Millions Gather for Arafat Day as Pilgrims Perform Hajj’s Pinnacle Ritual

Makkah:The most significant ritual of Hajj, **Wuquf-e-Arafat (Standing at Arafat)**, is being performed today by millions of pilgrims from around the world, including **115,000 Pakistanis**.

After spending the night in **Mina**, pilgrims have started arriving at the **plains of Arafat** early this morning. There, they will gather near **Masjid al-Namirah**, where the **Hajj sermon** will be delivered, followed by **combined Zuhr and Asr prayers**.

Between Asr and Maghrib, the pilgrims will observe **Wuquf**, standing in supplication and seeking forgiveness from Allah. At sunset, the signal to leave Arafat will be given without performing Maghrib prayer. Pilgrims will then proceed to **Muzdalifah**, where they will offer **Maghrib and Isha prayers together** and spend the night under the open sky.

After **Fajr prayer** at Muzdalifah and sunrise, the pilgrims will return to their tents in **Mina** to perform **Ramy al-Jamarat**, the symbolic stoning of the **largest pillar (Jamrah al-Aqaba)** with seven pebbles. They will then perform **animal sacrifice**, shave or trim their hair (Halaq or Taqsir), and change into normal clothes, thus completing major rites of Hajj.

On **11th Dhul-Hijjah**, pilgrims will perform stoning at **all three pillars (Jamrat al-Sughra, Wusta, and Kubra)** with seven pebbles each. Afterwards, they will head to **Makkah for the Tawaf al-Ziyarah (Farewell Circumambulation)**.

On **12th Dhul-Hijjah**, the stoning ritual will be repeated. Those wishing to stay an extra day in Mina may do so and complete the final stoning on **13th Dhul-Hijjah** before returning to Makkah.

With this, the **obligations of Hajj** will be fulfilled. Pilgrims will then either return to their countries after performing **Tawaf al-Wida (Farewell Tawaf)** or proceed to **Madinah** to visit the **Prophet’s Mosque (Masjid al-Nabawi)**.

May Allah accept the Hajj of all pilgrims and grant peace and blessings to the Muslim Ummah.