Riyadh: From the early hours of the ninth day of Dhul-Hijjah, pilgrims streamed into Arafat, where they spent the day in worship, reciting the Qur’an, offering supplications and seeking forgiveness in what is considered the spiritual pinnacle of Hajj.

At noon, pilgrims listened to the Arafah sermon before performing the Dhuhr and Asr prayers combined and shortened in accordance with the Sunnah.

Located around 20 kilometers southeast of Makkah, Arafat is home to Jabal Al-Rahmah, or the Mount of Mercy, where many pilgrims gathered for contemplation and prayer.

The movement to Arafat followed the Day of Tarwiyah in Mina, where pilgrims spent Monday preparing spiritually and physically for the most demanding phase of Hajj.

Saudi authorities implemented extensive operational and safety measures across the holy sites, including crowd-control systems, medical services, transportation networks and emergency response teams to ensure the smooth movement of pilgrims.

Health officials remained on high alert as temperatures crossed 45°C, urging pilgrims to stay hydrated and avoid prolonged exposure to direct sunlight.

After sunset, pilgrims began departing Arafat for Muzdalifah, where they were set to combine and shorten the Maghrib and Isha prayers before spending the night in worship and rest ahead of the symbolic stoning ritual in Mina.