Unfazed pilgrims storm Prophet’s hill

Pilgrims gather to perform afternoon prayers at Namira Mosque on Mount Arafat, southeast of the Saudi holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia. (Photo: AFP)

The annual Haj reached its high point on Sunday when Muslims from across the world converged on a stoney hill in Saudi Arabia, a year after the worst tragedy in the pilgrimage’s history.

More than 1.8 million gathered from sunrise at the hill and a vast surrounding plain known as Mount Arafat, about 15 kilometres from Mecca.

Against a backdrop of distant, higher peaks, they squatted, stood, or climbed steps built into the hill while reciting ritual incantations.

They will spend the most important day of the Haj in prayer and reading from the Quran.

Arafat is the site where Muslims believe the Prophet Mohammed gave his last sermon about 14 centuries ago after leading his followers on the pilgrimage.

A non-stop flow disembarked from 18,000 buses which authorities have mobilised. Others came on a Chinese-built yellow and green train which connects the holy sites.

Under multicoloured parasols to protect against the burning sun, the mass of people moved through broad surrounding streets which are closed to traffic.

“It’s the most beautiful moment of my life,” a smiling Ahmed Salman, an Egyptian accountant, said.

Around him, dozens of pilgrims chanted a traditional Haj incantation, “God, here I am.”

After sunset the pilgrims will move to Muzdalifah, halfway between Arafat and Mina, to gather 49 pebbles for a symbolic stoning of the devil, which begins Monday, in the last major rite of Haj.

During that ritual in Mina on September 24, 2015, a stampede killed roughly 2,300 people who were on their way to throw their stones at the Jamarat Bridge.

Saudi Arabia issued a death toll of 769 but figures compiled from foreign officials in more than 30 countries gave a tally almost three times higher.

Authorities annou-nced an investigation into the disaster, but no results have ever been released, although a number of safety measures have been taken.

Among these is the distribution of a bracelet which stores pilgrims’ personal data. Roads have also been widened in the Jamarat area.

On Sunday, helicopters monitored the crowd flow while, on the ground, the police on foot, motorbike, and all-terrain vehicles directed pedestrian movement.

On the sacred hill itself, the police sometimes had to use their bodies to block the flow of pilgrims and avoid bottlenecks.