- Record-Breaking Haj Pilgrimage in Extreme Heat
- Emotional Experience for Pilgrims at Mount Arafat
- Challenges and Precautions Amidst High Temperatures
Mount Arafat in Saudi Arabia was crowded with hundreds of thousands of Muslim pilgrims on Tuesday, the culmination of a potentially record-breaking Haj pilgrimage conducted in the scorching summer heat.
Groups of worshippers recited Quranic verses on the rocky outcrop, where it is believed the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) delivered his final sermon.
The ritual is the culmination of the annual pilgrimage, one of the five pillars of Islam, which, after three years of Covid restrictions, officials say could be the largest on record.
The Haj, one of the world’s largest religious gatherings and a source of legitimacy for the oil-rich country’s royal overlords, was expected to attract more than 2.5 million pilgrims.
Temperatures reached 46 degrees Celsius on Monday as robed pilgrims protected by canopies traveled from Makkah to Mina, where they slept in a massive tent city before the ceremonies at Mount Arafat.
Tasneem Gamal, an Egyptian educator, stated that she felt emotionally overwhelmed upon arriving at Arafat, whose rituals are required as part of the pilgrimage.
The 35-year-old woman stated, “I cannot express my feelings; I am experiencing great joy.”
Gamal is conducting the Haj without a male guardian, a requirement that Saudi authorities will no longer enforce beginning in 2021.
This year, the maximum age restriction has been eliminated, allowing thousands of seniors to attend.
In sweltering temperatures on Mount Arafat, pilgrims will pray and recite the Quran for hours on Tuesday.
In contrast to Makkah’s hotels and malls and Mina’s pavilions, air-conditioned shelter is scarce.
Blessed
The entry roadways were crowded with worshippers as helicopters buzzed overhead.
Thousands of medical personnel were on high alert for heat stroke and exhaustion.
Saudi Arabia forbids outdoor work from June to September to protect workers. Heat risk peaks between noon and 3 p.m.
Pilgrims will sleep in Muzdalifah, midway between Arafat and Mina, after sunset.
Next day, they would throw stones at three massive concrete barriers in a symbolic “stoning of the devil” event.
The final stop is the Grand Mosque in Makkah, where a concluding circumambulation of the Kaaba will be performed.
Since militant strikes and tragic fires have plagued Haj, heat is not the only concern.
A stampede murdered up to 2,300 people in 2015. Since then, there have been no significant incidents.
Before departing for Arafat, American engineer Ahmed Ahmadine described himself as “blessed” to participate in the pilgrimage.
“I try to focus on praying for my family and friends,” the 37-year-old explained.
This is a unique opportunity that will never arise again.
