| GEO World | | Nearly 3 mln Muslims performed Hajj | Updated at: 2259 PST, Thursday, November 26, 2009
 ISLAMABAD: Around three million Muslims from allover the globe on Thursday performed the Hajj, one of the most sacred and cherished religious obligations, in the prescient of the Holy Ka'ba at Makkah-tul-Mukarma, Saudi Arabia.
They converged in Makkah-tul-Mukarma in a dignified manner by wearing "Ahram", reciting the praises of Allah Almighty and offering various supplications to Him with their hands raised, in accordance with the practice of the Holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him).
Pakistan Television and various other local and international TV channels telecast live Hajj transmission from Makkah-tul-Mukarma, covering Manasik-e-Hajj including Waqoof-e-Arafat, Khutba-e-Hajj and prayers ofZohar and Asr.
Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia, Sheikh Abdul Aziz Al-Sheikh delivered the Hajj sermon from Masjid-e-Nimra.
In his address, the Mufti praised the oneness of Allah Almighty and highlighted various aspects of life of the Holy Prophet (PBUH).
He urged the Ummah to follow true teachings of Islam and footsteps of the last Messenger of God to achieve success in the world and hereafter.
He said Muslim Ummah is facing a number of challenges and enemies of Islam are hatching conspiracies against our religion to defame its followers in the world.
The Grand Mufti said Islam is the religion of peace, harmony and brotherhood and it has nothing to do with terrorism and extremism. He underlined the need of greater unity among Muslims to tackle the challenges confronted by Ummah.
The pilgrims offered combined Zhur and Asr prayers after listening the Hajj sermon delivered by one of the chief Imams of Makkaha.
The whole plain of Arafat was full to the brim from the early hours of the day as around three million pilgrims from all over the world took part in the pilgrimage.
There some pilgrims reached the Jabl-ur-Rahmat (the Mount of Mercy) which is located to the Southeast of the plain.
The Mount of Mercy is the mountain at the foot of which the Holy Prophet (PBUH) stood and delivered his farewell sermon to around 124,000 companions.
Estimated foreign pilgrims gathering on the plain of Arafat were more than two million while Saudi Arabia itself has more than 500,000.
The biggest Hajj contingent was from Indonesia with a total of 200,000 while India was second with 164,000 number of pilgrims.
The third, was Pakistan, which has about 160,000 pilgrims and Nigeria, which was not left out in this year's Hajj rituals, had a total of about 90,000 pilgrims to include international ones.
Saudi Arabia deployed some 100,000 security forces in and around Makkah, Madina and Jeddah for the Hajj rites.
From a massive command centers, the forces monitored thousands of close circuit TV cameras, including 1,852 in and around Makkah's Grand Mosque and 600 at the Jamrat Bridge where pilgrims would stone the devil on Friday, Saturday and finish on Sunday.
Health personnel have also been increased this year to 20,000 to cope with the threat of swine flu in addition to other health worries.
In another development, the Grand Mosque at the center of Makkah where pilgrims gathered to pray covers 39 hectares (96 acres) having capacity to accommodate more than one million people.
The Holy Ka'aba rests on a marble base and is built from granite, and has a door made from 280 kilos (616 pounds) of pure gold.
Its black silk kiswa covering, made anew every year, is embroidered with phrases from the Glorious Qur'an using 150 kilos (330 pounds) gold and silver thread. |  |
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