Sheikh Maher Al Muaiqly, an imam at the Grand Mosque in Makkah, delivered the Hajj sermon at Masjid-e-Nimra on Saturday, urging Ummah to forge unity and cohesion among their ranks.
Hundreds of thousands of Muslim pilgrims from around the world converged at Maidan-e-Arafat on Saturday to perform the Rukn-e-Azam of Hajj “Waqoof-e-Arafat” which marks climax of the Hajj.
Worshippers from all over the world climed the rocky, 70-metre (230-feet) hill, about 20 kilometres from Makkah, where the Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) given his last sermon.
Sheikh Maher Al-Muaiqly stressed cooperation and creating a spirit of helping each other in the annual Hajj sermon.
In the sermon, the imam urged pilgrims to pray to Allah for
themselves, for their parents, and those related to them.
“Whoever supplicates for his brother in the back of the unseen, the angel entrusted to him will say to him, Ameen, and the same for you.”
He emphasised the significance of the Sharia in leading one’s way of life to help flourish and achieve development.
“It prevents harming others or harming them. It enjoins justice, virtuous morals, honouring one’s parents, maintaining ties of kinship, telling the truth, preserving rights while delivering them to their rightful owners, performing trusts, and fulfilling contracts,” he said. The sermon came after more than 1.5 million Muslims reached Mount Arafat Saturday for the high point of the annual Hajj pilgrimage, praying for hours, especially for Palestinians in war-ravaged Gaza.
Sheikh Al-Muaiqly also prayed for Palestinians suffering at the hands of Israeli brutality for the last eight months.
“Pray for our brothers in Palestine who have been under brutal oppression and denied liberty and provisions,” the imam said. Clad in white, worshippers began arriving at dawn for the most gruelling day of the annual rites, ascending the rocky, 70-metre (230-foot) hill where Prophet Muhammed (PBUH) delivered 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.”
After Mount Arafat, the pilgrims will head to Muzdalifah, where they will collect pebbles to carry out the symbolic “stoning of the devil” ritual in Mina on Sunday.
It is also a major financial windfall for the kingdom, which is trying to develop religious tourism as part of a drive to reduce its dependence on crude oil.
The kingdom received more than 1.8 million pilgrims last year for the Hajj,
The Imam said “Almighty Allah is one in His Self. The Oneness of Allah and the Prophethood of Muhammad (Peace be upon him) is the fundamental tenet of Islam. Allah has sent Muhammad (PBUH) as Rehmatullil Aalameen for the universe. A man should opt for the way of Taqwah (piety) as this is the only way to success and prosperity.”
He cautioned the Muslims about deceiving nature of this temporary worldly life. “He who opts Taqwah will be forgiven for his mistakes and granted Rizq (livelihood) from means he would never have imagined,” he emphasised.
The Imam further said “Allah is the disposer of all affairs, the Holy Quran leads us to straight path, he who believes in Allah, succeeds in this life and the Hereafter. At various places in the Quran, Allah Almighty has ordered us to offer prayers as He showers His blessings on homes of those who say prayers.”
He reminded the pilgrims of the obligation to pay Zakat and taking immense care of human rights. Islam calls for betterment and success of all as it doesn’t direct us to harm anyone.
The Imam instructed to maintain better manners as one with good etiquettes will be successful in this life and the Hereafter. He also highlighted the importantance of obedience to parents as one who is disobedient with his parents is doomed to fail in both worlds.
