Arafa’s preacher calls to God to support and provide relief to Palestine
With sunset on the ninth day of Dhul-Hijjah, the pilgrims began heading to Muzdalifah, after performing the greatest pillar of Hajj, and spending their day reciting the talbiyah, supplication, and seeking forgiveness on the pure level of Arafat.
The pilgrims of the Sacred House of God will pray the Maghrib and Isha prayers in congregation and prayer in Muzdalifah, and will spend the night or part of it, before they head at dawn on the tenth of Dhu al-Hijjah (the day of Eid al-Adha) to Mina, where they will stone Jamarat al-Aqaba, sacrifice the sacrificial animal, shave their heads, exiting ihram, and perform the Tawaf al-Ifadhah circumambulation of the Kaaba.
The journey from Arafat to Muzdalifah is the third stage of the pilgrims’ journey through the holy sites to perform their Hajj rituals. The Saudi News Agency reported that “the movement of pilgrims to the Holy House of God was characterized by smoothness amid the efforts made by various parties concerned with Hajj affairs, in the service of the guests of God, so that they can perform their rituals safely and securely.”
By stoning Jamrat al-Aqaba, shaving or cutting the hair for men, and cutting the hair only for women, and slaughtering the sacrificial animal, the pilgrims exit the minor ihram stage of ihram.
After that, they head to Mecca to perform Tawaf al-Ifadah, which is one of the pillars of Hajj, after which the pilgrims perform their ritual ablution and then perform Sa`y between Safa and Marwa.
The Day of Arafah sermon
The pilgrims of the Holy House of God had performed the noon and afternoon prayers together and shortened after arriving at Arafat, and they listened to the sermon on the Day of Arafat, where the preacher Sheikh Saleh Hamid called on God Almighty to support the people of Palestine and to provide relief to the starving among them.
The Saudi News Agency said that the pilgrims flocked to Arafat, “filled with an atmosphere of faith filled with reverence and tranquility, and surrounded by divine providence, offering prayers and supplications, calling on God Almighty to bestow upon them pardon, forgiveness, mercy, and freedom from Hell.”
In the Arafa sermon, the imam and preacher of the Grand Mosque, Sheikh Hamid, said in tears: “Oh God, fix the conditions of the Muslims, O God, grant victory to our brothers in Palestine against your enemy and their enemy, feed their hungry, and heal their brokenness.”
He called for reforming “the conditions of Muslims in the east and west of the earth” and said, “Oh God, unite their hearts, take care of all their affairs, and cultivate love among them.” Hamid urged in his sermon to fear God, adhere to his religion, work according to his law, and adhere to morals, according to a live broadcast carried by many television channels.
