MAKKAH: More than two million Muslims from around the globe started the Haj on Sunday in Saudi Arabia, one of the world’s largest annual gatherings in a country undergoing unprecedented change.

The Saudi government has mobilised vast resources for the six-day observance.

“It’s the dream of every Muslim to come here to Makkah,” Frenchman Soliman Ben Mohri said.

“It’s the ultimate journey. What worries me is the return to my normal life. For the moment, I am in a dream,” the 53-year old said.

Tens of thousands of security personnel have been deployed for the Haj, which was struck by its worst ever disaster three years ago when around 2,300 worshippers died in a stampede.

This year, the Saudi authorities have launched a “smart Haj” initiative, with apps to help pilgrims with everything from travel plans to medical care.

The interior ministry said on Saturday that the number of pilgrims arriving in Makkah had already surpassed the two million mark, mostly from abroad, including large contingents from Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and Egypt.

Wearing Ahram, a simple white garb, most of the faithful began moving from Makkah to the nearby Mina valley.

They will spend the night there in fire-resistant tents in the desert, where temperatures top 40 degrees Celsius.

Thousands of buses and vehicles carrying the pilgrims lined the eight-kilometre road from Makkah to Mina. Many pilgrims made the journey walking under the scorching sun.

On Monday, pilgrims will climb Mount Arafat for the climax of the Haj, praying and reading the holy Quran.

The Holy Prophet (pbuh) delivered his final sermon from the rocky hill to Muslims who had accompanied him on his final Haj.

After sunset, pilgrims will head to Muzdalifah, halfway between Arafat and Mina, where they stay at least until midnight.

They gather pebbles to perform the symbolic stoning of the devil on the eve of Eidul Azha.

Not lost in translation

Thanks to a dedicated squad of interpreters gearing up to help two million pilgrims speaking dozens of languages, no one is lost for translation.

Most of the world’s Muslims do not speak Arabic — Indonesia is home to the largest Muslim community by population, while tens of millions of the faithful are speakers of Urdu.

In all, 80 per cent of pilgrims in are non-Arabic speakers, according to Mazen al Saadi of the Saudi Haj translation bureau.

His team provides interpretation services in English, Urdu, French, Farsi, Malay, Hausa, Turkish and Chinese.

For Samir Varatchia, who made the trip to Makkah from France’s Indian Ocean island of Reunion, the men in grey vests are a welcome sight.

“I really don’t know much Arabic,” Varatchia said.

“The French translation will help us understand things, including the sermons.”

Tunisian interpreter Abdulmumen al Saket is happy to help, fielding frequent requests for his phone number.

“We try to help as much as we can, even with reading the maps,” he said.

“Some ask for our personal phone numbers, to call us later if they need help,” he added.

Pilgrims come from across the world, including Pakistan, India, Nepal and Bangladesh. Many speak only Urdu, Saadi added.

Many of the signs directing pilgrims are translated into English, Urdu and in some cases, French.

Published in Dawn, August 20th, 2018