HAJJ 2022: As one million pilgrims worldwide converge on Arafat today

By KEMI KASUMU

The one million Muslim pilgrims drawn from across the world for this year’s Holy Pilgrimage to Makkah and Madinah have arrived Mount Arafat. They arrived early morning of today, Friday Dhul-Hijjah 9, 1443AH equivalent to July 8, 2022.

These guests of Allah include the Nigeria’s 48,300 pilgrims filling the slots of the country from the distribution of total number and were airlifted in the last weeks, under the watch of National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), to the Holy Land.

The DEFENDER reports that the pilgrims, who proceeded to the Holy Mosque of Holy Muhammad (peace be upon him) in Madinah, depending on the airport cleared for their landing, arrived Makkah in batches. On the way to Makkah, they had a stopover, called the Miqat. That is appoint between their take off and Makkah, where they performed ritual bath and then wear their Arami, the white dual thick sheets wrapped around the waist and around the neck covering downward the rest of the body from neck.

At this point of Miqat, pilgrims had entered what at our level can best be described as spiritual stage now ready to enter Makkah because, for any intending pilgrim, not being in that state of purity vitiates his Hajj. Then the journey towards Makkah continued with each pilgrim bearing in mind that once in Arami, all worldly activities stop; no cutting of nails, no barbing, no quarreling, no killing of mosquitoes, no shaving and so on and so forth. Female pilgrims do not wear Arami. From the point Miqot, they wore any good clothes they choose but also observed the rules.

On arrival at Makkah, they went to Haram, performed Umrah, the Lesser Hajj, fulfilling all the stages of it namely the seven-round circumambulation of the Holy Ka’abah, performance of two rakat nawafil around the Mokamah Ibrahim, drink Zamzam water and then proceeding to Sa’i that is the arena for Safa and Marwa, where they did seven concurrent runnings that began from one point and ended at another. They then prayed, ask Allah for their needs and left for town or their temporary accommodations.

Since day of date for departure to Minna preparatory for Arafat was distant, pilgrims who had performed their Umrah earlier undressed from Arami and so we’re able to do things until announcement for departing to Minna came and they had to go to specified centre, for example in Makkah Masjid Nana Aisha, where they renewed their ritual bath, wear the Arami and the returned for onward movement to Minna, which climaxed yesterday, Thursday Dhul-Hijjah 8 equivalent to July 7. The rule is that, for any Hajj to be accepted, Hajj Mabrur, it must be done the way the Holy Prophet Muhammad pbuh did it and one of the rules is that, on the 8th day of Dhul-Hijjah that is a day to Arafat, sunset must not meet an Hujjaj outside of the camp of Minna.

Very early this morning, around 2am, numerous luxury buses engaged for movement of pilgrims had arrived Minna and pilgrims each state or province, having a tag worn into their respect wrists, know the given number of their respective state in the region their respective countries were located in the camp. That number is printed on the buses meant for their state in country, for example, Sokoto has 20 during 2019 Hajj. In this order, pilgrims were transported to Arafat this morning.

At Arafat, which is now ongoing as at the time of filing this report, pilgrims were expected to be there to observe Solatul Subhi. Thereafter, they go for breakfast, move around, they can talk to one another, there is nothing about Hajj shows bondage except that promiscuity be completely discarded especially while in Arami. Such social interactions continue on Mount and vicinity of Arafat until the Hadhan for Zuhr prayer is called and immediately after Zuhr, today, Arafat rites proper will begin and will continue until sunset today, then pilgrims will perform Solatul magrib and the board their respective buses and return. That is what in Yoruba is called Sokale Arafat, that is descending from mount Arafat.

Points of note about Arafat, the ritual does not make pilgrim m compulsorily climb Mount Arafat. The Government of the Two Holy Mosques under the President General of Sheikh AbdulRahman Sudais has clearly identified the Arafat and its borders. Anywhere within the specified, marked areas is Arafat. But those that have the chance of making it to the Mount Arafat have done nothing wrong except he that transgresses the borders marked.

The cry today is: Labbaik allahumma labbaik, labbaik la sharika laka labbaik, Innal Hamda wa nimata laka wal mulk, la sharika lak.

After Arafat today, pilgrims will leave for Mudhalifah, sleep on bare floor without body cover other than their already worn Arami. No class, no VIP, all pilgrims the same, together in obedience to the directives of Allah. They will pass the night there at Mudhalifah, pick stones (anyhow) and very early in the morning tomorrow, Saturday, that is Sallah Day worldwide, they will move to Jamrat to make the first stoning of Shaytan. They will then return to Minna, enter bathroom in the camp, take a bath and then undress from the Arami. They will then be free to barb, shave and do many other things except promiscuity. They can then also begin to leave camp in Minna on visit to Makkah but must not be met by sunset in Makkah or anywhere before they are back in Minna until they finish the remains days of stoning of Shaytan.

One of many beautiful things about Hajj, aside worship in fulfillment of fifth pillar of Islam, is the fact that it unites believers, who have come from their various countries of the world, different colours, different language different characters but bonded by one creed; citizens from United States of America, China, Russia, Ukraine, Nigeria, Germany, Republic of Benin, and others to the extent that no pilgrim departs from his or her brethren who will have to separate and return home except that he or she runs emotional without being to hold it. It is one major centre of love and unity.

Hajj Mabrur to all pilgrims and Barka de Sallah to non-Hujjaj Muslims worldwide!