MAKKAH: The day of wukuf in Arafah, which represents the pinnacle of the haj pilgrimage, is approaching in less than 24 hours.
The anticipation is also deeply felt not only among the 31,600 Malaysian pilgrims, but also among over two million Muslims who are guests of Allah for the 1445H/2024 pilgrimage season.
The journey, expected to commence as early as 6am tomorrow, will proceed towards the Masyair,where pilgrims will perform the wukuf at Arafah, Mabit at Muzdalifah and Mina, as well as the 'stoning the devil' rituals at the three-storey Jamarat complex.
These rituals will take place from Zulhijah 9 (June 15) until Zulhijah 12 (June 18). The journey requires thorough preparation spiritually, physically, and mentally.
This is further compounded by the current daytime temperatures during wukuf, which are expected to reach between 45 and 50 degrees Celsius, adding to the challenges for this year's haj pilgrims.
Checks at pilgrim accommodations found that the pilgrims are beginning to pack the necessary items for the Masyair as per the advice of Lembaga Tabung Haji (TH), including clothing and personal care items to be packed in a single bag due to the limited space in the tents at Arafah and Mina.
Khairul Amir Jamal, 40, from Ipoh, Perak, said he has already prepared equipment and clothing based on TH's guidelines. He also reduced outdoor activities to maintain health.
"For the past two to three days, more Malaysian pilgrims have been experiencing cough, fever, and flu, and if we observe, pilgrims from other countries are also increasing.
"I have started to reduce outdoor activities as a health precaution, especially during the day because of the hot weather.
"I focus more on ibadah at the accommodation site, and if I need to go to the mosque, I go at night because the weather is cooler," he said.
He said during the day, many routes to the mosque are closed, requiring him to walk far, which could affect his health.
Nurul Akmal Nazian, 38, who is also from Ipoh, Perak, said she felt nervous as she awaited the day of wukuf, especially after hearing experiences from previous haj pilgrims.
"I have heard from friends that being in Arafah is the most challenging time, but I have prepared by learning from their experiences through participating in haj group discussions on social media and praying a lot for the ease of affairs during Masyair," she said.
Meanwhile, accommodation hostel manager of Maktab 79, Al-Amin Jaminon, said that in preparation for pilgrims in Arafah, TH also provides stones for 'stoning the devil' rituals, umbrellas and stickers to help pilgrims identify the occupied maktab.
"We have started distributing all these items to the pilgrim rooms in stages. At the same time, I also want to remind pilgrims, with less than 24 hours remaining, to reduce outdoor travel.
"Rest more in the rooms and drink plenty of water because the situation in Arafah is very challenging," he said.