TODAY marks the start of the haj ritual as between three and four million pilgrims congregate in Arafah for wukuf.
The pilgrims, including 22,320 Malaysians, started moving towards the tent area of Arafah yesterday.
It is a slow process as the roads can, at times, be choked with vehicles ferrying the huge number of pilgrims.
Some of the buses make repeat trips. However, the media team’s journey to Arafah, situated 21km from here, was smooth due to careful planning and traffic monitoring by the Saudi authorities.
Other pilgrims also reported smooth, unhindered journeys into Arafah yesterday.
The moment they left Mecca, the pilgrims are required to be in ihram and strictly observe 13 conditions, which include not pulling any body hair, killing any animals or even breaking a twig.
It is a test of one’s faith, patience and resilience rolled into one as being in Arafah is viewed as the summit of the haj.
Wukuf is a day when a pilgrim’s spiritual, mental and physical states are tested to the fullest.
Under the baking sun, with normal daily amenities being scarce (going to the toilets, for example, can be a daunting experience due to the long queues), it tests one’s patience and resilience.
It is a time of serious reflection, with each pilgrim encouraged to choose a spot to “isolate” himself or herself from worldly matters.
It is just you and Allah time.
Muslims believe that after doomsday, mankind would congregate in Masyar under the searing sun where their deeds or misdeeds are counted to determine if they go to Heaven or Hell.
Arafah is a reminder that the day of judgment will come.
Today, in Arafah, save for the bare minimum, a man is stripped of his worldly possessions: social creed, financial standing and race is of no consequence as everybody stands equal before Allah.
Tabung Haji volunteers started leaving for Arafah at 7am local time (noon Malaysian time) yesterday.
The night before, preparations were made at the various Tabung Haji hostels for the trip.
This year, 60 elderly pilgrims will be accompanied by Tabung Haji staff and volunteers to perform their haj.
Tabung Haji has also introduced a new service called Safariwukuf. Modified buses will ferry the critically ill to Arafah for them to observe the requirement to congregate there.
From Arafah, one is required to go to Muzdalifah, where pilgrims collect pebbles for the jamrah (stoning) ritual on Zulhijah 11, 12 and 13 (Sept 13 to 15).
The pilgrims will stay in tents set up in Mina and walk several kilometres to the jamrah stations (Jamratul Ula, Jamratul Wusta and Jamratul Aqabah).
They are required to throw seven stones at each of the stations each day.
The stoning also has conditions and symbolises stoning the devil himself.
The haj is complete when the pilgrims return to Mecca to perform the tawaf (circling the Kaabah seven times), the saie (walking seven times to and from the Safa and Marwah hills) and tahalul (balding the head or cutting at least three strands of hair).