Pilgrims to perform Waqoof-e-Arafat

Pilgrims to perform Waqoof-e-Arafat 

The world’s largest annual pilgrimage, the Haj, began on Sunday with hundreds of thousands of Muslims pouring into the camp of Mina from Makkah to prepare for solemn rituals.

The passage to Mina marks the official launch of the Haj on the eighth day of the Muslim calendar month of Zilhaj. At Mount Arafat, some 10 kilometres southeast of Mina, the pilgrims spend the day in prayer and reflection. 

After sunset, they move on to Muzdalifah, halfway between Mount Arafat and Mina, where they spend the night. The pilgrims are estimated to total up to 2.5 million this year, a major concern for the Saudi authorities who have yet to report any major incidents since the faithful descended on the holy city. 

Many took buses but some had already set off on foot overnight as they headed to the vast plain of Mina, a small village about five kilometres east of Makkah that comes to life for just five days a year. 

Authorities say permits have been granted to 1.7 million foreign pilgrims, with a further 200,000 or so issued to pilgrims from within Saudi Arabia and from neighbouring Gulf states. 

This year has seen a crackdown on pilgrims who do not have the requisite papers as authorities attempt to prevent numbers getting out of hand. A driver caught transporting unauthorised pilgrims faces a fine of 10,000 riyals for each individual. 

Vehicles with a capacity below 25 passengers have also been banned from entering Haj sites to streamline the flow of buses transporting pilgrims. The day is known as Tarwiah (Watering) as pilgrims in the past stopped at Mina to water their animals and stock up for the following day’s trip to Mount Arafat.

Gilaf-e-Kaba to be replaced today

Meanwhile, Ghilaf-e-Kaba, made at a cost of 17 million Riyals, is being replaced today. 

The new Ghilaf of the Khana-e-Kaba measures 14 meter long having a circumference of 47 meter on which Surah-e-Ikhlas and 6 Quranic Aayats have been written separately in square-shapes in Islamic calligraphy. 

The ceremony of replacing Ghilaf-e-Kaba would be held today in Khana-e-Kaba, which would be attended by the management of Haram Sharif representing Sheikh Abdul Aziz and the representatives of the factory, which made the Ghilaf-e-Kaba. Lacs of pilgrims coming from all across the world are performing the topmost ritual Waquf-e-Arafat today