With temperatures soaring, over 1.5 million Muslims made their way to Mount Arafat on Saturday for the pinnacle of the annual hajj pilgrimage, fervently praying, particularly for those in war-torn Gaza.
Wearing white garments, worshippers began their pilgrimage at dawn for the most challenging day of the annual rituals, climbing the rocky, 70-meter (230-foot) hill where Prophet Mohammed is believed to have delivered his final sermon.
“This is the most significant day,” expressed 46-year-old Egyptian Mohammed Asser, equipped with a list of prayers. “I also pray for the Palestinians. May God assist them.”
This year’s hajj is happening against the backdrop of the conflict in Gaza between Israel and Hamas, triggered by the unprecedented attack by Palestinian militants on southern Israel on October 7.
The attack resulted in the loss of 1,194 lives, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official figures from Israel.
In retaliation, Israel’s military campaign claimed the lives of at least 37,266 people in Gaza, predominantly civilians, according to the health ministry of the Hamas governed area.
Saudi Arabia’s official overseeing religious pilgrimages, Tawfiq al-Rabiah, cautioned last week that “no political activity” would be tolerated during the hajj.
However, one pilgrim was heard chanting in support of the Palestinians enduring months of relentless bombardment.
“Pray for our brothers in Palestine, in Gaza… may God grant victory to the Muslims,” the pilgrim shouted.
In a message to hajj pilgrims on Saturday, Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei emphasized the need to fully support “the ironclad resistance of Palestine and the patient, oppressed people of Gaza.”
About 2,000 Palestinians have been invited to perform the hajj by Saudi King Salman, as per official media reports.
– ‘Scary’ heat –
The hajj, one of the largest religious gatherings globally, is reportedly being impacted by climate change. A Saudi study published last month revealed that regional temperatures are rising by 0.4 degrees Celsius every decade.
The rituals, lasting at least five days and mostly conducted outdoors, are deemed challenging due to the scorching heat, as expressed by Abraman Hawa, a 26-year-old individual from Ghana.
“We have sun… but it is not as hot. But I will pray to Allah at Arafat, because I need his support,” she added.
The temperature was predicted to reach 43 degrees Celsius (109.4 degrees Fahrenheit) on Saturday, posing difficulties for pilgrims who spent the night at a large tented city in Mina, a valley outside Mecca, the holiest city in Islam.
Saudi authorities have advised pilgrims to stay hydrated and shield themselves from the sun. Since men are prohibited from wearing hats, many resort to carrying umbrellas.
Over 10,000 heat-related illnesses were noted last year, with 10 percent of them being heat stroke, as per a Saudi official speaking to AFP this week.
Admitting to feeling a bit apprehensive about spending hours on Mount Arafat, 33-year-old pilgrim Ahmad Karim Abdelsalam from India expressed confidence that with an umbrella and water sprays, “God willing, everything will go well.”
– ‘Once in a lifetime’ –
The hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam that must be performed at least once by all Muslims with the means to do so.
However, obtaining visas, allocated to individual countries on a quota basis, can prove challenging.
“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that I couldn’t miss,” stated 55-year-old Iraqi pilgrim Abdulrahman Siyam, who was partaking in the rituals despite having a prosthetic leg.
Following Mount Arafat, pilgrims will proceed to Muzdalifah to collect pebbles for the symbolic “stoning of the devil” ceremony in Mina on Sunday.
The hajj is said to retrace the path of Prophet Mohammed’s final pilgrimage approximately 1,400 years ago.
This pilgrimage is a critical source of legitimacy for the Al Saud dynasty, whose monarch holds the title of “Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques,” in Mecca and Medina.
Moreover, it serves as a significant financial boon for the conservative country, aiming to develop religious tourism to reduce its reliance on oil.
Last year, the kingdom welcomed over 1.8 million pilgrims for the hajj, with around 90 percent coming from overseas.
An additional 13.5 million Muslims arrived to perform umrah, a pilgrimage possible throughout the year, with plans to reach a total of 30 million pilgrims by 2030.
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