Nearly 2.5 mln Hajj pilgrims stay overnight in Muzdalifah after Arafat

Muzdalifah, Mecca - Nearly 2.5 million Hajj pilgrims from around the world stayed overnight in Muzdalifah after gathering at Mount Arafat on Saturday where they stood in prayer from noon to sunset in one of the most important days of the Islamic calendar.

The rocky areas of Arafat, Mina and Muzdalifah a few kilometers east of Mecca are the main sites of Hajj, which culminates with Sunday’s Eid al-Adha holiday, and are the location of rituals laid out of Islam’s Prophet Mohammed.

At Muzdalifah, pilgrims gathered pebbles for a symbolic stoning of the devil ritual which begins on Sunday, which is also the start Eid al-Adha feast of sacrifice marked by the world’s more than 1.5 billion Muslims.

During the day of Arafat, all pilgrims stand in vigil from noon to sunset to offer supplications, seek repentance, and listen to sermons from where it is believed Islam’s Prophet Mohammed delivered his final sermon. The ritual at Arafat is the most day of Hajj and is considered compulsory for a successful pilgrimage.

Speaking to Al Arabiya English, Pakistani pilgrim Abdulqodus Mohammed said he had saved up for the past 20 years to afford making the journey from his hometown to Mecca with his elderly parents.

“With the blessing of Allah, I am very happy and thank Allah (swt) who gave me a lot of blessings. Arrangements from the Saudi government are very good in every shape,” Abdulqodus said.