Muslim worshippers, some carrying umbrellas to protect them from the scorching sun, gather for prayer at Namirah mosque near Mount Arafat, also known as Jabal al-Rahmah (Mount of Mercy), where the Prophet Mohammed is believed to have given his final sermon, on August 31, 2017, ahead of the climax of hajj. Clad in white, their the palms facing the sky, some two million Muslims from around the world gathered on Saudi Arabia’s Mount Arafat for the highlight of the hajj pilgrimage. / AFP PHOTO
Some 65,000 Nigerian pilgrims were among 1.8 million Muslims across the world who observed Arafat Day in Muna, Makkah, Saudi Arabia, on Saturday.
Muslim pilgrims partake in the symbolic stoning of the devil at the Jamarat Bridge in Mina, near Mecca, which marks the final major rite of the Hajj on on August 21, 2018.
Muslims from across the world are gathering in Mecca in Saudi Arabia for the annual Hajj pilgrimage, one of the five pillars of Islam. / AFP PHOTO /
Journalists at the hilly Arafat site reports that Nigerian pilgrims used the occasion to pray for themselves, their families and Nigeria.
Some pilgrims who spoke with Newsmen, described the occasion as unique, saying it gave them the opportunity of a lifetime to pray especially for peace and development in Nigeria.
The spiritual occasion has been peaceful with little stress in spite of the hot weather compared to previous occasions when large crowds posed a lot of challenges for pilgrims and officials.
Saudi security personnel were up to the task of guiding the conduct of pilgrims as they were at every location at the site to ensure the orderliness of the exercise.
After a day devoted to special prayers at Arafat, pilgrims will move to Musdalifah where they will observe the two evening prayers before moving to Muna for the stoning of three devils, a rite performed in groups to avoid the stampede.
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After 12 hours at the plain of Arafat, pilgrims will move to Makkah to prepare for Eidel-el- Kabir on Sunday.
Mount Arafat is a granite hill about 20km east of central Makkah in the plains.
Mount Arafat is about 70m high and is also known as the Mount of Mercy.
Islamic tradition places much importance on Arafat as pilgrims spend the afternoon at the plain of Arafat failure of which invalidates the hajj
Addressing newsmen earlier at Muna, Sen. Aliyu Ndume appealed to Nigerian pilgrims to use the opportunity of their presence at Arafat to pray for the welfare and security of Nigeria.
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