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By Raziq Ali Shah
ARAFAT, SAUDI ARABIA, Jun 05 (APP):Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims from across the globe including Pakistan converged on Mount Arafat, also known as Jabal ar-Rahmah, on Thursday to perform Waqoof-e-Arafat, the pivotal ritual marking the climax of the Hajj pilgrimage, as devotees engaged in prayers and supplication at the sacred site.
Chanting “Labbaik Allahumma Labbaik…” (“Here I am, O God, here I am answering your call…”), numerous worshippers journeyed from Mina to Arafat via buses and trains, ensuring seamless transit across the sacred plains.
The Pakistan Hajj Mission has advised pilgrims to follow their scheduled departure times to prevent overcrowding and minimize exposure to extreme heat.
Saudi authorities have also emphasized strict adherence to government-set schedules at all stages of movement between holy sites. They stress the importance of using approved transportation methods as outlined in the official plan and advise against walking between locations during designated periods.
This profound gathering reflects unity and devotion as pilgrims engage in prayers, seeking divine mercy on this climactic day of Hajj.
The guests of Allah Almighty (pilgrims) will listen to the Hajj Sermon from Masjid-e-Nimra in their tents, following Saudi government directives issued due to extreme weather conditions. This year’s sermon will be broadcast in 35 languages and digitally streamed across various social media platforms, ensuring global accessibility.
The pilgrims will offer Zuhr and Asr prayers together and stay in Arafat, spending the entire day in praying. After sunset, the pilgrims will leave for Muzdalifah where they will offer Maghrib and Isha prayers together and spend the night under an open sky.
They will also collect pebbles from Muzdalifah to perform the ritual of Rammi, the stoning of devil.
After offering Fajr Prayer at Muzdalfa, they will leave for Mina for remaining Hajj rituals.
The Pakistan Hajj Mission in Makkah has announced specific guidelines for ‘Rami al-Jamarat’ and Animal Sacrifice, following the latest Saudi directives.
Each Maktab has designated timings for ‘Rami’ on the 10th of Dhul-Hijjah, and every ‘Nazim’ must ensure pilgrims perform the ritual as per their allocated slot. Pilgrims are advised to proceed in groups under their Nazim’s supervision.
Additionally, the Ministry instructs pilgrims to exit the state of Ihram after performing ‘Halq’ (head shaving) or ‘Qasr’ (hair shortening) following Fajr prayer on the 11th of Dhul-Hijjah.
Saudi authorities have scheduled the sacrifice time for Pakistani Hujjaj at 12:30 AM on the night between the 10th and 11th of Dhul-Hijjah. Pilgrims should complete the first day’s ‘Rami’ before midnight.
Director General Hajj, Abdul Wahab Soomro, informed APP that comprehensive facilities have been arranged for Pakistani pilgrims. Currently, 73% of Pakistani pilgrims have traveled from Mina via train, while the remaining arrived in Arafat using buses.
To ensure the well-being of pilgrims, approximately 400 medical and paramedical officers have been stationed across various healthcare centers. These include a fully equipped hospital and nine dispensaries in Makkah, along with another hospital and two dispensaries in Madinah.
“The extensive healthcare network guarantees round-the-clock emergency care, routine medical services, and swift responses to any health concerns, offering pilgrims reassurance throughout their journey,” he stated.