RIYADH: More than a million Muslim pilgrims are gathering at Mount Arafat, the most spiritual site of the annual hajj pilgrimage, to pray and reflect under the scorching sun, where temperatures are expected to reach 42 degrees Celsius.
Prayers at Arafat, the peak of the hajj. This is the same place where the Prophet Muhammad SAW delivered his final speech, calling for equality and unity among the Ummah.
Mount Arafat, located about 20 kilometers from Mecca, holds deep religious significance for Muslims. Pilgrims began arriving before dawn, many on foot in the dark to escape the intense heat of the day. As the sun rose, the rocky hill and surrounding plain were filled with worshippers raising their hands in prayer, some weeping as they sought forgiveness, peace and blessings.
Saudi authorities have urged pilgrims to stay in shaded tents during the sweltering heat and have significantly stepped up efforts to reduce heat to avoid a repeat of last year’s tragedy, when extreme weather conditions killed more than a thousand people.
Read more: Millions of pilgrims arrive at Mina as annual Hajj rituals begin
This year, an additional 50,000 square meters of shaded space were built, while more than 400 cooling units and thousands of health care workers were deployed at pilgrimage sites.
Pilgrims will travel to Muzdalifah, where they will collect pebbles for the symbolic stoning ritual, which takes place in Mina in the coming days. The hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam, a once-in-a-lifetime obligation for physically and financially able Muslims.
Authorities have stepped up efforts to prevent unregistered pilgrims from joining the hajj, using drone surveillance, checkpoints and text alerts to enforce permit rules.
