Hajj 2015 - Day 2

The second day of hajj is known as Yown ul Arafat or the day of Arafat.On this day, the pilgrims leave Mina after dawn and make their way to the plains of Arafat for the culminating experience of the Hajj. Devotees would spend the entire day on the Plains of Arafat asking God Almighty for forgiveness and engaging in worship through the recitation of the Quraan and also through supplications. Muslims around the world would be in solitude with the Hujjaaj on this day by fasting for the entire day. After sunset, on the day of Arafat, pilgrims would make their way to Muzdalifa, situated halfway between the plains of Arafat and Mina. Here they would spend the entire night in the open under the star light engaging in prayer and worship and also collecting pebbles that would be used the following day. Pictures courtesy Abu Ammaar.

Hajj 2015 - Day 1

On the first day of the pilgrimage the millions of devotees that have traveled from far and wide would now make their way from Makkah to Mina, a small village located east of the city. Mina is an enormous tent city.The Saudi government spent billions of riyals in erecting fire proof tents after the hajj was marred by a fire a few years ago causing damage and loss of life. My dads sister was present that year during the hajj and she related to us that when the fire broke out people started running  in all directions. During that time she had lost her husband in the crowd. With every passing year, the Saudi government tries its best to provide better, more efficient facilities for the Hujjaaj in order to make the Haj process easier and to facilitate a smooth incident free Hajj process as depicted in the pictures above.

The Hujjaj would spend the entire day and night at Mina engaging in the recitation of the Quraan, praying and basically taking rest before heading off to Arafat tomorrow.

Pictures: courtesy Abu Ammaar