Muslim Pilgrims Ascend Mount Arafat for Peak of Hajj
Mount Arafat, The Gulf Observer: Hundreds of thousands of Muslim pilgrims converged on Mount Arafat on Thursday to mark the spiritual pinnacle of the annual Hajj pilgrimage, standing in prayer and reflection at the site where Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him) is believed to have delivered his final sermon.
Beginning before dawn, waves of worshippers gathered around the sacred hill and the vast surrounding plain. Many arrived early, shielding themselves with colorful umbrellas to take advantage of the cooler morning hours before the desert heat intensified.
Despite soaring temperatures—already surpassing 40°C (104°F)—the faithful continued to recite Qur’anic verses and offer prayers, enduring the long hours under the sun until sunset, when they will make their way to Muzdalifah. There, pilgrims will collect pebbles in preparation for the symbolic “stoning of the devil” ritual that follows in Mina.
Saudi authorities had earlier urged pilgrims to avoid being outdoors between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., warning of heat-related health risks. Cooling fans and mist-spraying units were installed throughout the site to mitigate the extreme conditions, and shaded areas have been expanded by 50,000 square meters to provide relief.
“This is something that I used to see every year on the TV screen during Hajj and I always thought: ‘I wish I could be here’,” said Ali, a 33-year-old pilgrim from Pakistan. “I’ve been trying to get here for the past three years. I feel very blessed.”
Clad in simple white garments symbolizing unity and humility, pilgrims dotted the slopes of Mount Arafat while others gathered in groups at its base, praying or capturing the moment on their phones. For many, this journey marks the fulfillment of a lifelong dream.
“It’s a big dream for me that I had almost given hope up of realizing,” said Iman Abdel Khaleq, a woman in her fifties, her voice quivering with emotion. “I’m overwhelmed with gratitude to be standing here today.”
To ensure the safety and well-being of the pilgrims, Saudi Arabia has mobilized over 250,000 personnel from more than 40 government agencies. The country has significantly upgraded infrastructure, deployed thousands of healthcare professionals, and implemented advanced crowd management technologies.
The Hajj pilgrimage, one of the five pillars of Islam, draws more than 1.5 million worshippers from around the world each year. This year’s gathering is among the largest in recent memory, underscoring both the profound significance of the ritual and the scale of the logistical effort to facilitate it.
