Mina is expecting millions as the Hajj begins today

MAKKAH:

A sea of ​​pilgrims performed the important pre-Hajj ritual of Tawaf of the holy Kaaba as they prepared to move to Mina on Friday (today), marking the start of the Hajj, following in the footsteps of the Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him. Saudi Arabia’s news agency reported.

The tranquil valley of Mina prepared for an influx of 2.5 million pilgrims, including 160,000 Pakistanis, converging from all corners of the globe to embark on a spiritual journey culminating in the holy celebration of Eidul Azha.

For almost a month, faithful pilgrims have gathered in Mecca. According to official reports, more than 1.5 million pilgrims had already arrived in Saudi Arabia ahead of the Hajj, with more expected to join the hundreds of thousands of local Saudis.

The Hajj pilgrimage officially begins on Friday (today) with the solemn act of donning the Ihram — a white robe — while crossing the outer limits of Mecca, known as the Mikat. On the eve of the 7th and 8th Zilhaj, pilgrims begin the pilgrimage to Mina, a distance of 8.1 kilometers.

The 8th Zilhaj, known as the Day of Tarwiyyah, finds pilgrims immersed in prayer and reflection in the tranquil precincts of Mina. At dawn on the 9th of Zilhaj, the pilgrims will begin the pivotal leg of their journey – the Hajj sermon delivered from Masjid al-Nimra on the plains of Arafat.

By sunset, pilgrims would depart Arafat for Muzdalifah, where they will participate in Maghrib and Isha prayers, before gathering pebbles for the Rami ritual in the coming days. The 10th of Zilhaj, the Day of Sacrifice, witnesses pilgrims offering sacrifices.

For the next three days, pilgrims continued the Rami ritual, throwing seven pebbles on the first day and 21 each subsequent day, alongside cutting or shaving their hair, symbolizing spiritual renewal and rebirth.

On the 12th of Zilhaj, the climax of the Hajj journey unfolds as pilgrims embark on a holy pilgrimage to Mecca to fulfill the rites of Tawaf al-Ifadah and Sa’ai of Safa and Marwah. These rituals, integral to the Hajj, follow the completion of the essential acts.

This year’s Hajj coincides with Saudi Arabia’s hot summer, with officials predicting average high temperatures of 44 degrees Celsius. Saudi officials are trying to help pilgrims cope with the heat, with fogging systems and heat-reflective road surfaces, but scientists warn that climate change may overwhelm these efforts.