Millions-of-Muslim-perform-Waqoof-e-Arafat

ISLAMABAD, Dec 7 (APP): About 2.5 millions of Muslims from across the world on Sunday performed the most important ritual of Hajj, Waqoof-e -Arafat.

Over 2.5 million Muslims are performing Hajj this years.Of these 165,000 are Pakistanis, PTV reported.

Starting just after dawn today, in mild weather, the faithful made their way slowly on foot or by bus onto Jabl-e-Arafat, where Prophet Mohammed Sallalah-o-Alaihe -Wa Alaihe Wasallam delivered his last Khutba more than 14 centuries ago.

For the second day of the Hajj, the male pilgrims wore two pieces of unstitched cloth, serving as a shroud, while the women were entirely covered apart from face and hands.

The crowd continued to recite ‘Labaik Allahhuma Labaik’ as they converged on Jabl-e-Arafat to seek Allah Almighty’s blessings and forgiveness for their sins.

They spend the rest of their time on mount Arafat praying and beseeching God for his forgiveness, as a symbol of the wait for Judgement day.

In his Hajj sermon, grand mufti of Saudi Arabia, Sheikh Abdul Aziz, bin Abdullah al-sheikh called upon the Muslims to implement Taqwa in their lives as it is the essence of Islam.

He asked them to follow the teachings of Islam for success in this world and the hereafter.

He said Holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (Sallalahoo Alaihi Wa Alaihi Wasalam) showed the path of righteousness to the humanity and by following the very basics of Islam, we can rid the society of all evils.

He said Islam is a complete code of life, addressing all the requirements of the people. Sheikh Abdul Aziz warned that the enemies of Islam wanted to disintegrate the Ummah and gain control on the Muslim resources.

He said the evil design of such elements could be foiled only if the Muslims remain firm on the teachings of Islam.

He said Islam is a religion of peace and there is no extremism in our religion.

He said those who kill their own brethren in terrorist acts had no link to Islam. After the sermon, the Hujajj offered combined Zuhr and Asar prayers. They also visited Jabl-e-Rahmat, the mount of blessings.

After Waqoof-e Arafat, at sunset the faithful will move towards the valley of Muzdalifah where they will spend the whole night in the open sky and seek forgiveness and blessings of Allah Almighty.

On Monday the Hujjaj will return to Mina, perform Rammi or stoning of the big ‘Satan’, sacrifice animal, usually a sheep, in pursuit of the Sunnah of Hazrat Ibrahim Alaihissalam and perform other rituals.

The next day, the Hujjaj will again perform Rammi at Jamrat, stoning of the smaller Satan.

Later, they will return to Makkah to perform Tawaf-e-Ziarat. The Saudi authorities have made elaborate arrangements to facilitate the pilgrims.

The Saudi interior ministry has assembled 100,000 stewards to ensure safety during the Hajj and the health ministry has supplied 11,000 of its medical and paramedical staff along with 140 first aid points and 24 field hospitals containing a total of 4,000 beds.

Islamic-financial-system-is-best-Hajj-sermon

ISLAMABAD, Dec 7 (APP): Saudi Arabia’s Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Aziz Al-Sheikh has urged the Muslims to hold tightly the rope of Allah Almighty and practice Islam, saying the ongoing global financial crisis could be overcome by practicing Islamic teachings.

While delivering Hajj sermon in the Nimra Mosque situated in Arafat to millions of pilgrims from around the world Sunday, private TV channel (Aryoneworld), reported.

Grand Mufti urged Muslims to practice teachings delivered by Allah by his Prophet (peace be upon him) terming these the only way for their success in this world and hereafter.

He said the financial system given by Islam is the best and able to address all the needs of modern world, suffering from global financial crunch, as it is based on the principles of ‘Adal’ justice and interest-free.

“Muslims’ beliefs are based only on Quran and Sunnah and nothing other than these,” he said, urging Muslims to practice the five pillars of Islam, i.e. Shahadat, Prayer, Fasting, Charity and Hajj, with full spirit.

He asked Muslims to adopt ‘Taqwah’, quoting several verses from Holy Quran and sayings of Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) over its importance and effects.

“Whoever said ‘La-Illaha ilallah’ will be saved from fire of hell,” Al-Sheikh said in his sermon.

“Some forces were trying to change the thoughts of Muslim youths,” Grand Mufti warned, urging youth to strengthen their relationship with Islam.

“These forces are trying their best to unveil Muslim women; they have flourished the drugs in Muslim societies; they are misinterpreting Islam’s teachings to distance Muslims from their religion,” Saudi Arabia’s Grand Mufti warned more than 2.5 million pilgrims present in Arafat for Hajj and to billions of others watching and hearing his ‘Khutba’ (address) alive on televisions and radios as it was telecasted in all around the Muslim world.

“Islam does not support terrorism in any form and strictly prohibits shedding blood of innocents,” he added.

Hajj-pilgrims-leave-Makkah-for-Mina

Updated at: 1055 PST, Saturday, December 06, 2008
MAKKAH MUKARRAMA: Hajj pilgrims in their first phase of Manasik-e-Hajj have started arriving Mina after ‘Fajar’ (morning) prayers today.

Millions of Hajj pilgrims, who had arrived in this holy city here, after their stay and offering Namaz-e-Fajar, now moving towards the city of tents Mina, where they are being placed by their Muallameen for stay in their allotted fireproof tents. This process of Hajj pilgrims’ arrival from Makkah and getting accommodation in tents at Mina would continue until late evening. The pilgrims would offer Zuhar, Asar, Maghrib and Esha prayers in the historical mosque, Masjid-e-Khaif here and would pass night in repentance and remorse with ‘Takbir o Tahleel’. The Hajj pilgrims would gather at Maidan-e-Arafat for performing the topmost and key-ritual Waqoof-e-Arafat tomorrow, the 9th of Zil Hajj.