Hajj’s main pillar, Wuquf-e-Arafat today

More than two million white-clad Muslims from across the globe began the hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia in one of the world's largest annual gatherings. The intending pilgrims will perform the main pillar of Hajj, Wuquf-e-Arafa today. Wuquf-e-Arafat (Stay at Mount Arafat) Having spent the evening at Mina, the Tent City, Hajis are headed towards rocky hill, Mount Arafat where they believe the Prophet Mohammed gave his final sermon 14 centuries ago after leading his followers on the hajj. Wuquf (Stay) in Arafat is performed from Zuhr to sunset on the 9th of Zil-Hajj of Islamic year. Imam of Nimra Mosque will deliver his sermon to Hajj pilgrims in Arafat and the pilgrims would offer Zohar and Asar prayers jointly at Arafat. The main action in Wuquf is not to pray lots of Nafils but to just stand facing the Baitul Haram (Sacred House) asking Allah for forgiveness while recognizing Him as our Lord. The holy Prophet (PBUH) said, "Al Hajju Arafah," means ‘standing in Arafat’ is the Hajj. After the Wuquf-e-Arafat, the pilgrims would move towards Muzdalafa and there they would perform remaining two prayers, Maghrib and Isha, together. All Hajj pilgrims will stay whole night in Muzdalfa and continue worships for forgiveness and pleasing God, the almighty. They would perform Fajar prayer on morning of 10th Zil-Hajj in Muzdalfa and then return to Mina for following act of Hazrat Ibrahim (A.S), Rami, stoning the big Satan. After stoning the Satan, Hajj pilgrims will shave off heads or trim hairs, to the prescribed level, and then would get off the Ahrams, Hajj cloths, at completion of Hajj rituals. Muslims celebrate Eid-ul-Adha and sacrifice Halal animals of their choices every year, after completion of Hajj proceedings. Tired But Happy A sandstorm blew and light rain fell as streaks of lightning lit up the skies above the vast plain surrounding Mount Arafat, where the faithful began to arrive ahead of the climax of hajj on Wednesday. Many reached Arafat by bus but others walked from the holy city of Makkah about 15 kilometres (nine miles) away. Some unloaded their luggage from buses while fellow pilgrims struggled in the winds to set up their tents beside the road. Police manned checkpoints along the way to verify the permits of the faithful, many of whom appeared worn out, a contrast to the joy pilgrims showed earlier in Makkah. "Transport is bad, our residence is bad, and food is really bad... even though we paid around $4,000 (3,603 euros) to come," said Tunisian pilgrim Abu Salim, 58. "However, tiredness for the sake of God is not that big a problem." For many, the hajj will be the highlight of their spiritual lives. This year's gathering is about the same size as last year's, with 1.4 million foreign pilgrims joining hundreds of thousands of Saudis and residents of the kingdom. They are undeterred by a construction crane collapse at Makkah's Grand Mosque earlier this month that killed 109 people, including foreign pilgrims. About 400 people were injured by the crane which was working on an expansion of Islam's holiest site. Previously marred by stampedes and fires that killed hundreds, the pilgrimage had been largely incident-free for the past nine years after safety improvements. The hajj is among the five pillars of Islam and every capable Muslim must perform it at least once in a lifetime. Yemeni pilgrim Mohammed al-Mikhlafi, 54, complained of "a lack of organisation" at the gathering, where he planned to pray for Muslim unity. "One belongs to the Islamic State (IS) group, another to Al-Qaeda. These groups are destroying Islam while fighting under its banner," said the Yemenia Airways employee, who lives in Saudi Arabia. His wife stood covered from head to toe with only her eyes showing. 100,000 police This year's gathering takes place against a backdrop of increased jihadist violence in some Muslim countries, a surge of the potentially deadly MERS virus and the war in Saudi neighbour Yemen. About 100,000 police have been deployed to secure pilgrimage sites and manage the crowds. Authorities say they are on alert for possible attacks by extremists. IS jihadists have bombed security forces and Shiite mosques in the kingdom in recent months. Security forces have taken "measures to prevent terrorist groups from exploiting hajj season to carry out acts of sabotage," interior ministry spokesman General Mansur al-Turki said. This year's hajj also comes with Saudi Arabia at war. Since March the kingdom has led an Arab coalition conducting air strikes and supporting local forces in Yemen against Iran-backed rebels. Most Yemeni pilgrims performing the hajj this year already reside in the kingdom. Among other challenges facing Saudi authorities is potential transmission of the deadly Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV). The capital saw a jump in infections last month, but health officials say there has never been a case of MERS infection among pilgrims. The health ministry has mobilised thousands of medical workers to help ensure a virus-free pilgrimage and to care for routine ailments.