_Maha Christopher_
Thousands of Muslim pilgrims gathered on Mount Arafat on Tuesday as the annual hajj pilgrimage reached its most significant stage under intense desert heat approaching 40 degrees Celsius.
According to AFP, worshippers dressed in white robes recited Quranic verses from dawn on the rocky hill near Mecca, where Prophet Mohammed is believed to have delivered his final sermon.
More than 1.5 million pilgrims are participating in this year’s hajj despite tensions across the Middle East following the conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran.
AFP reported that more than 30,000 Iranian pilgrims made the journey this year, far below the 86,000 initially expected due to what Iran’s IRNA news agency described as the “wartime situation.”
Saudi authorities said the number of international pilgrims this year surpassed figures recorded in 2025.
The hajj, one of the five pillars of Islam, is a compulsory religious obligation for Muslims who are physically and financially able to perform it at least once in their lifetime.
With temperatures recently reaching 44 degrees Celsius in Mecca, Saudi officials advised pilgrims to stay hydrated and protect themselves from the harsh sun during the outdoor rituals.
Many male pilgrims were seen carrying umbrellas since Islamic rules prohibit men from covering their heads during hajj rites.
After prayers on Mount Arafat, pilgrims are expected to move to Muzdalifah to spend the night and gather pebbles for the symbolic “stoning of the devil” ritual scheduled to begin in Mina on Wednesday.
The pilgrimage follows the route of Prophet Mohammed’s final hajj performed about 1,400 years ago.
