Pilgrims Gather for Hajj’s Most Sacred Ritual, Wuquf-e-Arafat, Today
Today marks the performance of **Wuquf-e-Arafat**, the most important ritual of **Hajj**, as **millions of pilgrims** converge on the **Plain of Arafat**. Earlier, pilgrims spent the night in **Mina**, engaging in prayers and spiritual preparation.
By **midday**, the pilgrims will gather in Arafat where **Imam of the Grand Mosque, Sheikh Saleh bin Abdullah Al-Humaid**, will deliver the **Hajj sermon (Khutbah-e-Hajj)** at the historic **Masjid Nimrah**. After listening to the sermon, pilgrims will offer **combined prayers of Dhuhr and Asr**.
Following **sunset**, without performing Maghrib prayer in Arafat, the pilgrims will proceed to **Muzdalifah**, where they will spend the night **under the open sky**. At Muzdalifah, they will engage in worship and collect **pebbles** for the **Ramy al-Jamarat** (stoning of the devil) ritual.
On **10th Dhul-Hijjah**, pilgrims will return to **Mina**, where they will stone the **largest Jamrah (pillar)**, perform **Eid prayers**, offer **sacrifices**, and change out of the **Ihram garments**, marking the completion of major rites of Hajj.
In light of the **extreme heat**, with temperatures expected to reach **40°C**, the Saudi authorities have installed **117 mist fans** around the area, effectively reducing the ambient temperature by approximately **9°C**, ensuring a safer environment for the pilgrims.
