Vast crowds of Muslim pilgrims, all
dressed in white, flocked from early Thursday to Mount Arafat in Saudi
Arabia’s west to take part in the main rituals of the annual hajj.
Many pilgrims had camped overnight in the sprawling plain surrounding Mount Arafat, but the majority began arriving at dawn.
Men,
women and children from 189 countries streamed to the site, some
setting up small colourful tents in which they slept and prayed.
Beggars
and street vendors also dotted the roads searching for generous souls
among the 2.5 million believers expected to converge on the plain during
the day.
“We came from Mecca. We walked from the Grand Mosque to
Mina and then we took the buses to Arafat. All for the love of the
prophet,” said one Egyptian man sitting on a straw mat with members of
his family. “The more tired we get, the more God will reward us,” he
added.
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After
dawn prayers, pilgrims headed to the small hill in Arafat plain named
the “Mount of Mercy” as others made themselves comfortable between its
huge rocks. Many prayed, tears streaming down their faces.
It is
at the foot of the hill where the Muslim Prophet Mohammed is believed
to have delivered his final hajj sermon before his death.
A
preacher urged pilgrims not to climb the slippery stone staircase
leading up the hill, bellowing over loudspeakers: “Neither the prophet,
nor his followers have ever climbed the hill. Please do not climb it.”
Pilgrims
have in previous years slipped and fallen while attempting the ascent,
and others have been killed in stampedes. On Thursday, some worshippers
ignored the warning and did attempt the climb, although no incidents
were reported.
Amid the crowds, Syrian worshippers were seen
carrying a large rebel flag, a symbol of the 19-months-long deadly
uprising against President Bashar al-Assad’s regime.
After sunset,
the pilgrims head to Muzdalifah, between Mina and Arafat, where they
collect stones to throw at the devil, one of the last rituals which
takes place Friday and marks the first day of Eid al-Adha, the feast of
sacrifice.
The symbolic “stoning of the devil” is followed by the ritual sacrifice of an animal, usually a lamb.
During
the remaining three days of the hajj, the pilgrims continue the stoning
ritual before performing the circumambulation of the Kaaba shrine in
Mecca and heading home.
The hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam that every capable Muslim must perform at least once.
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