Thousands of Muslims gathered at Mount Arafat on Tuesday to participate in a pivotal ritual of the Hajj pilgrimage, enduring temperatures that soared towards 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) under a relentless desert sun. As dawn broke, worshippers clad in white robes recited Quranic verses on the 70-meter (230-foot) rocky hill near Mecca, a site where the Prophet Muhammad is believed to have delivered his final sermon. Volunteers distributed water, parasols, and food packages to assist the pilgrims on their journey. Despite ongoing regional conflicts, more than 1.5 million individuals have taken part in this year’s Hajj, with about 30,000 pilgrims from Iran, a significant decrease from the initial 86,000 anticipated due to the current “wartime situation.” Saudi authorities have noted an increase in foreign pilgrims compared to the previous year. As the rituals continue, pilgrims will spend the night in Muzdalifah to collect pebbles for the symbolic “stoning of the devil” ceremony in Mina, set to occur on Wednesday.
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