Pilgrims move to Muzdalifah after scaling Mount Arafat

Pilgrims scaled Saudi Arabia's Mount Arafat on Thursday evening to pray and repent in the climax of this year's Haj where they were immersed in prayers and supplications till sunset, marking the peak of Hajj, amid a strict system of precautionary health measures and services offered by the government of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to make the mission of pilgrims a complete success.

While in Muzdalifah, their third station of Hajj, pilgrims will perform Maghrib (sunset) and Isha (evening) prayers together, and stay the night there, before heading toward the valley of Mina again as per the deeds of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).

The movement of pilgrims on their descending journey from Arafat to Muzdalifah went on smoothly, thanks to the unprecedented services provided by the authorities, including the health precautionary and preventive measures, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

At Muzdalifah, pilgrims will gather pebbles for a symbolic stoning of the devil ritual starting Friday, which is also the Eid Al-Adha.

It takes place on Friday and also marks the beginning of Eid Al Adha, the festival of sacrifice.

The Haj, one of the five pillars of Islam and a must for able-bodied Muslims at least once in their lifetime, is usually one of the world's largest religious gatherings.

But only up to 10,000 people already residing in the kingdom are participating in this year's ritual, compared with 2019's gathering of some 2.5 million from around the world.

The pilgrims have all been tested for the virus, according to the authorities. Foreign journalists were barred from this year's Haj, usually a huge global media event, reported Khaleej Times.