Pilgrims Gather on Mount Arafat for the Hajj’s Climactic Rites

Pilgrims gathered on Mount Arafat on the high point of the Hajj, praying and performing rites in Mecca despite scorching heat. The moment marked the culmination of a journey long awaited by millions of Muslims. As dawn broke, crowds in ihram recited verses from the Qur'an on the rocky hill near Mecca. Many completed their worship under the sun to reach the day they had waited for throughout their lives. Volunteers distributed water, umbrellas and food to pilgrims moving toward Arafat, while helicopters flew regularly overhead. More than 1.5 million people were said to have joined this year’s Hajj organization. The pilgrimage continued despite the shadow of war in the Middle East, with many worshippers pressing on with their sacred journey.