Pilgrims flocked in huge numbers to Mina yesterday morning, the 8th of Dhul-Hijjah 1437 AH, as the annual Haj pilgrimage got under way. They will stay in Mina the Al-Tarwayyah Day following in the footsteps of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). After the sunrise today the pilgrims will move on to Arafat.
Mina (area 16.8sq km) is located between Makkah and Muzdalifah, 7km north-east of the Grand Holy Mosque.
Saudi Press Agency SPA reported the kingdom’s leadership has provided all health and security services to facilitate the performance of Haj rituals for pilgrims.
From Asia, Africa and points in between, nearly 1.5mn Muslims began the pilgrimage.
After preliminary rituals this week in Makkah at the Grand Mosque, pilgrims moved on yesterday, many by bus, to Mina.
In temperatures exceeding 40C (100F), some pilgrims walked under coloured parasols.
“It’s an indescribable feeling. You have to live it to understand. This is my sixth Haj and I still cannot express how happy I am to be in Makkah,” said Hassan Mohamed, 60, from Egypt.
The Haj is one of the five pillars of Islam, which capable Muslims must perform at least once, marking the spiritual peak of their lives.
“People come from every country of the world, talk every language of the world, and meet here in one place under one banner, the profession of the Muslim faith,” said Ashraf Zalat, 43, also from Egypt.
Mina becomes the pilgrims’ base, where an expanse of solidly built white fireproof tents can accommodate 2.6mn people beneath bare mountains.
The “Stoning of the Devil” in the Jamarat area will start tomorrow.
Government facilities have been moved out of Mina to free up space, and roads in the Jamarat area expanded, Saudi newspapers reported.
Officials have been issuing pilgrims with bracelets that digitally store their personal data, after some foreign officials expressed concern about difficulties in identifying the stampede dead.
Authorities aim to give bracelets to each of the 1.3mn faithful from abroad, who are expected to be joined by more than 100,000 Muslims residing in Saudi Arabia.
There has been no figure for the number of bracelets distributed so far.
Interior ministry spokesman General Mansour al-Turki spoke of “great efforts being exerted by the kingdom, not only in maintaining the security and safety of the pilgrims, but in facilitating performance” of the rites in comfort.
Pilgrims appeared satisfied yesterday.
“Everything is well organised,” said Nasser Benfitah, 54, from Morocco.
“We feel safe,” added Nigerian pilgrim Hafsa Amina, 26.
Saudi Arabia has invested billions of dollars in Haj infrastructure and safety projects over the years.
For the first time in 35 years Saudi Arabia’s top cleric will not give a traditional Haj sermon to pilgrims from around the world, a newspaper reported yesterday.
Grand Mufti Abdul Aziz al-Sheikh has annually addressed the faithful from the Namira mosque in Mount Arafat for the peak of Haj.
Okaz newspaper, citing anonymous sources, said Sheikh, “will step down from delivering the sermon on the day of Arafat, due to health reasons.”
He was appointed Grand Mufti in 1999 after the death of his predecessor Sheikh Abdul Aziz bin Baz.