Latest news with #ProphetMuhammad
Arab News
15 hours ago
- Arab News
Pilgrims arrive in Mina for Day of Tarwiyah
Pilgrims began arriving in Mina early on Wednesday, June 4, 2025, to spend the Day of Tarwiyah, Dhu Al-Hijjah 8. The holy site, surrounded by mountains and exclusively inhabited during the Hajj season, is renowned for its historical landmarks, including the three Jamarat pillars and the significant Al-Khayf Mosque, where Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and previous prophets prayed.
Khaleej Times
a day ago
- General
- Khaleej Times
Million-plus pilgrims begin Haj under the blazing sun
More than a million pilgrims joined Islam's most important rite under a beating sun on Wednesday, as the Haj kicked off with the Saudi hosts scrambling to avoid last year's 1,000-plus deaths in sweltering heat. With temperatures expected to top 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit), robed pilgrims slowly circled the holy Kaaba — the black cube at the heart of Makkah's Grand Mosque which is Islam's holiest site. State media reported that others had begun arriving in the sprawling tent city of Mina on the holy city of Makkah's outskirts where they will stay overnight before the hajj's high-point on Thursday — prayers on Mount Arafat, where the Prophet Mouhammad (peace be upon him) is believed to have delivered his final sermon. About 1.4 million pilgrims arrived in Saudi Arabia ahead of the Haj, one of the five pillars of Islam that must be performed at least once by all Muslims with the means. Authorities have ratcheted up heat protection measures such as extra shade to avoid a repeat of last year, when 1,301 people died as temperatures hit 51.8C (125.2F). On Wednesday, pilgrims will perform the tawaf — walking seven times around the Kaaba, which Muslims pray towards each day. Before entering Makkah, pilgrims must first enter a state of purity, called ihram, which requires special dress and behaviour. Men don a seamless shroud-like white garment that emphasises unity among believers, regardless of their social status or nationality. Women, in turn, wear loose dresses, also white, exposing just their faces and hands. Pilgrims arriving on buses had begun already trickling into Mina on Tuesday afternoon, greeted by staff offering them coffee and dates. "I am so happy, it's such an amazing feeling," said Reem Al Shogre, a 35-year-old Saudi performing the pilgrimage for the first time. - Artificial intelligence - Following last year's lethal heatwave, authorities have mobilised more than 40 government agencies and 250,000 officials to improve protection. Shaded areas have been enlarged by 50,000 square metres (12 acres), thousands of additional medics will be on standby and more than 400 cooling units will be deployed, Hajj Minister Tawfiq Al Rabiah told AFP last week. Artificial intelligence technology will help process the deluge of data, including video from a new fleet of drones, to better manage the massive crowds. Authorities said most of the deaths last year were among unregistered pilgrims who lacked access to air-conditioned tents and buses. This year, they have cracked down on the unregistered, using frequent raids, drone surveillance and a barrage of text alerts. Hajj permits are allocated to countries on a quota basis and distributed to individuals by lottery. But even for those who can obtain them, the steep costs prompt many to attempt the hajj without a permit, even though they risk arrest and deportation if caught. Large crowds at the hajj have proved hazardous in the past, most notably in 2015 when a stampede during the "stoning the devil" ritual in Mina killed up to 2,300 people in the deadliest Haj disaster. Saudi Arabia earns billions of dollars a year from the Haj and the lesser pilgrimage known as umrah, undertaken at other times of the year.
Khaleej Times
a day ago
- General
- Khaleej Times
Holiest day in Islam: UAE residents to fast as Hajj pilgrims scale Arafah mountain
Muslims across the UAE are recommended to fast tomorrow, Thursday, in observance of the Day of Arafah - one of the most sacred days in Islam. As pilgrims performing Hajj in Makkah gather on the plain of Arafah, Muslims around the world who are not on the pilgrimage will mark the day with fasting, prayer, and reflection. The Day of Arafah falls on the 9th of Dhul Hijjah, the day before Eid Al Adha, and is deeply significant in Islamic tradition. "Allah chose this day to complete the religion of Islam," said Sheikh Ayaz Housee, Imam of NGS and Khateeb at Al Manar Islamic Centre. "In Surah Al-Ma'idah, Allah says: 'This day I have perfected for you your religion, completed My favour upon you, and approved Islam as your religion.' That declaration was made on the Day of Arafah," he explained. Day of forgiveness The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) described it as the day when Allah's mercy is at its peak. "There is no day on which Allah frees more people from the Hellfire than the Day of Arafah," the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said, as recorded in Sahih Muslim. "It's a spiritual day unlike any other. For those standing in Arafah during Haj, it's a moment of closeness to Allah. For the rest of us, fasting helps us connect to that moment from afar," said Sheikh Ayaz. Fasting on this day is highly recommended. "The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said that fasting on the Day of Arafah wipes away the sins of the previous year and the year to come,' said Sheikh Ayaz. 'That's 730 days of minor sins forgiven for one day of sincere fasting.' He also encouraged people to eat a proper pre-dawn meal, give in charity, read the Quran, and avoid distractions to make the most of the day. Chance to reset spiritually Dr Abdul Hameed Zafar, an imam at a mosque in Dragon Mart, said the Day of Arafah is about deep personal reflection. "It's a day to pause and turn back to Allah. Whether you are fasting at home or standing in prayer at the mosque, the goal is the same - to seek forgiveness and spiritual renewal," he said. "People should use the day to make dua, ask Allah for what they truly need - peace, guidance, good health, or forgiveness. The doors of mercy are wide open," said Dr Zafar. Scholars said that as Hajj reaches its peak in Makkah, Muslims in the UAE and around the world will share in the spiritual power of the day. "Through fasting and worship, Muslims should aim to draw closer to their Creator - even if they are thousands of kilometers away from Arafah," added Dr Zafar.
Malay Mail
2 days ago
- Health
- Malay Mail
Haj 2025 kicks off under scorching sun as Saudi Arabia eyes heat prevention
MECCA, June 4 — More than a million worshippers were set to join Islam's most important rite under a beating sun as the Haj pilgrimage kicked off Wednesday, with authorities scrambling to avoid last year's 1,000-plus deaths in sweltering heat. In temperatures that are expected to climb to more than 40°Celsius, robed pilgrims will slowly circle the Kaaba, Islam's holiest site — the black cubic structure at the centre of Mecca's Grand Mosque. About 1.4 million pilgrims arrived in Saudi Arabia ahead of the multi-day Haj, one of the five pillars of Islam that must be performed at least once by all Muslims with the means. Authorities have ratcheted up anti-heat measures such as extra shade to avoid a repeat of last year, when 1,301 people died as temperatures hit 51.8°C. On Wednesday, pilgrims will perform the tawaf — walking seven times around the Kaaba, which Muslims worldwide pray towards each day. They then head to Mina, the site of a giant tented city, before the Haj's high-point: prayers on Mount Arafat, where the Prophet Muhammad is believed to have delivered his final sermon. Before entering Mecca, pilgrims must first enter a state of purity, called ihram, which requires special dress and behaviour. Men don a seamless shroud-like white garment that emphasises unity among believers, regardless of their social status or nationality. Women, in turn, wear loose dresses, also white, exposing just their faces and hands. Pilgrims arriving on buses were already trickling into Mina on Tuesday afternoon, greeted by staff offering them coffee and dates. 'I am so happy, it's such an amazing feeling,' said Reem al-Shogre, a 35-year-old Saudi national performing hajj for the first time. Artificial intelligence Following last year's lethal heatwave, authorities have mobilised more than 40 government agencies and 250,000 officials, doubling their efforts against heat-related ailments. Shaded areas have been enlarged by 50,000 square metres, thousands of additional medics will be on standby and more than 400 cooling units will be deployed, Saudi Arabia's Haj minister Tawfiq al-Rabiah told AFP last week. Artificial intelligence technology will also help track the deluge of data and footage, including video from a new fleet of drones, to better manage the massive crowds. Authorities said most of the deaths last year were among unregistered pilgrims who lacked access to air-conditioned tents and buses. This year, they have stepped up a crackdown on unregistered worshippers, using frequent raids, drone surveillance and a barrage of text alerts. Haj permits are allocated to countries on a quota basis and distributed to individuals by lottery. But even for those who can obtain them, the steep costs prompt many to attempt the Haj without a permit, even though they risk arrest and deportation if caught. Large crowds at the Haj have proved hazardous in the past, most notably in 2015 when a stampede during the 'stoning the devil' ritual in Mina, near Mecca, killed up to 2,300 people in the deadliest Haj disaster. Saudi Arabia, which is home to Islam's holiest sanctuaries in Mecca and Medina, earns billions of dollars each year from the Haj, as well as the lesser pilgrimage known as umrah, undertaken at other times of the year. — AFP
Scroll.in
2 days ago
- Politics
- Scroll.in
Calcutta HC denies interim relief to law student arrested for remarks about Prophet Muhammad
The Calcutta High Court on Tuesday refused to grant interim bail to a 22-year-old law student who was arrested by Kolkata Police in Gurugram on Friday for remarks about Prophet Muhammad on social media, Live Law reported. The court also directed that no new first information reports will be filed in the case. Sharmishta Panoli, a fourth-year business and law student at a Pune university, had reportedly made the comments on Instagram that allegedly hurt religious sentiments but later deleted the post and issued an apology on X. A case was registered against Panoli at Kolkata's Garden Reach Police Station on May 15. An arrest warrant was issued against her on May 17, based on which she was arrested on Friday from Gurugram. The police said that several attempts were made to serve legal notice to Panoli but she and her family were untraceable. After these efforts failed, a court issued an arrest warrant following which police tracked and arrested her from Gurugram. Addressing this allegation before the court on Tuesday, her lawyer said that Panoli and her family went to Gurugram after people gathered outside her home and made threats. Panoli had challenged the order passed by a trial court remanding her to 14 days in judicial custody before the High Court, Live Law reported. Her lawyer argued that the arrest was illegal considering offences listed in the FIR were non-cognisable and that she was not served a notice before the arrest. The FIR was filed under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita pertaining to promoting enmity between groups, deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage the religious feelings, intentional insult with the intent to provoke a breach of peace and statements that incite public mischief. While denying interim bail on Tuesday, the court said: 'Look, we have freedom of speech but that doesn't mean you will go on to hurt others. Our country is diverse, with all persons. We must be cautious by saying this.' Several politicians, including many from the Bharatiya Janata Party, had questioned Panoli's arrest. On Sunday, the Kolkata Police defended the arrest, saying that 'hate speech should not be misconstrued as freedom of speech'.
