Hajj 2019: Worshippers gathered on Mount Arafat on the second day of Hajj

More than two million Muslims have gathered at the sacred hill of Mount Arafat, situated in the southeast of the Saudi holy city of Mecca, for an intense day of worship. The second day of the Hajj is often regarded as the climax of the Hajj pilgrimage.

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

The mufti of the Grand Mosque in Saudi Arabia, Mufti Sheikh Muhammad Bin Hassan Al Sheikh, gave the Hajj sermon in Masjid-e-Nimra at noon in Arafat on Saturday.

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The road to salvation can only be achieved by holding fast to God’s rope, whoever holds onto this rope will succeed in life, Islam is a religion of peace, he said; urging people to believe strongly in the oneness of God.

The imam also said that “terrorism doesn’t belong to any religion or nation.” He also asked pilgrims to avoid politics during the Haj.

Pilgrims dressed in white garments known as Ahraam arrived at Mina on Friday where they remained in the city until sunrise on the second day of Hajj and then traveled to Mount Arafat.

They will spend the entire day on the mount in prayer, before returning at sunset to Mina to perform the “stoning of the devil” ritual.

Hajji’s will spent night at Muzdalfa and will collect pebbles for stoning the devil.

The ritual is a recreation of the Prophet Abraham’s stoning of the devil after he tried to persuade Abraham to disobey God’s order to sacrifice his son, Ismael.

After the ritual, pilgrims will sacrifice animals to mark the beginning of the Eid al-Adha.