Malaysian Haj pilgrims head for Arafah this Monday
24 Jun 2023 04:01pm
For illustration purpose - Pix by Saudi Press Agency
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They will move in stages to Arafah, which is approximately 22 km from the Masjidil Haram here, starting at 7 am local time (12 noon Malaysian time) using 21 buses provided for each accommodation that will be ferrying pilgrims in three trips.
Wukuf is a pillar of Haj that is performed by being in Arafah starting from the setting of the sun (Zohor time) on 9 Zulhijjah until before dawn on 10 Zulhijjah.
Head of the Malaysian Haj delegation Datuk Seri Syed Saleh Syed Abdul Rahman said all Malaysian pilgrims will move to mabit (overnight) in Muzdalifah starting at 6.30 pm before performing the stoning the devil ritual in Mina until 13 Zulhijjah.
"Malaysia was given the priority by Saudi Arabia government to choose the time of the stoning rite at the three jamrah (pillars). Alhamdulillah, our congregation was able perform the ritual during the night slot from 8 to 10 pm in cooler weather conditions," he told reporters here.
He said 50 per cent of the pilgrims will perform Nafar Awal (stoning rite on two of the three days of tasyrik) while the other half will perform Nafar Thani (stoning rite on all three days of tasyrik) and tahalul (shaving the head or cutting strands of hair).
Next, the pilgrims will perform tawaf and saie.
Syed Saleh said nearly 300 tents in Arafah and Mina are available for Malaysian pilgrims with several improvements made this year including PVC walled tents with air conditioning and food supplied by Malaysian companies.
In addition, 50 pilgrims who have been chosen to participate in the Prihatin Tetamu Ar Rahman Programme will be guided by 50 workers during the Masyair operation.
As for the patients, they will be taken to Arafah through the Wuquf Safari programme together with medical personnel on a special bus and ambulance.
After completing the ritual and obligatory haj, the pilgrims will perform tawaf wada' or farewell tawaf before returning to their homeland, with the first flight scheduled on July 5. - BERNAMA
