All Maldivian pilgrims participating in this year’s Hajj pilgrimage have safely reached Arafat and are in good health, according to Mohamed Shakeel, Managing Director of the Maldives Hajj Corporation.
“All the pilgrims are currently at Arafat. Overall, all the pilgrims are doing well,” said Shakeel, speaking from Saudi Arabia.
More than 1,000 pilgrims from across the Maldives are undertaking the pilgrimage this year, joining over a million Muslims from around the world in fulfilling one of the five pillars of Islam — a once-in-a-lifetime obligation for all able-bodied Muslims who can afford it.
As part of the ritual journey, Maldivian pilgrims departed Mecca for Mina, then proceeded to Arafat — a crucial stage of the pilgrimage. It is considered the most essential stop in Hajj, as the pilgrimage is invalid without standing at Arafat on the 9th of Dhul Hijjah.
The most sacred location on the Arafat plains is Mount Arafat (Jabal-ur-Rahma), where Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) delivered his farewell sermon over 1,400 years ago. Today, the Khutbah of Hajj is delivered at Masjid-e-Namira, also known as Masjid Ibrahim al-Khalil.
After sunset, pilgrims will travel to Muzdalifah, where they will collect pebbles to be used in the stoning ritual at Jamrat in Mina, before returning to Mecca to complete the pilgrimage.
Among this year’s Maldivian pilgrims are President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, First Lady Sajida Mohamed, Islamic Minister Dr. Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed, and Religious Affairs Minister Dr. Mohamed Waheed.
