At Mount Arafat, pilgrims pray for end to divisions
Muslim pilgrims pray on a rocky hill called the Mountain of Mercy, some touching a marker at its peak, on the Plain of Arafat, near the holy city of Makkah, on Monday. (AP photo/Amr Nabil)
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MAKKAH: About 1.5 million pilgrims flocked to Mount Arafat on Monday for the second phase of the annual Haj, seeking an end to conflicts affecting the Muslim world as they performed Dhur and Asr prayers at Namirah Mosque.
In a sermon at the mosque, Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Abdullah, the Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia, called on Muslims to avoid divisions, chaos and sectarianism, saying, there is “no salvation or happiness for the Muslim nation without adhering to the teachings of the religion.”
“Your nation is a trust with you. You must safeguard its security, stability and resources," he said.
“You should know that you are targeted by your enemy... who wants to spread chaos among you ... It’s time to confront this,” he added, in an apparent reference to the fighting going on in Syria and the violence affecting other Muslim countries in the Arab world.
Early in the day, the pilgrims headed toward Mount Arafat from nearby Mina Valley where most of them spent the night following the traditions of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), who performed the rituals 14 centuries ago.
They had moved to Mina on Sunday from the holy city of Makkah, home to the Grand Mosque, Islam’s holiest place of worship, which houses the cube-shaped Kaaba toward which all Muslims pray five times daily.
The number of pilgrims this year is about half of last year's Haj because the Saudi government slashed Haj quotas for foreign pilgrims pending completion of the multi-billion-dollar expansion work at the Grand Mosque. Once completed, the Grand Mosque would be able to accommodate around 2.2 million worshippers, double its current capacity.
Makkah Gov. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, head of the central Haj committee, earlier said 1.38 million pilgrims had arrived from outside of the kingdom while ony 117,000 Haj permits were issued for domestic pilgrims.
He said security officers had turned back 70,000 locals and expatriates who tried to enter the Haj sites without the required permits and had arrested 38,000 others for violating Haj rules, including transporting illegal pilgrims to the holy city.
More than 138,000 vehicles used for transporting illegal pilgrims had also been impounded pending and charges are to be filed against the owners, Prince Khaled said.
Stoning of the devil
The pilgrims are to pray at Arafat until sunset, when they are due to set off for Muzdalifah for a ritual today symbolizing the stoning of the devil.
“I will pray the whole day for God to improve the situation for Muslims worldwide and an end to disputes and bloodshed in Arab countries,” 61-year-old Algerian pensioner Saeed Dherari said.
“I hope that God will grace all Muslims with security and stability,” said 75-year-old Ahmad Khader, who hails from the southern Syrian province of Daraa.
“The regime is tyrannical and I pray for God to help the oppressed people,” he said, referring to Syrian President Bashar Assad’s embattled government.
Egyptian Ahmad Ali, who is performing Haj for the first time, prayed for peace after hundreds were killed in recent months in fighting between security forces and Islamist supporters of ousted president Muhammad Mursi.
“I pray for Egypt to enjoy security and stability and for the people to reach understanding and reconciliation,” Ali told AFP.
The Haj, which officially ends on Friday, is one of the five pillars of Islam that every capable Muslim must perform at least once.
(Additional input from Agence France Presse)
http://MuslimWindow.blogspot.com/
Muslim pilgrims pray on a rocky hill called the Mountain of Mercy, some touching a marker at its peak, on the Plain of Arafat, near the holy city of Makkah, on Monday. (AP photo/Amr Nabil)
ARAB NEWS
LATEST STORIES IN FEATURED
Malaysia court rules non-Muslims can’t use ‘Allah’
No permit and fingerprinted? Security awaits you after Haj
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Kabaa given a new Kiswa
O God, here I come answering your call
More
MAKKAH: About 1.5 million pilgrims flocked to Mount Arafat on Monday for the second phase of the annual Haj, seeking an end to conflicts affecting the Muslim world as they performed Dhur and Asr prayers at Namirah Mosque.
In a sermon at the mosque, Sheikh Abdulaziz bin Abdullah, the Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia, called on Muslims to avoid divisions, chaos and sectarianism, saying, there is “no salvation or happiness for the Muslim nation without adhering to the teachings of the religion.”
“Your nation is a trust with you. You must safeguard its security, stability and resources," he said.
“You should know that you are targeted by your enemy... who wants to spread chaos among you ... It’s time to confront this,” he added, in an apparent reference to the fighting going on in Syria and the violence affecting other Muslim countries in the Arab world.
Early in the day, the pilgrims headed toward Mount Arafat from nearby Mina Valley where most of them spent the night following the traditions of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), who performed the rituals 14 centuries ago.
They had moved to Mina on Sunday from the holy city of Makkah, home to the Grand Mosque, Islam’s holiest place of worship, which houses the cube-shaped Kaaba toward which all Muslims pray five times daily.
The number of pilgrims this year is about half of last year's Haj because the Saudi government slashed Haj quotas for foreign pilgrims pending completion of the multi-billion-dollar expansion work at the Grand Mosque. Once completed, the Grand Mosque would be able to accommodate around 2.2 million worshippers, double its current capacity.
Makkah Gov. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal, head of the central Haj committee, earlier said 1.38 million pilgrims had arrived from outside of the kingdom while ony 117,000 Haj permits were issued for domestic pilgrims.
He said security officers had turned back 70,000 locals and expatriates who tried to enter the Haj sites without the required permits and had arrested 38,000 others for violating Haj rules, including transporting illegal pilgrims to the holy city.
More than 138,000 vehicles used for transporting illegal pilgrims had also been impounded pending and charges are to be filed against the owners, Prince Khaled said.
Stoning of the devil
The pilgrims are to pray at Arafat until sunset, when they are due to set off for Muzdalifah for a ritual today symbolizing the stoning of the devil.
“I will pray the whole day for God to improve the situation for Muslims worldwide and an end to disputes and bloodshed in Arab countries,” 61-year-old Algerian pensioner Saeed Dherari said.
“I hope that God will grace all Muslims with security and stability,” said 75-year-old Ahmad Khader, who hails from the southern Syrian province of Daraa.
“The regime is tyrannical and I pray for God to help the oppressed people,” he said, referring to Syrian President Bashar Assad’s embattled government.
Egyptian Ahmad Ali, who is performing Haj for the first time, prayed for peace after hundreds were killed in recent months in fighting between security forces and Islamist supporters of ousted president Muhammad Mursi.
“I pray for Egypt to enjoy security and stability and for the people to reach understanding and reconciliation,” Ali told AFP.
The Haj, which officially ends on Friday, is one of the five pillars of Islam that every capable Muslim must perform at least once.
(Additional input from Agence France Presse)
http://MuslimWindow.blogspot.com/
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