Main Rituals of Hajj Begin as Millions Gather in Mina

The main rituals of the holy Hajj have officially begun, with the atmosphere in Makkah resonating since early Monday morning with the chant, “Labbayk Allahumma Labbayk.”

Millions of Muslim pilgrims from around the world are now gathering in Mina, the vast tent city near Makkah. The movement of pilgrims toward Mina is expected to continue until midday.

According to Islamic tradition, pilgrims will stay in Mina from the Zuhr prayer on the 8th of Dhul Hijjah until the Fajr prayer on the 9th of Dhul Hijjah, offering five daily prayers during their stay. This day is known as “Yawm al-Tarwiyah” and marks the formal beginning of the Hajj rituals, the fifth pillar of Islam.

In line with directives from Saudi Hajj authorities, Bangladeshi pilgrims had already arrived in Mina on Sunday night.

Under Islamic rules, pilgrims spend the day and night in Mina, performing prayers from Fajr to Isha. After spending the night there, they will depart for the plains of Arafat on the 9th of Dhul Hijjah.

At Arafat, pilgrims will combine and perform the Zuhr and Asr prayers together. The Hajj sermon this year will be delivered from Masjid Namira by Sheikh Ali bin Abdul Rahman Al-Hudhaifi, the chief imam and khatib of Al-Masjid an-Nabawi in Madinah.

Following the sermon, pilgrims will remain in Arafat until sunset. In Islamic teachings, the standing at Arafat is considered the central pillar of Hajj.

However, the rituals do not end there. After sunset on the 9th of Dhul Hijjah, pilgrims will travel to Muzdalifah, where they will perform the 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 by throwing pebbles at the largest pillar, known as Jamarat al-Aqaba.

Pilgrims will then sacrifice animals in remembrance of Prophet Ibrahim’s devotion to Allah and shave or trim their hair.

Staying overnight in Mina on the 10th and 11th of Dhul Hijjah is considered obligatory. Pilgrims who cannot complete the stoning ritual before sunset on the 12th of Dhul Hijjah must remain in Mina for an additional night.

An estimated 1.8 million Muslims from around the world are expected to perform Hajj this year. Among them are approximately 78,500 pilgrims from Bangladesh.