Hajj Pilgrims Arrive in Arafat for Annual Sermon

Arafat, The Gulf Observer: Amid heightened security and health measures, this year’s Hajj pilgrims arrived in Arafat early Saturday morning, the ninth day of Dul Hijjah, to attend the annual Hajj sermon at Namirah Mosque.

As the sun rose, pilgrims camping in the tent city of Mina performed dawn prayers and then embarked on their journey to Arafat, where Prophet Muhammad delivered his final sermon over 144 decades ago. The air was filled with the sound of pilgrims chanting supplications.

Ansarul-Haq Rasheed, a 63-year-old Indonesian pilgrim, expressed his deep desire to pray to Allah without interruption. “I wish time could pause so I could continue praying to Allah with all my heart,” he told Arab News. “These moments are unforgettable. I want to lay bare all my emotions to my creator, who knows everything. I seek His blessings for my needs in this life and the hereafter.” Reflecting on his pilgrimage experience, Rasheed expressed gratitude for the improved services provided to pilgrims, contrasting them with the hardships faced by his late father during Hajj 45 years ago.

Similarly, Khadija Yakoubi, a 49-year-old Moroccan pilgrim, anticipated a transformative experience from the pilgrimage. “When all sins are forgiven, life inevitably changes for the better, leading to a renewed enjoyment. This feeling motivates pilgrims to continue doing good throughout their lives,” Yakoubi said, praising the exemplary services received at the holy sites.

The Day of Arafat is the most significant part of the Hajj pilgrimage — one of Islam’s five pillars — without which the pilgrimage is not valid. Pilgrims typically combine and shorten the Dhuhr and Asr prayers before remaining in Arafat until sunset, after which they move on to Muzdalifah before returning to their tents in Mina.

Sheikh Maher bin Hamad Al-Muaiqly, one of the imams of the Grand Mosque, delivered this year’s sermon, describing Hajj as a “sincere act of worship for Allah.” He urged pilgrims to seize “the great blessings” during their time in Arafat, reminding them that in this honorable place and time, the Almighty multiplies rewards for their good deeds and forgives their sins.

In his sermon, Al-Muaiqly emphasized that Islam is a religion of peace and that Shariah “mandates justice, noble ethics, and kindness to parents, along with the importance of maintaining family ties, truthfulness in speech, and safeguarding rights to ensure they are rightfully upheld. It also emphasizes respect for contracts and encourages obedience to rightful authorities.”

He added that Shariah emphasizes the obligation to adhere to the five central religious laws: safeguarding religion, protecting the soul, the mind, one’s possessions, and one’s dignity. These principles are crucial in Islamic jurisprudence and ethics, serving as guiding principles for the well-being and growth of individuals and society.

“Indeed, Shariah considers any transgression against these basics a crime deserving punishment. Furthermore, safeguarding these essentials is a path to entering paradise and attaining Allah’s satisfaction. It also serves as a key to stability, happiness, progress, and advancement in this world,” the imam said.

The day’s proceedings highlighted the enduring significance and solemnity of the Hajj pilgrimage, reinforcing the principles of faith, unity, and devotion among the Muslim faithful.