By BADEA ABU AL-NAJA & SIRAJ WAHAB | ARAB NEWS
MINA: The holy city of Makkah reverberated with chants of “Labbaik Allahumma Labbaik” (O God, here I am answering your call) as nearly three million pilgrims from around the world readied themselves for what is often described as once in a lifetime journey of faith.
Large groups of pilgrims have started arriving in the tent city of Mina for the Yaum Al-Tarwiya ritual where they will spend the day and night of Friday in prayer and meditation before heading for Arafat on Saturday in the climax of the annual pilgrimage.
More than 2.5 million pilgrims, including 1.8 million who have come from abroad, will take part in this year’s Haj, the largest annual gathering of Muslims in the world. Saudi Arabia has mobilized all its resources to make the annual event a big success and hassle-free.
The pilgrims arrived in Mina by walking and on buses and other vehicles, chanting Labbaik Allahumma Labbaik. About 50,000 officers have been deployed in various parts of Makkah and the holy sites to ensure the security and safety of pilgrims and smooth flow of vehicles.
Categories: Asia, Islam, Islam: A Religion of Peace, Middle East, Saudi Arabia