Kano: No fewer than 3,345 Muslim pilgrims from Kano State joined millions of worshippers worldwide at Mount Arafat, marking the spiritual peak of the annual Hajj pilgrimage. The event saw the faithful spending the day in deep prayer, reflection, and devotion.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the pilgrimage coincided with the 8th day of Zul Hijja on the Islamic calendar and involved pilgrims re-enacting the historic moments of Prophet Ibrahim, his wife Hajara, their son Prophet Ismail, and Prophet Muhammad (Peace be Upon Them all). Clad in white unstitched garments known as Ihram, symbolizing purity, equality, and submission to God, the pilgrims braved the desert heat to listen to sermons and offer personal supplications.
Sheikh Tijjani Bala Kalarawi urged the pilgrims to use this sacred moment to seek divine mercy and renew their spiritual commitments. He emphasized the rare opportunity to connect with Allah and congratulated them for reaching Arafat, the site where Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) delivered his farewell sermon. Kalarawi highlighted the site's spiritual significance, noting it as the place where one of the final verses of the Qur'an was revealed.
Kalarawi encouraged pilgrims to take inspiration from the unity shown by Prophet Ibrahim's family, referencing the ritual stoning of Satan, which symbolizes resisting evil. He implored the pilgrims to pray for their families, children, and leaders, underscoring that unity is the foundation of a strong Muslim community.
He also invoked the history of Arafat, believed to be where Prophet Adam and Eve reunited after being cast out of Paradise, to encourage unity among Kano Muslims. Kalarawi urged pilgrims to pray for peace and economic growth in Kano State, calling for divine intervention for struggling companies and job opportunities for unemployed youths.