UAE pilgrims join millions of Muslims to for Hajj

The UAE Official Hajj Mission along with thousands of pilgrims from UAE will be joining tomorrow, hundreds of millions of Muslims all around the globe to embark on a journey to the world's largest annual pilgrimage, the Hajj. The pilgrims will swarm through a mountain pass to a valley at Mina, about five miles east of Makkah for the sacred rituals. The passage marks the official launch of the hajj 1433H on the eighth day of the Muslim calendar month of Dhu'l Hijjah. The day is known as Tarwiah (Watering) as pilgrims in the past stopped at Mina to water their animals and stock up for the next day's trip to Mount Arafat. Mohammed Obeid Al Mazrouei, Chairman of UAE Official Hajj Mission, said that preparations have been made to receive thousands of pilgrims at Mina and Mount Arafat. At Mount Arafat, some 9 miles southeast of Mina, the pilgrims will spend the day in prayer and reflection. They will listen to the Hajj sermon at historical Nimrah mosque and perform Wuquf, the most important ritual of Hajj. After sunset, they will move on to Muzdalifah, half way between Mount Arafat and Mina, where they spend the night. Next day, the pilgrims head back to Mina after dawn prayers. Then, they will perform the first stage of the symbolic "stoning of the devil" and make the ritual sacrifice of an animal and shave off their hair. On the remaining three days of the hajj, the pilgrims continue the ritual stoning before performing the circumambulation of the Ka'aba and then heading back home.