This year’s Hajj, a vital religious obligation for Muslims, has attracted over 1.5 million foreign pilgrims to Saudi Arabia, though domestic participation numbers remain unspecified. Pilgrims have begun their journey to Arafat, the holiest site where they engage in prayer and reflection, with authorities implementing safety measures to cope with extreme heat, including planting trees for shade and increasing medical support. After sunset, they will proceed to Muzdalifah to gather pebbles for the symbolic stoning ritual, amidst ongoing challenges of crowd control and high temperatures.
