The Hajj rituals begin today as millions of pilgrims, including people from Pakistan, are reaching Mina before the Zuhr prayer. Pilgrims will stay in Mina until Thursday morning. During this time, they will spend their days offering prayers and remembering Allah.
On this day, pilgrims wear the special white clothes called Ihram, offer two units of prayer (rakat) and travel to Mina. Once they reach there, they will pray Zuhr, Asr, Maghrib and Isha.
On the 9th of Dhul Hijjah, pilgrims will leave Mina and travel to Arafat for Waqoof-e-Arafa. This is the main part of Hajj, where they will stand in prayer and devotion. A sermon will be delivered there, and pilgrims will offer Zuhr and Asr prayers together.
After sunset, without offering the Maghrib prayer in Arafat, pilgrims will travel to Muzdalifah. Once in Muzdalifah, they will offer Maghrib and Isha prayers together. They will also collect small pebbles that will be used for the next day’s ritual. Pilgrims will spend the night under the open sky in Muzdalifah.
On the 10th of Dhul Hijjah, pilgrims will head back to Mina. There, they will perform Rami, the ritual of throwing pebbles at the pillars that represent Satan. Then, they will offer a sacrifice and shave or trim their hair.
After that, they will go to Makkah to perform Tawaf-e-Ziyarah (circling the Kaaba) and Sa’i (walking between Safa and Marwah). These rituals will continue over the next few days, completing the important pillars of Hajj.
