Annual Hajj rituals begin in Makkah
Tens of thousands of pilgrims have begun performing annual Hajj rituals in Mina, Makkah, joint capital of Saudi Arabia.
Pilgrims started pouring in Mina Thursday night and continued until afternoon prayer on Friday.
About two million Muslims from across the globe have arrived Makkah to perform Hajj. A total of 200,000 pilgrims from Pakistan are also performing Hajj, Radio Pakistan reported.
Pilgrims will remain in Mina until Fajr on Saturday, the 9th Dhul Hijjah. Then the Hujjaj will proceed to Arafat and offer Duhr and Asr prayers. The Hajj sermon will be delivered at Masjid-e-Nimra in Arafat. On the same day, pilgrims will leave for Muzadalifah after sunset without offering Magrhrib prayer to be said along with Isha in Muzdalifah.
They will spend the whole night in Muzalifah under open sky and rest there until Fajr prayer. In Muzdalifah, the Hujjaj will pick up seven pebbles to perform ritual of Rammi by stoning the Shaitan.
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After offering Fajar prayer on 10th of Dhul Hijjah in Muzdalifah, falling on Sunday, pilgrims will move to Jamaraat and pelt stones on the largest Jamra, representing the devil. Then a sacrifice should be made in which a lamb or sheep is slaughtered. After this, men’s heads are shaved, while women cut a lock of their hair and male pilgrims remove their Ihrams and wear normal clothes.
Then the Hujjaj will do Tawaf-e-Ziarat and Sai and return to their tents in Mina. The pilgrims will pelt seven pebbles on three each Jamra or Shaitan on 11th and 12th of Dhul Hijjah and leave Mina before sunset. Finally, pilgrims will do a farewell Tawaf in Masjid-al Haram before leaving the holy land to complete their Hajj.
Pakistan Hajj Mission has made elaborate arrangements for the facilitation of Pakistani pilgrims in Mina.
Information desk, Lost and Found section, Call Centre, and Complaint Cell have been established in Mina to help and guide Pakistani pilgrims. Over 600 Muavineen (helpers) and 2,000 volunteers are also in the field to extend any assistance to the pilgrims. Besides, the Saudi Arabian government has also made excellent security, health, and civic arrangements. The Hujjaj will leave for Arafat after Fajar prayer tomorrow.
