The sacred rituals of Hajj will formally begin today (Monday) as millions of Muslim pilgrims prepare to move to Mina, marking the start of one of Islam's holiest spiritual journeys.
Bangladeshi pilgrims are scheduled to leave for Mina on Sunday night in phases in line with directives issued by the Saudi authorities to ensure a smooth, orderly and safe transfer of pilgrims.
According to a press release issued by the Ministry of Religious Affairs, the Bangladesh Hajj Office in Makkah, together with concerned Hajj agencies, has already completed all preparations for transporting Bangladeshi pilgrims to Mina.
Under Islamic rites, pilgrims will stay in Mina on Monday, where they will perform the five daily prayers from Fajr to Isha and spend the night in devotion and prayer.
On Tuesday, pilgrims will proceed to the plains of Arafat, the most significant stage of Hajj and the spiritual climax of the pilgrimage.
This year's Hajj sermon at Arafat will be delivered by Sheikh Ali bin Abdul Rahman Al-Hudhaifi, Grand Imam and Khateeb of Al-Masjid an-Nabawi. Following the sermon, pilgrims will offer Zuhr and Asr prayers together before remaining in Arafat until sunset in deep supplication and repentance.
In Islamic teachings, the standing at Arafat is regarded as the central pillar of Hajj, without which the pilgrimage remains incomplete.
After sunset on 9 Zilhaj, pilgrims will travel to Muzdalifah, where they will perform Maghrib and Isha prayers together and spend the night under the open sky.
Before sunrise on 10 Zilhaj, pilgrims will return to Mina to perform the symbolic stoning of the largest Jamarah, representing the rejection of evil. They will then offer animal sacrifice and shave or trim their hair, completing major rites of Hajj in pursuit of spiritual purification and the pleasure of Almighty Allah.
Pilgrims will continue the remaining rituals on 11 and 12 Zilhaj and are expected to leave Mina before sunset on the final day.
This year, between 1.6 million and 1.8 million Muslims from around the world are expected to perform Hajj, including nearly 78,500 pilgrims from Bangladesh.
