Peak of purity

Mount Arafat, Saudi Arabia

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Around two million Muslims yesterday poured into the vast Saudi plain, where the Prophet Mohammed is believed to have given his final sermon, for the peak of the Hajj pilgrimage.

Many of the faithful from around the globe camped at the foot of Mount Arafat where they slept, exhausted from their journey and prayed despite the scorching sun.

Carrying colourful umbrellas, they walked from dawn in massive crowds towards the 300-metre-high (328 yards) slippery, rocky hill -- also known as Mount Mercy -- located on the plain.

Here they believe Prophet Mohammed gave his last sermon 14 centuries ago after leading his followers on Hajj.

Unlike previous years, the pilgrims were not carrying their countries’ flags, in what local media said was a “ban” on flags during the pilgrimage.

The kingdom’s authorities have repeatedly warned against the use of any political slogans or banners during Hajj.

To organise the flow of pilgrims, security forces formed human chains along the roads, while volunteers handed out boxes of food and cold water bottles.

The faithful gathered in hundreds of thousands for noon prayers, as water sprays were turned on to cool them down while helicopters hovered overhead. “We feel blessed. I got goosebumps, a feeling that cannot be explained, when reaching the top of the mountain,” said Ruhaima Emma, a 26-year-old Filipina pilgrim, who said she has been “praying for a good life for everyone”.

For Akram Ghannam, 45, from war-torn Syria, being in Arafat is a “feeling that cannot be described. I pray to God for the victory of all those who are oppressed.” 

Many reached Arafat by bus while some walked from the Holy City of Mecca about 15 kilometres away. After sunset on Wednesday the faithful moved to Muzdalifah. There they will gather pebbles for a symbolic stoning of the devil ritual today, which is also the Eid Al Adha feast of sacrifice marked by the world’s more than 1.5 billion Muslims. (AFP)