“Muslims should strive for progress in this world as well as for salvation in the hereafter. Every Muslim must try to make himself a personification of piety so that others see Islam as a source of guidance and inspiration,” Sheikh Maher Bin Hamad said.
He called upon Muslims to follow Islam in its true spirit instead of indulging in “hair-splitting” on trivial differences.
Sheikh Maher invoked a verse from the Holy Quran to emphasise that justice is the bedrock of an ideal society. “Indeed, Allah commands you to render trusts to whom they are due and when you judge between people to judge with justice.”
The Imam asked the ummah to spare a thought for hapless Palestinians who are up against a “brutal state bent upon their extermination”.
He cited verses from the Holy Quran to stress that the Holy Prophet (Peace be upon him) is a role model for every Muslim. “O Allah, forgive Muslim men and women, and protect them from all evil. Preserve for them their religion, their safety, their lives, their wealth, their minds, and their honour,” he said in soul-stirring words.
Earlier, more than 1.5 million Muslims braved extreme heat to reach Mount Arafat for the high point of Haj, praying for hours, especially for Palestinians in Gaza.
Clad in white, worshippers began arriving at dawn for the most gruelling day of the rites, ascending the rocky, 70-metre hill where the Holy Prophet (PBUH) gave his last sermon.
“This is the most important day,” said 46-year-old Egyptian Mohammed Asser, who came prepared with a list of prayers. “I pray also for the Palestinians. May God help them.”
This year’s Haj unfolded in the shadow of the conflict in Gaza, where Israel’s military offensive has killed 37,266 Palestinians since Oct 7.
Saudi Arabia’s minister in charge of religious affairs, Tawfiq Al Rabiah, warned last week that “no political activity” would be tolerated during the Haj.
But that did not stop at least one pilgrim from chanting in support of the Palestinians who have endured more than eight months of incessant bombardment.
“Pray for our brothers in Palestine, in Gaza… may God give victory to Muslims,” he shouted.
In a message to Haj pilgrims, Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said “the ironclad resistance of Palestine and the patient, oppressed people of Gaza… must be fully supported in every way”.
Some 2,000 Palestinians are performing the Haj at the special invitation of Saudi King Salman, official media said.
The Haj, one of the world’s biggest religious gatherings, is increasingly affected by climate change, according to a Saudi study published last month that said regional temperatures were rising 0.4 degrees Celsius every decade.
The rites, which take five days to complete and are mostly outdoors, are “not easy because it is very hot”, said Abraman Hawa, 26, from Ghana.
“We have sun… but it is not as hot. But I will pray to Allah at Arafat, because I need His support,” she added.
The temperature hit 43°C on Saturday, creating challenges for pilgrims who arrived at Mount Arafat after spending the night in a giant tented city in Mina, a valley outside Makkah.
Saudi authorities urged pilgrims to drink plenty of water and protect themselves from the sun. Since men are prohibited from wearing hats, many carry umbrellas.
Mustafa, an Algerian pilgrim, clung to his umbrella which was handed out by Haj organisers, saying: “It’s what saves you here.”
Another man, an Egyptian who preferred to remain anonymous, said he was drinking “a lot of juice and water” and had twice stopped to rest on the roadside.
More than 10,000 heat-related illnesses were recorded last year, 10 per cent of them heat stroke.After sunset, the pilgrims left Arafat for Muzdalifah, where they will collect pebbles to carry out the “stoning of the devil” ritual in Mina on Sunday.
The Arafat sermon delivered on Saturday at Namira Mosque in Makkah was projected to reach a staggering one billion listeners worldwide, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The sermon was translated live into 20 languages as part of the groundbreaking initiative launched by Saudi Arabia’s King Salman's in 2018. Non-simultaneous translations into 17 languages were further made.
Spearheaded by the Presidency of Religious Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques, the project serves as a cornerstone in spreading the message of moderation and centrism espoused by the holy sites, SPA said.
"The translated sermons promote peace, coexistence, and a deeper understanding of Islam — a religion built on mercy, tolerance, and peaceful living," the report said.
When the project was first launched in 2018, translations were offered in only five languages. Its reach has continued to grow each year. Sermons are translated into an increasing number of languages and broadcast on various platforms, including digital platforms, FM radio, and Islamic television channels.
"These efforts demonstrate the Kingdom’s unwavering commitment to serving Islam and the global Muslim community," the report said, adding that the initiative "exemplifies Saudi Arabia’s dedication to serving the Two Holy Mosques and their pilgrims. It further reflects the leadership’s commitment to promoting global peace and the values of tolerance and moderation," said the report.
"Having surpassed 200 million listeners in 2020, the project fulfills the Kingdom’s sacred responsibility of caring for the Two Holy Mosques and their visitors. By translating the Arafat sermon, they effectively share the message of these holy sites with the entire Muslim world," it further said.
