Hajj: 2m pilgrims pray for world peace, Muslims unity
Chanting “Labbaik Allahumma labbaik (Here I am, O Lord here I am!), over two million pilgrims entered the plain of Arafat yesterday morning to cry and supplicate for the atonement of their sins and hoping for the acceptance of their Haj pilgrimage.
All eyes were watery and all lips parched beseeching Almighty Allah to forgive all their sins, asking favours and bounties from Allah for a disunited and incoherent Ummah.
Standing on Arafat is the climax of Haj rituals.
Pilgrims performed noon (Dhuhr) and evening (Asr) prayers, shortened and joined together, and then immersed in prayers seeking forgiveness and mercy of Almighty Allah as well as praying for the welfare of the Muslim Ummah and for the world peace.
Sheikh Saad Bin Nasser AlShithri, member of the Saudi Arabia’s Council of Senior Scholars and advisor at the Royal Court, in his Arafat sermon, urged the pilgrims to be pious and fear God in all walks of life.
“Hold fast to the rope of Allah and stay away from what He has forbidden, and this is essential for winning the pleasure and love of God and thus achieving success in the life of this world and the Hereafter.”
Sheikh Al-Shithri called on the pilgrims to shun all forms of sectarianism and division among members of the Islamic Ummah. He also underscored the need to honour the dignity of all human beings. (Saudi Gazette)