The Imam of Kaaba, Sheikh Dr. Yusuf bin Muhammad, in his Hajj sermon has urged all the Muslims to hold fast to the religion and unite among themselves, as two million pilgrims converged on Arafat.

Sheikh Dr. Yusuf bin Muhammad delivered the Hajj sermon from the Nimra Mosque in Arafat.

Obeying Sharia law is mandatory for all

Dr. Yusuf bin Muhammad said that millions of Muslims are confessing that our Lord is One, confessing that Allah is Most Merciful and Merciful and that Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) said ‘I have been sent, there is no one worthy of worship except Allah.’

Muslims fear Allah, keep serving Him, the observance of Allah’s law is obligatory on everyone, the worship of none but Allah is permissible, the observance of monotheism is the key to salvation and is the greatest source of redemption.

Arabs have not supremacy over non Arabs

He said that faith means believing in Allah, His Book, and His Messengers. “If you cannot see Allah, then Allah is surely seeing you. An Arab has no superiority over a foreigner in religion. He is a good believer, the religion of Allah is sacred, remember, it is a sign of Allah to create you in different tribes, the best among you is the one who is pious.”

Love and forgiveness

Dr Yusuf said that a Muslim is defined by the trait that he forgives people. He also added that the whole point of the shariah was spreading love among the people.

He added that respecting and fulfilling the rights of wives, children and relatives was the basis of religion. He also called upon those present to treat their parents with fairness and show kindness to those in need. He added the only way to reach proper faith was to to want for your brother, what you want for yourself.

Let the ummah unite

Dr Yusuf bin Muhammad, giving a message of unity to Omid, said, “Never fan the fire and avoid discord. Don’t give rise to discord in the Ummah. Islam has made you brothers and sisters when you were fighting with each other… Help one another in doing good deeds, and break links with those who are envious.”

In the Hajj sermon, Dr Yusuf further said the example of Muslims is like a body. “Remember, nations are strengthened by agreement. In case of disagreement, bring forward the command of Allah. Compassion and love for each other is the command of the Qur’an. Obey Allah.”

Prayer for pilgrims

At the end of his sermon, Dr Yusuf also offered a prayer for the pilgrims. He prayed for them to be provided with all that was needed for successfully completing Hajj with all its rites and also prayed that they be blessed with a safe return home.

Temperatures soar as two million camp in Arafat

Nearly two million Muslims are performing the central ritual of Hajj, the Wuquf-e-Arafa just outside Makkah on Tuesday (today).

Convoys of pilgrims left Mina for the nearby hillside and plain called Mount Arafat and the Plain of Arafat early in the morning in the sweltering heat.

At noon, the temperature in Arafat Plain hit 40 degrees Celsius.

The Hajj began on Monday and after performing the circumambulation of the Kaaba, the worshipers then left for Mina, about 7 kilometers from Makkah. They undertook the journey to the Plain of Arafat on Tuesday.

For the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic, Hajj has returned to its maximum capacity, with officials saying that 1.8 million pilgrims had already gathered and that the final number could go as high as 2.5 million, according to Aljazeera TV.

Dressed in Ihram and wearing sandals and slippers, most of the pilgrims carried umbrellas to ward off the heat and sun. Many pilgrims traveled on foot or in convoys of hundreds of air-conditioned buses provided by the Saudi authorities.

What is the mandatory stay in Plain of Arafat

Arafat Plain is 22 km away from Makkah, while its distance from the Valley of Mina is 10 km and from Muzdalifah 6 km.

The plain of Arafat is located outside the Haram of Makkah and is the only place in the Hajj that is outside the boundaries of the Haram.

Until a few years ago, the Arafat plain was a flat field; only grass could be seen here and there. But now the situation is different, afforestation has been seen in the region.

Pilgrims camped at Masjid Nimra and Jabal Rahmat among other places.

Arafat Plan covers an area of 33 square kilometers and Nimra Mosque alone has a capacity of 350,00 people.

The pilgrims present in the Plain of Arafat, as well as Muslims in several countries, will listen to the Hajj sermon today by Sheikh Dr. Yusuf bin Muhammad.

The pilgrims will offer Zuhr and Asr prayers at Nimra Mosque.

Leaving Arfa

After the Hajj sermon, the pilgrims will stay at Arafat until sunset, leaving the plain only after sunset for Muzdalifah.

In Muzdalifah, the pilgrims will perform Maghrib and Isha prayers together.

Pilgrims will rest in Muzdalifah and collect 70 pebbles to perform Rami al-Jamarat or stoning of the devil.

Pilgrims will perform Rami Jamrat on the 10th of Dhul-Hajj, on the day of Eid.

Saudi astronaut shares aerial shot of Mount Arafat

“Today is Arafat Day, a pivotal day during Hajj, that reminds us that faith is not just about belief, but also action and reflection. May it inspire us all to strive for compassion, humility, and unity,” said Sultan AlNeyadi.

Security measures

Foolproof security measures have been taken for the safety of pilgrims in the Plain of Arafat with over 30,000 military and police personnel guarding them.

For the first time, authorities are flying drones equipped with cameras to monitor the gathering.

Checkpoints have been set up at the entrances and exits of the Plain of Arafa and authorities have warned that action would be taken against those who enter the plain without a Hajj permit.

The security personnel will follow the rules and regulations to organize the Hajj pilgrims and maintain peace and security in the Plain of Arafa.

Apart from this, field hospitals have been set up in Arafa with hundreds of doctors and paramedical staff. Fire brigade units have also been established at different places around the Plain of Arafat.