1.8 million Muslims gather at Mount Arafat to perform Haj

Published September 11, 2016
Pilgrims join one of the Haj rituals on Mount Arafat near Makkah. —  AFP
Pilgrims join one of the Haj rituals on Mount Arafat near Makkah. — AFP
Pilgrims arrive at Mount Arafat where the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) delivered his final sermon. — AFP
Pilgrims arrive at Mount Arafat where the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) delivered his final sermon. — AFP
Pilgrims offer prayers during Haj at Mount Arafat . — AFP
Pilgrims offer prayers during Haj at Mount Arafat . — AFP
Saudi workers change the Kiswah (the cloth that covers the Kaaba) in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. — AP
Saudi workers change the Kiswah (the cloth that covers the Kaaba) in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. — AP
Pilgrim offers prayers at Mount Arafat. — AFP
Pilgrim offers prayers at Mount Arafat. — AFP
An Indonesian father carries his daughter through the crowd after reaching the top of a rocky hill known as Mountain of Mercy, on the Plain of Arafat. — AP
An Indonesian father carries his daughter through the crowd after reaching the top of a rocky hill known as Mountain of Mercy, on the Plain of Arafat. — AP
Pilgrims make their way in Arafat, during the annual Haj pilgrimage, near the holy city of Makkah. — AP
Pilgrims make their way in Arafat, during the annual Haj pilgrimage, near the holy city of Makkah. — AP
Volunteers throw umbrellas to pilgrims before they climb Mountain of Mercy, on the Plain of Arafat, during the annual Haj pilgrimage, ahead of sunrise near the holy city of Makkah. — AP
Volunteers throw umbrellas to pilgrims before they climb Mountain of Mercy, on the Plain of Arafat, during the annual Haj pilgrimage, ahead of sunrise near the holy city of Makkah. — AP
Muslims join one of the Haj rituals on Mount Arafat near Makkah. — AFP
Muslims join one of the Haj rituals on Mount Arafat near Makkah. — AFP
Hundreds of thousands of Muslims pray outside Namira Mosque in Arafat, on the second and most significant day of the annual Haj pilgrimage. — AP
Hundreds of thousands of Muslims pray outside Namira Mosque in Arafat, on the second and most significant day of the annual Haj pilgrimage. — AP
Pilgrims gather to perform noon and afternoon prayers at Namira Mosque in Mount Arafat, southeast of the Saudi holy city of Makkah. — AFP
Pilgrims gather to perform noon and afternoon prayers at Namira Mosque in Mount Arafat, southeast of the Saudi holy city of Makkah. — AFP

MOUNT ARAFAT: The Haj reached its high point on Sunday when Muslims from across the world converged on a hill in Saudi Arabia, a year after the worst tragedy in the pilgrimage's history.

More than 1.8 million gathered from sunrise at the hill and a vast surrounding plain known as Mount Arafat, about 15 kilometres from Makkah.

They are spending the most important day of the annual Haj in prayer and reading from the holy Quran.

Arafat is the site where Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) gave his last sermon about 14 centuries ago after leading his followers on the pilgrimage.

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