Nigerian pilgrims join Muslim counterparts at Arafat

iyebiye olawuyi

August 31, 2017 12:47 PM

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the pilgrims are now at various tents allotted to them by the Saudi Arabian authority.

No fewer than 81,200 Nigerian pilgrims on Thursday, joined their Muslim counterparts in converging at Arafat on the Dhul-hajji 9, 1438 AH for 2017 Hajj.

The pilgrims are expected to pray Zuhr and Asr in shortened ‘Qasr’ congregation and continue to supplicate, recite the Holy Quran, remember Almighty Allah and seek for His forgiveness and mercy.

Arafat is one of the four pillars of Hajj according to the traditions of the Prophet, Muhammad (peace be upon him) without which, Hajj is considered invalid.

The Prophet said: “The Hajj is Arafat, the entire plain of Arafat is a standing place.

‘’There is no day on which Allah frees and forgives as many of His servants from the fire as on the day of Arafat….’’.

Pilgrims will continue to remain in Arafat until sunset when they will move to a place called ‘Muzdalifah’ where they will pray Maghrib and Isha’i.

The pilgrims will spend the night there and pray Fajr (Morning Prayer) on Dhul-hajj 10, 1438 AH.

Consequently, they will proceed to Mina to throw seven pebbles at the large pillar (Jamratul-aqabah), one after the other, saying ‘’Allahu Akbar’’ while throwing each pebble.

The pilgrims will then go and slaughter the sacrificial animal (Hadaya), the men will shave or cut their hair while the women will cut their hair equivalent to the length of a finger.

The pilgrims are expected to later move to Makkah and move around the Ka’aba (Tawaf) and walk between the mount Safa and Marwa (Sa’ay).

They will remove their white clothes (Ihram) signifying minor completion of Hajj.

The pilgrims will then return to Mina before sunset.

On the 11th, 12th and optionally 13 of Dhul-Hijja, they will go back to the Mina Jamarat and throw seven pebbles at each of the three jamrats, thereby completing full Hajj rites.

They will continue attending congregational prayers and performing other non-obligatory Tawaf until their departure days when they will perform farewell (Tawaf (Tawaf al wada’) at the Ka’abah.

iyebiye olawuyi