Rabat – Over 30,000 Moroccans are part of over 1.5 million Muslims who are praying today at Mount Arafat, one of the key Hajj rituals.
As part of the Islamic pilgrimage, millions of Muslims ascend the mount, which is a 70-meter-high hill situated 20 kilometers from Mecca.
The day commemorates the final sermon delivered by the Prophet Muhammad. Pilgrims spend the entire day — from dawn to sunset — praying. The day is seen as an opportunity for deep spiritual reflection and connection with God.
Missing the Arafat ritual invalidates the Hajj.
Millions of Muslims across the world fast during the Arafat ritual. In Islam, this is believed to expiate the sins of the previous year and the coming year.
Mount Arfat is also known as Jabal al-Rahma or the Mount of Mercy.
Today’s ritual is undergoing amid scorching temperatures, reaching 40 degrees Celsius.
Saudi authorities pledged measures to ensure the success of the Hajj season, including establishing the world’s largest cooling system in Mecca. This comes after tragic deaths in last season’s Hajj due to heat waves that killed over 1,200 people, including 20 Moroccans.
Following the Arafat ritual, pilgrims will leave for Muzdalifah, between Arafat and Mina, to collect pebbles for the stoning of the devil ritual.
The ritual commemorates when Prophet Ibrahim rejected the devil’s temptation as he prepared to sacrifice his son Ismael.
Following the ritual, Muslims celebrate Eid Al Adha, marking the Feast of Sacrifice. It commemorates Abraham’s devotion and willingness to follow God’s command.
Eid Al Adha is also a holiday across the Muslim world. In Morocco, the public sector will enjoy the weekend in addition to Monday, which the government has granted as a special holiday.
One of the five pillars in Islam, Hajj is an obligation for all Muslims who are physically and financially able to undertake the journey at least once in their lifetime.
