As temperatures rise and safety precautions are tightened, approximately 1.5 million foreign pilgrims have travelled to Saudi Arabia to perform the Hajj.
Every Muslim with financial and physical ability is required to perform Hajj, one of the Five Pillars of Islam, which includes various rituals and acts of worship.
Ghassan al-Nuwaimi, a spokesman for the Hajj Ministry, estimated that this year’s pilgrimage attracted over 1.5 million foreign visitors, compared to 1,611,310 foreign pilgrims who attended last year.
As early as 12:00 AM Saudi local time on Thursday, worshippers flocked to Mount Arafat, some walking the distance while carrying their bags. During the day, temperatures approached 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit).
The Day of Arafat, the second day of the Hajj, is considered the most sacred day of the year in Islam. According to traditional teachings of the Prophet Muhammad, God approaches the faithful and pardons their sins. Mount Arafat, a rocky hill southeast of Mecca, holds immense significance in Islam.
According to the Quran, the Prophet Muhammad delivered his final sermon during his last Hajj at Arafat. From midnight until sunset, pilgrims remain at Arafat to pray and reflect.
After sunset, they travel to Muzdalifah, halfway between Arafat and the vast tent city of Mina, to collect pebbles for the symbolic “stoning of the devil.”
Saudi Arabia has invested millions of dollars in safety measures and crowd management; however, many participants still present challenges. The high temperatures in recent years have been one of the biggest concerns.
“10,000 trees have been planted to provide more shade, hospital bed capacity has been increased, and the number of paramedics has tripled,” Health Minister Fahad bin Abdulrahman Al-Jalajel stated earlier this week.
