On Tuesday, millions of white-robed Muslim pilgrims ascended Mount Arafat to pray before the culmination of what could be a record-breaking Hajj that was performed in the sweltering summer heat.
Massive congregations of the devout recited lines from the Holy Quran on the rocky hilltop where the Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) is believed to have given his last sermon.
The highest point of the annual pilgrimage, one of Islam’s five pillars, is the prayers at Arafat, which are required of every able-bodied Muslim adult who has enough money to take part.
Largest Hajj After COVID-19
As Hajj is performed for the first time following the elimination of COVID-19 limitations, officials predict that the masses of pilgrims will break attendance records.
More than 2.5 million pilgrims were anticipated to participate in the Hajj, one of the greatest religious gatherings in the world and a source of legitimacy for the royal rulers of the oil-rich nation.
On Monday, temperatures reached 46 degrees Celsius (113 degrees Fahrenheit) when robed worshippers travelled from Makkah to Mina, where they spent the night in a massive tent city before performing the rituals at Mount Arafat.
Tasneem Gamal, an Egyptian schoolteacher, claimed that she was emotionally exhausted upon reaching Arafat, whose rituals constitute a necessary component of the trip.
“I cannot describe my feelings, I am living a great joy,” the 35-year-old woman said.
Gamal is performing the Hajj without a male guardian after the Saudi government delayed the need until 2021.
A maximum age restriction has also been eliminated this year, allowing thousands more older people to participate.
The largest physical obstacle comes on Tuesday, when pilgrims must endure hours of intense heat while praying and reciting the Quran on Mount Arafat and in the surrounding area.
Air-conditioned housing is hard to find, unlike Makkah, which is filled with hotels and shopping centers, and Mina’s tent city.
To read our blog on “150,000+ illegal Hajj pilgrims deported by Saudi Arabia,” click here.
