Gambiaj.com – (RIYADH, Saudi Arabia) – Muslim pilgrims gathered in the early hours of Thursday atop Mount Arafat, marking the spiritual pinnacle of the annual Hajj pilgrimage. As temperatures soared past 40° Celsius (104° Fahrenheit), Saudi authorities urged pilgrims to avoid exposure to the harsh midday sun.

The Day of Arafat is the most sacred day of the year, when Almighty Allah draws near to the faithful and forgives their sins.

Sheikh Dr. Saleh bin Abdullah bin Humaid delivered a Hajj sermon at Masjid al-Haram, emphasizing the importance of neighborly care, compassion for orphans, widows, and the underprivileged, and kindness towards parents.

He urged Muslims to continue praying and giving zakat to support the needy, promoting taqwa, patience, gratitude, and consistent worship of Allah. He also emphasized the fundamental pillars of Islam, including namaz, fasting, zakat, and Hajj.

Sheikh Dr. Saleh also urged Muslims to honor their promises, speak the truth, and uphold modesty, emphasizing that good and evil are not equal and that responding to wrongs with good can transform enemies into close companions.

Thousands assembled before dawn around the sacred hill and the expansive plain where the Prophet Mohammed is believed to have delivered his final sermon.

Pilgrims arrived early, many carrying colorful umbrellas to shield themselves from the rising heat, preparing for a long day of prayer and recitation of the Qur’an. They are expected to remain until evening in what is considered the most physically demanding part of the pilgrimage.

After sunset, the faithful will make their way to Muzdalifah, a site between Arafat and the tent city of Mina, to collect pebbles for the symbolic stoning of the devil ritual.

“This is something that I used to see every year on the TV screen during Hajj, and I always thought, ‘I wish I could be here,’” said Ali, a 33-year-old pilgrim from Pakistan. “I’ve been trying to get here for the past three years,” he added, gazing in awe at the mount. “I feel very blessed.”

Hundreds in white garments dotted the mount itself, while many more prayed at its base or captured the moment in photos.

Fans spraying mist and providing cool air were installed at the foot of the hill, while authorities advised pilgrims to remain in their tents between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., when the desert heat is at its peak.

To manage the crowds, the authorities have deployed the latest artificial intelligence technologies to process data and images, including a new fleet of drones that monitor the city of Mecca.

They have also launched a sweeping campaign to prevent unauthorized pilgrims from joining the Hajj, intensifying police operations, surveillance, and alert messages.

The instruction “no Hajj without a permit” is prominently displayed in shopping centers, on electronic panels, and throughout the media.

On Sunday, authorities announced that they had intercepted nearly 270,000 people without a license at the entrances to Mecca.

Saudi officials have also expanded infrastructure, deployed thousands of additional personnel, and introduced advanced technology to manage the vast crowds. Over 40 government agencies and 250,000 officials have been mobilized, doubling efforts to combat heat-related illnesses.

The Hajj minister announced the expansion of shaded areas by 50,000 square meters (12 acres), alongside the deployment of over 400 cooling units and thousands of medics on standby.

“I came here early to avoid the sun, and later I will pray inside my tent,” said 54-year-old Adel Ismail from Syria.

Tears streamed down the face of Iman Abdel Khaleq as she stood at the foot of the mount. “It’s a big dream for me that I had almost given up hope of realizing,” said the woman in her fifties, who had long wished to perform the Hajj.

This year, around 1.5 million pilgrims from across the globe have journeyed to Saudi Arabia, united in their devotion during one of the world’s largest religious gatherings.