Millions of white-clad Muslim pilgrims climbed Mount Arafat on Tuesday to offer prayers in the sweltering summer heat ahead of the peak of the potentially record-breaking pilgrimage.
As dawn broke, large crowds of faithful recited verses from the Holy Quran on the rocky outcrop where Prophet Muhammad is believed to have delivered his last sermon.
The Arafat prayer is the highest point of the annual Hajj, one of the Five Pillars of Islam, which is obligatory on every able-bodied Muslim adult who has the financial means to attend.
Officials say the pilgrim crowd is likely to break attendance records as the Hajj is being held for the first time since the end of the COVID-19 restrictions.
More than 2.5 million pilgrims were expected to join the pilgrimage, one of the world’s largest religious gatherings and a source of legitimacy for the oil-rich country’s royal rulers.
Temperatures soared to 46 degrees Celsius (113 Fahrenheit) on Monday as worshipers sheltered by umbrellas traveled from Mecca to Mina, where they slept in a large tent city before rituals on Mount Arafat.
Tasneem Jamal, an Egyptian school teacher, said she was emotionally overwhelmed when she arrived at Arafat, whose rituals are an integral part of the Hajj.
The 35-year-old woman said that I cannot describe my feelings, I am living a very happy life.
Jamal is performing Hajj without a male guardian, a requirement maintained by Saudi authorities until 2021.
This year, the upper age limit has also been removed, giving thousands of seniors a chance to participate.
Tuesday provides the greatest physical challenge, as pilgrims will spend hours praying and reciting the Holy Quran amid soaring temperatures on Mount Arafat and the surrounding area.
Unlike Mecca, filled with hotels and malls and minah tents, air-conditioned shelters are few and far between.
‘Blessed’
As helicopters buzzed overhead, the entrance streets were packed with worshippers. Thousands of health workers were on alert for cases of heat stroke and exhaustion.
The risk of heat is greatest between 12:00 pm and 3:00 pm, when Saudi Arabia bans outdoor labor between June and September to protect workers.
After sunset, the pilgrims will walk the short distance to Muzdalifah and sleep in the open air, halfway between the plains of Arafat and Mina.
The next day, they would collect pebbles and throw them at three large concrete walls in a symbolic “stoning to Satan” ritual.
The final stop is back at the Grand Mosque in Mecca, where they will make a final circumambulation of the Kaaba, the giant black cube to which Muslims around the world pray every day.
Heat is not the only threat in Hajj, which has seen several crises over the years, including militant attacks and deadly fires.
In 2015, 2,300 people were killed in stampedes. No major incidents have occurred since then.
Before leaving for Arafat, American engineer Ahmed Ahmadine said he felt “blessed” to be able to participate in the Hajj.
“I try to focus on praying for my family and friends,” the 37-year-old said.
“This is an opportunity that will not be repeated.”
