Hajj 2023: Over 2.5 million Muslims begin the religious rites
June 26, 2023 Fausiat Salako-Sanni
MAKKAH: Over 2.5 million pilgrims across the world began the spiritual journey of a lifetime as the first rite of the annual #Hajj2023 began.
On Monday, June 26 (Day of Tarawiyah- 8 Dhul Hijah), ninety-five thousand (95,000) Nigerian pilgrims and their counterparts from over 160 countries begin move to a vast tented city at Mina, about 5 kilometers from the Grand Mosque, ahead of the main rite at Mount Arafat, where the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) delivered his final sermon.
Kiin Media gathered that this year’s pilgrimage will witness the largest Hajj pilgrimage in history.
According to the arrangements made by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON, in conjunction with State pilgrim boards and agencies, Nigerian pilgrims began moving to Muna after Sunday midnight.
Pilgrims are expected to converge on the plains of Muna before noon where they would be observing salatu Dhuhr, Asr, Maghrib and Ishai of today, in addition to the Fajr prayer of Tuesday, June 27, before moving to Arafah, where they will spend the day worshipping Allah and supplicating for their basic needs.
The day of Arafah is considered the pinnacle of the Hajj and Muslims all around the world consider it a blessed day during which sins are forgiven and prayers are answered.
Muslims who are not performing Hajj will often fast on the day of Arafat following the tradition of the Prophet.
SOURCE: Muslim News
