Pilgrims Gather on Mount Arafat as Hajj Reaches Peak

On Tuesday, pilgrims prayed on Mount Arafat, marking the peak of the Hajj pilgrimage, with around 1.5 million participants this year. Despite ongoing conflicts in the Middle East, including the US-Israel war and Iranian retaliatory strikes, the number of pilgrims remained significant.

Temperatures in Mecca reached nearly 44°C, leading Saudi authorities to urge pilgrims to drink plenty of water to protect themselves from the heat during the mostly outdoor rituals. Pilgrims, dressed in white robes, recited verses from the Quran near the 70-meter rocky hill, believed to be the site where Prophet Muhammad delivered his last sermon over 1,400 years ago.

Following their time at Mount Arafat, pilgrims will spend the night at Muzdalifah, collecting pebbles for the symbolic stoning of the devil ritual in Mina, which begins on Wednesday. The pilgrimage is a fundamental aspect of Islam, with every Muslim expected to perform it at least once in their lifetime.