Hundreds of thousands of Muslim pilgrims from around the world raised their hands to heaven and offered prayers of repentance on the sacred hill of Mount Arafat in Saudi Arabia yesterday, an intense day of worship considered to be the climax of the annual Haj.
Pilgrims stood shoulder to shoulder, for the emotional day of supplication in the desert valley where Muslims believe the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) delivered his final sermon, calling for equality and unity among Muslims.
Muslims believe prayer on this day at Mount Arafat, about 20km east of the holy city of Makkah, is their best chance at salvation and spiritual renewal.
Around sunset Friday, the pilgrims marched or took a bus 9km west to the rocky desert of Muzdalifa, where they comb the area for pebbles to carry out the symbolic stoning of the devil.
Pilgrims stood shoulder to shoulder, for the emotional day of supplication in the desert valley where Muslims believe the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) delivered his final sermon, calling for equality and unity among Muslims.
Muslims believe prayer on this day at Mount Arafat, about 20km east of the holy city of Makkah, is their best chance at salvation and spiritual renewal.
Around sunset Friday, the pilgrims marched or took a bus 9km west to the rocky desert of Muzdalifa, where they comb the area for pebbles to carry out the symbolic stoning of the devil.
