Hundreds of thousands of Muslim pilgrims flocked to Saudi Arabia’s Mount Arafat on Tuesday, the culmination of a potentially record-breaking hajj pilgrimage held in the sweltering summer heat.
As dawn broke, worshippers recited Koran verses on the rocky rise where the Prophet Mohammed is said to have delivered his final sermon.
The ritual is the culmination of the annual pilgrimage, one of Islam’s five pillars, which officials say could be the largest on record following three years of Covid restrictions.
More than 2.5 million pilgrims were expected to participate in the hajj, one of the world’s largest religious gatherings and a source of legitimacy for the royal rulers of the oil-rich country.
Temperatures reached 46 degrees Celsius (113 degrees Fahrenheit) on Monday as robed worshippers traveled from Mecca to Mina, where they slept in a massive tented city before the rites at Mount Arafat.
Tasneem Gamal, an Egyptian schoolteacher, said she was emotionally overwhelmed upon arriving at Arafat, whose rituals are a required part of the pilgrimage.
“I cannot describe my feelings, I am living a great joy,” the 35-year-old woman said.
Gamal is performing the hajj without a male guardian, a requirement that Saudi authorities have delayed until 2021.
This year, the maximum age limit has been removed, allowing thousands of elderly people to attend.
Tuesday will be the most physically demanding day, with pilgrims spending hours praying and reciting the Koran on Mount Arafat and in the surrounding area in extreme heat.
The air-conditioned shelter is scarce in Mecca, which is dotted with hotels and malls, and in Mina, which is dotted with tents.
Entry roads were jam-packed with worshippers as helicopters buzzed overhead. Thousands of medical personnel were on the lookout for cases of heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
The heat will be at its peak between 12:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m., when outdoor labour is prohibited in Saudi Arabia between June and September to protect workers.
Pilgrims will travel the short distance to Muzdalifah, halfway between Arafat and Mina, to sleep in the open air after sunset.
The next day, they will collect pebbles and throw them at three massive concrete walls in a symbolic “stoning of the devil” ritual.
The final stop will be at Mecca’s Grand Mosque, where they will perform a final circumambulation of the Kaaba, the massive black cube that Muslims around the world pray to every day.
Heat isn’t the only danger at hajj, which has seen a number of crises in the past, including militant attacks and deadly fires.
A stampede killed up to 2,300 people in 2015. Since then, there have been no major incidents.
Before departing for Arafat, American engineer Ahmed Ahmadine stated that he felt “blessed” to be able to participate in the pilgrimage.
“I try to focus on praying for my family and friends, ” said the 37-year-old.
“This is an opportunity that will not be repeated.”