Pilgrims head to Arafat to perform Hajj's greatest ritual

Pilgrims started to flow into Mount Arafat Thursday to perform Hajj's greatest ritual after staying at Mina on Wednesday. The pilgrims will be at the site till sunset and then head to Muzdalifah. Governor of Makkah region and head of the central Hajj commission Prince Khalid Al-Faisal announced yesterday the success of the first phase of the Hajj pilgrimage, hoping that would continue for the remaining stages of the current Hajj season. Meanwhile, the Kaaba kiswah (cloth) was replaced today, a tradition that takes place on the 9th day of the month of Dhu al-Hijjah. From the time of the Ayubids, precisely during the reign of the As-Salih Ayyub, the kiswa was manufactured in Egypt. It was sent in a huge annual parade before the Hajj season. Material for the kiswah was brought from Sudan, India, Egypt and Iraq. The tradition continued until 1927, when its manufacture was moved to Saudi Arabia upon orders by King Abdulaziz bin Al-Saud.