Hajj Pilgrims Begin Journey to Mina as Main Rituals Set to Start Monday

According to a press release issued by Bangladesh’s Ministry of Religious Affairs on Sunday, pilgrims will begin traveling to Mina tonight in compliance with Saudi government instructions aimed at ensuring a safe and smooth movement of worshippers.

The Bangladesh Hajj Office in Makkah and related Hajj agencies have already completed all necessary preparations for transporting Bangladeshi pilgrims to Mina.

Under Islamic guidelines, pilgrims will stay in Mina on the 8th of Dhul Hijjah and perform the five daily prayers from Fajr to Isha there. After spending the night in Mina, they will depart for Arafat on the 9th of Dhul Hijjah (Tuesday).

This year’s Hajj sermon at Arafat will be delivered by Sheikh Ali bin Abdur Rahman Al-Hudhaifi, the chief imam and khateeb of Al-Masjid an-Nabawi. Following the sermon, pilgrims will offer Zuhr and Asr prayers together and remain in Arafat until sunset. In Islamic tradition, the stay in Arafat is considered the most essential part of Hajj.

After sunset on the 9th of Dhul Hijjah, pilgrims will travel to Muzdalifah, where they will perform Maghrib and Isha prayers and spend the night under the open sky.

Before sunrise on the 10th of Dhul Hijjah, pilgrims will return to Mina and perform the symbolic stoning ritual at the largest Jamarah. They will then sacrifice animals in the name of Allah and either shave their heads or trim their hair.

Pilgrims are expected to complete the remaining Hajj rituals on the 11th and 12th of Dhul Hijjah before leaving Mina prior to sunset on the 12th day.

An estimated 1.6 to 1.8 million Muslims from around the world are expected to perform Hajj this year. Around 78,500 pilgrims from Bangladesh are taking part in the annual pilgrimage.