Robed worshippers, arriving either by bus or on foot, shielded themselves under umbrellas as they made their way to the expansive encampment in Mina. This followed their completion of the “” – the circumambulation of the Kaaba, the cubic structure adorned in black cloth with gold trimmings, towards which millions of Muslims direct their daily prayers.
Amidst chants of “God is great” and “God, we answer your call,” many pilgrims were immersed in profound spiritual fervor, retracing the steps of the Holy Prophet’s (Peace Be Upon Him) final pilgrimage nearly 1,400 years ago. “It’s very, very hot,” remarked Fahad Azmar, 31, from Pakistan. “But I thank God for the opportunity to be here.”
For the night, they settled in Mina, a rocky valley several kilometers outside Makkah, before their ascent of Mount Arafat, the pinnacle of Hajj, scheduled for Saturday.
Accommodations in Mina consist of air-conditioned tents organized by nationality and the price of each pilgrim’s Hajj package. Many found themselves closely packed inside, seated or lying on narrow mattresses placed closely together on the floor. “There should be more space between the beds, and the air-conditioning doesn’t work very well … but Hajj is all about patience,” reflected Intisham al-Ahi, a 44-year-old Pakistani sharing a tent with dozens of compatriots.
Meanwhile, discontent brewed among a group of Moroccan pilgrims who felt they received unfair treatment from their pilgrimage agent. “There’s more people than are allowed in the tents … they’re asking us to share tents with people who paid half of what we spent,” complained Hicham, who declined to disclose his surname.
