Millions of Muslim pilgrims gathered at Mount Arafat on Monday, May 25, to observe the Day of Arafah [1], [2].
This event represents the most sacred day of the Hajj pilgrimage. It is the spiritual peak of the journey where worshippers seek divine forgiveness and offer supplications to God [1], [3].
Crowds of worshippers dressed in white robes filled the landscape near Mecca, Saudi Arabia. Reports on the scale of the gathering vary, with some sources stating more than 1.5 million pilgrims gathered at the mount [1], while others estimate that two million people have begun the annual pilgrimage [2]. Other reports described the scene as thousands of worshippers reciting Quranic verses [3].
"From daybreak, thousands of white‑robed worshippers recited Quranic verses on the 70‑metre (230 feet) rocky hill near Mecca," a correspondent for Al-Monitor said [3].
The rituals began on Monday, following the arrival of pilgrims in Saudi Arabia earlier in the week [4]. The gathering at Mount Arafat serves as the primary focal point of the Hajj before the transition to the celebration of Eid Al-Adha [2].
"Millions of worshippers are gathering in the holy city of Mecca for the sacred Hajj pilgrimage ahead of Eid Al‑Adha," a reporter for the Mirror said [2].
Saudi authorities managed the influx of people as they converged on the rocky hill. The Day of Arafah is considered the most critical component of the pilgrimage, as the Hajj is not considered complete without the standing at Arafat [1], [3].
“The Day of Arafah marks the climax of the Hajj pilgrimage.”
The Day of Arafah is the central theological event of the Hajj, emphasizing humility and repentance. The massive scale of the 2026 gathering underscores the continued significance of the pilgrimage despite regional geopolitical tensions and the logistical challenges of managing millions of people in a concentrated geographic area.
