As dawn broke today, pilgrims embarked on the pinnacle of their Hajj journey to the sacred grounds of Arafat. Clad in ihram garments, their hearts filled with faith and reverence, they fervently prayed to Allah for forgiveness and mercy.
According to the Saudi Press Agency, pilgrims marched to Arafat under comprehensive security arrangements coordinated by personnel from various sectors. These security personnel ensured the smooth flow of both vehicles and pedestrians by securing routes and implementing transportation and dispatching plans.
They also provided guidance and ensured the safety of the pilgrims.
Government sectors are providing numerous services in the Arafat area, including medical, emergency, and food services, catering to the needs of pilgrims who have traveled from all corners of the world to fulfill the fifth pillar of Islam.
The desert summer heat is expected to hit 43 degrees Celsius (109.4 degrees Fahrenheit), creating challenges, especially among the elderly.
The hajj, which takes at least five days to complete and is mostly outdoors, "is not easy because it is very hot", said Abraman Hawa, 26, from Ghana.
"We have sun... but it is not as hot. But I will pray to Allah at Arafat because I need his support," she added.
Saudi authorities have urged pilgrims to drink plenty of water and protect themselves from the sun. Since men are prohibited from wearing hats, many carry umbrellas. More than 10,000 heat-related illnesses were recorded last year, 10 percent of them heat stroke, a Saudi official told AFP this week.
The hajj is increasingly affected by climate change, according to a Saudi study that said regional temperatures were rising 0.4C each decade.
But Mohammed Farouk, a 60-year-old Pakistani pilgrim, said that the hajj is "very important for me as a Muslim", he said.
The enormous crowds of worshippers spent the night in a giant tented city in Mina, a valley several kilometers outside Mecca, Islam's holiest city.
Many of them were tightly packed in air-conditioned tents, lying close together on narrow mattresses. They were grouped by nationality and price, depending on how much they had paid for their hajj packages -- usually several thousand dollars.
After Arafat, they will head to Muzdalifah, where they will collect pebbles to carry out the symbolic "stoning of the devil" ritual in Mina on Sunday.
The kingdom received more than 1.8 million pilgrims last year for the hajj, around 90 percent of whom came from abroad. It also welcomed 13.5 million Muslims who came to perform Umrah, the small pilgrimage that can be done all year round and aims to reach 30 million by 2030.
According to the Saudi Press Agency, Pilgrims began arriving in Mina on Friday, the eighth day of Dhul-Hijjah 1445 AH, to spend the Day of Tarwiyah.
The pilgrims who have fulfilled Umrah, start Ihram where they are, whether inside or outside Mecca, and remain there until after sunrise on the ninth of Dhul-Hijjah.
Thereafter, they head to stand on Mount Arafat, which marks the climax of the Hajj journey, from dawn until sunset on the ninth of Dhul-Hijjah.
The pilgrims are provided with security, medical, and catering services, and means of transportation, to facilitate their Hajj and enable them to perform religious rituals in an atmosphere of spirituality and reassurance.
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