EASE. TODAY THE PILGRIMS WILL PERFORM DHUHR (NOON) AND ASR (AFTERNOON) PRAYERS JOINTLY AT NAMIRA MOSQUE IN LINE WITH THE TEACHINGS OF THE PROPHET MOHAMMED, PEACE BE ON HIM. AFTER SUNSET THE PILGRIMS WILL GO BACK TO MUZDALIFA WHERE THEY WILL SPENT THEIR NIGHT. SATURDAY MORNING THE PILGRIMS WILL PROCEED TO MINA.
