Holy Hajj Pilgrimage Commences in Saudi Arabia
Pilgrims staying in Mina. Photo: Collected.
The prime rituals of the holy Hajj have officially begun, with the valley of Mina echoing with the chants of "Labbaik."
Millions of pilgrims have already taken up positions in their respective tents in Mina for the Hajj of 1447 Hijri. Following the traditional rituals of Hajj, pilgrims will spend the entire day and night today in Mina, performing five daily prayers. The city of Mina has come alive with the resonant chants of "Labbaik Allahumma Labbaik" from millions of devoted pilgrims.
Pilgrims began their journey toward Mina after the Isha prayer on Sunday, local time. Before heading to Mina, millions of worshippers put on their Ihram clothing. They departed from Masjid al-Haram in Makkah and are now stationed in Mina.
According to the country's official news agency, SPA, today, on the 8th of Dhul-Hijjah, pilgrims began their core preparations for Hajj while staying in this tent city of Mina. It is a Sunnah to perform five daily prayers in congregation here: Dhuhr, Asr, Maghrib, Isha, and tomorrow's Fajr prayer on the 9th of Dhul-Hijjah.
After spending the night in Mina, the pilgrims will head toward the plains of Arafat on the 9th of Dhul-Hijjah. This year, the Hajj sermon will be delivered there by the Chief Imam and Khatib of Al-Masjid an-Nabawi, Sheikh Ali bin Abdul Rahman al-Huthaify.
It is estimated that between 1.6 million and 1.8 million Muslims from various countries around the world will perform Hajj this year. From Bangladesh, around 78,500 people have traveled to Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj this year.
Source: Saudi Press Agency
