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  • News Desk
  • Jan 10th, 2006
  • Comments Off on Muslims urged to unite: over 2.5 million perform Haj
Over 2.5 million Muslim pilgrims from all over the world spent the day in the Arafat Plain near Makkah on Monday seeking divine grace and with the completion of the most important ritual of 'Waquf-e-Arafat' earned the honour of becoming Hajis. Those who became Hajis included over 150,000 Pakistanis.

The main congregation for combined Zuhr and Asr prayers was held in the Nimrah Mosque under Imam Abdul Aziz Abdullah Ale-Shaikh. Among those attending the prayers was the Makkah governor Prince Majid Ibn Abdul Aziz, who is also the Chairman of the Central Haj Council.

The Imam in his sermon urged the Muslims to unite, face the challenges posed to Islam and the Ummah with determination and shun all wayward trends including wrong interpretations of the Holy Quran. He told Muslims to practice Islam in its correct and real form and reject all divisive tendencies.

The Imam also urged upon the Muslims to follow the footsteps of the Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) and ensure that all deviations are rejected. He called for full support to Palestinians' right over Al-Quds and condemned the Zionist designs against Palestinians.

The Imam called for end to atrocities on Muslims wherever in minority as also in occupied Kashmir and stressed the importance of Haj as the rallying point for Muslims.

After completing the Waquf and prayers in Arafat, the Hajis began moving in an orderly manner towards the Muzdalfa hills where they will spend the night in prayers and collect pebbles for stoning the three Shaitans on Tuesday at the 'Jamarik' in Mina.

The Hajis will also perform the Tawafe Kabatullah and then carry out the sacrifice marking Eid-ul-Azha.

The Eid prayers will be held at the Masjid-e-Khief in Mina and Hajis will spend the tenth, and eleventh Zilhij in Mina. By Thursday afternoon they will begin leaving Mina for home.

Copyright United Press of Pakistan, 2006


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