Nearly two million Muslim pilgrims gathered on Mount Arafat in western Saudi Arabia on Thursday, marking the peak of the annual Hajj pilgrimage. Clad in simple white garments symbolizing purity and equality, the faithful began their ascent at sunrise after a night of spiritual reflection in the tent city of Mina, the starting point of the five-day religious journey.
Atop the Arafat plateau, pilgrims would spend the day in earnest prayer and supplication, seeking forgiveness and divine mercy. This phase, known as the Day of Arafat, is considered the spiritual climax of Hajj. At sunset, they would begun descending toward Muzdalifah to rest and collect pebbles, which they will use for the symbolic stoning of the devil ritual in Mina.
The stoning ceremony on Friday coincides with the start of Eid al-Adha, during which pilgrims also perform animal sacrifices in remembrance of the Prophet Abraham’s devotion. The Hajj, one of the five pillars of Islam, is a once-in-a-lifetime obligation for financially capable Muslims, commemorating the faith, sacrifice, and endurance of Abraham and his family.
