The crescent moon marking the beginning of the Islamic month of Dhul-Hijjah has been sighted in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, May 27.
Accordingly, the official Hajj rituals for this year will commence on June 4, as announced by the Supreme Court of Saudi Arabia following confirmation from the country’s moon-sighting observatories.
Saudi authorities have announced that the Day of Arafat, the peak of the Hajj pilgrimage, will be observed on June 5, while Eid-ul-Adha will be celebrated the following day, June 6.
At a press conference on Monday, May 26, Saudi Minister of Hajj and Umrah Affairs Tawfiq Al-Rabiah stated that over one million pilgrims from various countries have already arrived in Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj.
Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam and is obligatory at least once in a lifetime for every Muslim who is physically and financially able to perform it.
The main rituals of Hajj are performed between the 8th and 13th of Dhul-Hijjah. Over these days, pilgrims participate in various religious rites. On the second day, millions gather at the plains of Arafat to perform prayers. This sacred site includes the mountain where the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) delivered his Farewell Sermon.
Another cherished destination for pilgrims is the holy city of Madinah, home to the Prophet’s (PBUH) sacred tomb. Although visiting Madinah is not a formal part of the Hajj rituals, for many Muslims, visiting the Prophet’s tomb is a deeply spiritual experience.
According to Saudi government data, around 1.8 million pilgrims performed Hajj last year. However, extreme heat — with temperatures soaring to 51.8°C (125°F) — and other health issues led to the deaths of more than 1,300 pilgrims during the pilgrimage.
