Mount Arafat: The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) and a delegation of Nigerian pilgrims gathered on Thursday to hold a national prayer session for the nation and its leaders at Mount Arafat in Saudi Arabia.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Arafat Day, observed on the ninth day of the Islamic month of Dhul-Hijjah, is a pivotal occasion in the Hajj pilgrimage and the Muslim calendar. The prayer session was orchestrated by the NAHCON Ulama team, who utilized various Nigerian languages to preach and pray for the nation, President Bola Tinubu, Vice-President Kashim Shettima, and other leaders, including traditional rulers.
Prof. Abdullahi Saleh, Chairman of NAHCON, highlighted the significance of the day of Arafat and the plains of Arafat for the acceptance of prayers. He urged the Ulama and the Nigerian pilgrims present to seek Allah’s divine intervention in Nigeria’s affairs. Saleh cited the Holy Qur’an, emphasizing the importance of gratitude and seeking divine assistance over challenges.
Sheikh Muhd Bin Uthman, a member of the NAHCON Ulama team, encouraged pilgrims to foster love for their country and prayed for unity and peaceful coexistence in Nigeria.
The News Agency of Nigeria further reports that Arafat Day sees millions of pilgrims converging on the Mount of Arafat, near Makkah, to perform Wuqoof-e-Arafat, the most crucial ritual of Hajj. This sacred site is historically significant as the location where Prophet Muhammad delivered his Farewell Sermon 1,435 years ago, advocating for equality and unity among Muslims.
The day marks the pinnacle of the Hajj pilgrimage, with pilgrims dedicating the entire day to prayer and supplication at Mount Arafat. For Muslims not participating in Hajj, it is a day of fasting, repentance, and seeking God’s forgiveness.