Makkah: More than 2.5 million pilgrims from around the world will move to the vast plains of Arafat to perform the most important ritual of Haj today. Chanting "Labbaik Allahumma Labbaik" (O God, here I am answering your call), pilgrims in seamless white clothes, resembling a white sea of humanity, started heading for Arafat early yesterday morning.
After spending a whole day and night in Mina in prayers and meditation on the first day of Haj (Yaum Al Tarwiya) yesterday, they will proceeded to Arafat on foot, by train, bus and vehicles.
Saudi authorities have mobilised all its resources and facilities to ensure smooth movement of pilgrims from Mina to Arafat.
Around 63,000 Haj security forces in addition to 17,000 traffic policemen and tens of thousands of officials are taking part in the operations — the largest annual gathering of Muslims in the world.
Ailing King
On behalf of King Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz, who is convalescing after undergoing a third back surgery recently in Riyadh, Crown Prince Nayef Bin Abdul Aziz, who is also chairman of the Supreme Haj Committee, will oversee this year's smooth conduct of Haj rituals.
Following the example of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH), pilgrims will converge at the plains of Arafat and will perform noon (Dhuhar) and evening (Asr) prayers, shortened and joined together, at the time of Dhuhar with one Adhan and two Iqamas.
Saudi Arabia's Grand Mufti Shaikh Abdul Aziz Alu Al Shaikh will deliver the Arafat sermon and lead the prayers at the grand Namira Mosque.
This resembles the famous farewell sermon of the Prophet when he performed his only Haj in his final year of life. The Prophet delivered the sermon after stationing near the side of a hill called Jabal Al Rahma (Mount of Mercy).
The standing at Arafat, one of the four pillars of Haj, begins after noon prayers. Pilgrims will engage in prayers and supplication until after sunset.
The Prophet said about the Arafat day: "There is no day on which Allah frees more people from Hell than the Day of Arafat. He comes close and expresses His pride to the angels, saying, ‘What do these people want?'
After completing the ritual of standing at Arafat, the pilgrims then move to Muzdalifah in a calm and dignified manner, reciting Talbiyah.
They will offer the Maghrib prayer with three Raka'a and Isha prayer in two Raka'a during Isha time after reaching Muzdalifah. Following this, they will spend the night there in supplication.
Rituals
The pilgrims have to perform four main rituals tomorrow, which is known as the Day of Sacrifice, when all Muslims other than pilgrims celebrate Eid Al Adha.
After reaching Mina from Muzdalifah, they will perform stoning at Jamrat Al Aqba, sacrifice animals, shave their heads and then leave for Makkah to perform Tawaf Al Ifada and Sai', two other pillars of Haj.
In the remaining two or three days of Haj, the only ritual to perform is stoning at each of the three Jamrat (pillars symbolising Satan) at Mina.
Foreign pilgrims
More than 1.82 million foreign pilgrims have arrived to perform this year's Haj. They will be joined by hundreds of thousands of domestic pilgrims, including Saudi citizens and expatriates.
The foreign dignitaries who arrived to perform Haj include Malaysian Prime Minister Najeeb Razak and Mali President Amadou Toumani Touré.
A total of 1,400 pilgrims belonging to 81 nationalities arrived as guests of the Saudi King.
The King is also hosting 477 Palestinians recently released from Israeli prisons to perform Haj at his personal expense.
