BEIRUT - For the annual Hajj's culmination, which is expected to set new attendance records with the largest Hajj crowd this year, around three million pilgrims are making their way to Mount Arafat.
Those who are travelling to Arafat, a mountain located about 20 km southeast of Mecca, will pray at the Nimrah mosque, and other pilgrims have already begun to go to the area for significant ceremonies.
Millions will stay here all night to pray and recite verses from the Holy Quran. While residing in Arafat, the pilgrims will attend the Hajj Sermon at Masjid-e-Nimrah.
Since it is the same location where the Prophet Mohammed SAW delivered his final speech, the ceremony is an essential component of the pilgrimage. The centrepiece of the pilgrimage are the prayers at Arafat.
At this point, those wearing Ihram chant "Oh Allah, here I am" as Labbaik Allahuma Labbaik.
The devout will continue travelling to Muzdalifah in the next days, where they will stay outside and sleep before executing the ceremonial of stoning the devil.
Since the Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam and something that every Muslim is required to do, this year's Hajj is expected to be the largest in recent memory.
Due to Covid concerns, Saudi officials have in the past restricted the number of pilgrims assembling for Hajj.