The Hajj 2024 pilgrimage officially began on Friday, with millions of pilgrims making their way on foot and by bus to Mina, a significant step in their sacred journey. Mina, located about 5 kilometers east of the Grand Mosque in Makkah, hosts one of the largest tent cities in the world, sprawling across 250 hectares and featuring over 100,000 air-conditioned tents capable of accommodating more than 2.6 million people.
Friday, the eighth day of Dhul Al Hijjah, marks Yawm Al Tarwiyah, or the Day of Irrigation. This day is rooted in tradition, named for the practice of carrying water in preparation for the Day of Arafat, when pilgrims ascend Mount Arafat. On Yawm Al Tarwiyah, pilgrims participate in several key rituals, including the welcoming tawaf, where they walk seven times around the Kaaba and kiss the black stone.
In the afternoon, the pilgrims proceed to the Safa and Marwah hills near the Kaaba. Here, they either run or walk seven times between the hills, symbolically emulating the search of water by Hajjar, the mother of Prophet Ismael, for her son.
Pilgrims will spend the entire day in Mina until dawn, preparing for the Day of Arafat, the most critical day of the Hajj pilgrimage. Saudi officials have confirmed that over 1.5 million foreign pilgrims had already arrived by Tuesday, primarily by plane, with more expected to join in the coming days.
Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam and is considered a sacred duty for Muslims. Every year, millions of Muslims from around the world converge in Makkah to perform the Hajj, a profound spiritual journey and a cornerstone of their faith.
Leave a Reply