Chanting "Labbaik Allahumma Labbaik”, Masked pilgrims entered Maidan-e-Arafat on Thursday to supplicate for the atonement of their sins and hoping for the acceptance of their Haj pilgrimage.

The global coronavirus pandemic has cast a shadow over every aspect of this year's pilgrimage, which last year drew 2.5 million Muslims from across the world to Mount Arafat, where the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) delivered his final sermon nearly 1,400 years ago.

They listened to Hajj sermon delivered from Masjid-e-Nimra by Sheikh Abdullah bin Salman Al Mannieh.

Delivering Hajj sermon from Masjid-e-Nimra at Maidan-e-Arafat, Imam Sahib urged Muslims to observe Taqwa. Observing Taqwa is the injunction that Allah gave all former and later generations.

He said Allah always has complete knowledge and the Allah not be worshipped in any ways.

So its important for Muslims to be away from Biddaa't.

Imam Sahib said every worship and sacrifice should be for Allah only.

Sheikh Abdullah said difficulties and hardships of life is actually test for human beings. For every hardship there is happiness afterward from Allah.

Allah instructed for harmony and cooperation among fellow beings.

He said Allah also forbids from immortality and sins.

Islam's teaching prohibits transgressions from others.

Islam warns against extravagance.

Allah has permitted trade and forbidden usury.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) stressed to follow the path of Allah and Quran and doing so is better path.

He said that all Muslim around the world should follow precautionary measures to stop spread of epidemic according to teachings of the Holy Prophet as he prohibited us to go those places where epidemic exists.

Sheikh Abdullah bin Salman prayed May Allah protect humanity from Pandemic and calamity.

He said Islam teaches us brotherhood to love to each other and ensure justice in the society.

Member of the Council of Senior Scholars and Advisor at the Royal Court Sheikh Abdullah bin Suleiman Al-Manea delivered, before the prayers, Arafh sermon.

Following is Arafah sermon: All praise is due to Allaah, the Continually Pardoning, Continually Forgiving, and the Almighty who overpowers all else. He decrees events of many types so that the righteous may be distinguished from the impious. He bestows much goodness and innumerable blessings upon His servants, though there may be some occasions when difficulties occur based on Allaah's wisdom and in order to bring about major advantages for people. I testify that none has the right to be worshipped except Allaah. He is completely unique, He knows all that is concealed, and He regulates all matters that occur throughout every night and day. I further testify that Muhammad is Allaah's worshipping servant and chosen Messenger. The Lord of all creation described him by telling mankind, ((There has indeed come to you a Messenger from among yourselves. He is grieved by any suffering you may experience. He is concerned about you, and is kind and merciful to the people of eemaan [i.e. those who have sound beliefs and perform righteous deeds])) [9:128]. May Allaah grant commendation to His Messenger, as well as to the Messenger's family, his righteous Companions, and his followers who set the greatest of precedents in extending goodness and spreading the truth. Dear Muslims, I counsel all of you - as well as myself - to observe taqwaa of Allaah [by fulfilling His commands and avoiding His prohibitions]. Observing taqwaa is the instruction that Allaah gave all former and latter generations. Allaah, who is perfect in every way, said, ((We most certainly commanded the people of the scriptures prior to you, as well as you yourselves, to observe taqwaa of Allaah. However, if you refuse to accept the truth from Allaah, you will not harm Him in any way. Rather, you will only be harming yourselves since everything in the heavens and everything in the Earth belongs to Allaah alone. Allaah is self-sufficient, free of all needs, and He is always worthy of all praise)) [4:131]. Observing taqwaa leads to blessings descending to us, and trials being averted from us. Allaah, the Most Exalted, said, ((When a person observes taqwaa, Allaah will facilitate matters for him)) [65:4]. Observing taqwaa entails obeying Allaah and abstaining from disobeying Him.

The most important component of taqwaa is tawheed: sincerely devoting all worship to Allaah alone. Thus, no prayer, supplication, sacrifice, vow, or any other form of worship should be devoted to other than Allaah, the Most Exalted. He said, ((Mankind, you must worship your Lord who created you and created those before you, so that you would become people who observe taqwaa)) [2:21]. He also said, ((You must all worship Allaah alone and not worship anything at all besides Him)) [4:36]. He further said to all people, ((That is Allaah, the Lord of every one of you. None has the right to be worshipped except Him. He is the Creator of all things. Thus, all of you must devote your worship to Him alone. He is the One who has complete guardianship and control of all things)) [6:102]. Allaah had instructed His Messenger, ((Say to the mushrikoon (i.e. those who ascribed partners to Allaah), "Do you, the people who are ignorant about your Lord, order me to worship other than Allaah?" Messenger of Allaah, it was indeed revealed to you, as well as to those before you, that if you devote any form of worship to other than Allaah, your deeds will surely be rendered void and you will certainly be among those who suffer complete loss. Rather, Allaah alone is the One you must worship, and you must ensure that you are among those who are duly grateful to Him.)) [39:64-66]. What preceded is the meaning entailed by the testimony "laa ilaaha illallaah" (none has the right to be worshipped except Allaah), and it is accompanied by another testimony "muhammadun rasoolullaah" (Muhammad is the Messenger of Allaah). Allaah, the Most Exalted, said, ((Muhammad is not the father of any man among you, but he is the Messenger of Allaah and the last of the Prophets. And Allaah always has complete knowledge of all things.)) [33:40]. This entails that his directives be complied with, that the information he conveyed be accepted, and that Allaah not be worshipped in any ways besides the way he prescribed (may Allaah grant him commendation and protection). This is because Allaah completed the religion that Messenger was sent with and, as a result, it is not in need of anything to be invented and then claimed to be part of it. Here, in these very precincts of 'Arafah, the following statement of Allaah was sent down to His Messenger, ((Today, I have perfected your religion for you, I have completed My favour to you , and I am pleased with Islaam as a religion for you)) [5:3]. In addition, the Prophet (may Allaah grant him commendation and protection) explained that Islaam is established upon five foundations: testifying that none has the right to be worhsipped except Allaah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allaah, establishing obligatory prayers, giving obligatory charity, fasting Ramadaan, and performing Hajj at Allaah's Sacred House if able to do so.

The Prophet (may Allaah grant him commendation and protection) also explained the pillars of eemaan as comprising correct beliefs about Allaah, His angels, His scriptures, His Messengers, and the Last Day, as well as correct beliefs about Allaah's preordainment whether its results are perceived to be good or bad. Allaah, the Most Exalted, said to mankind, ((Furthermore, in completion of Our blessings to you, We have sent among you a Messenger of your own, reciting to you Our evidences, purifying you, teaching you the Qur'aan and Sunnah, and teaching you what you had no prior knowledge of. Therefore, make mention of Me. If you do so, I will make mention of you. Be grateful to Me and do not be ungrateful for My favours. People of eemaan, seek help by way of patient perseverance and prayers. Allaah is certainly with those who patiently persevere)) [2:151-153]. Thus, after Allaah - the Most Exalted - mentioned the blessing of sending His Messenger, Allaah instructed us to mention Him, be grateful to Him, and persevere for Him. Another component of taqwaa is persevering through difficulties one faces which may cause him pain. Allaah, the Most Exalted, said, ((They patiently persevere through extreme poverty and illness, as well as at times of battle. The people who have those qualities are the ones who have been true to Allaah, and they are the ones who observe taqwaa)) [2:177]. My dear audience, life in this world does not remain free of difficulty, and this is why Allaah, the Most Exalted, instructed us to persevere. He said, ((And We shall certainly test you with instances of fear and hunger, as well as loss of wealth, lives, and fruits. However, Messenger of Allaah, you are to convey glad tidings to those who patiently persevere. They are the people who, when afflicted with adversity, say, "We all most certainly belong to Allaah alone, and to Him alone we will all most certainly return." They are the ones whom their Lord will commend and grant mercy, and they are the ones who are soundly guided)) [2:155-157]. Allaah, the Most Exalted, also said, ((As for those who persevere, We shall most certainly reward them according to the best deeds they had performed)) [16:96]. How could a servant of Allaah not persevere if he has sound beliefs about Allaah's preordainment and decree? He unwaveringly believes that anything which befell him would not have missed him; and that even if everyone throughout the entire Earth gathered together to avert what Allaah decreed to happen to him, they would remain unable. Allaah, who is perfect in every way said, ((No adversity takes place upon the Earth or within your own selves without it having already been recorded in the Preserved Tablet even before We brought this creation into existence. All of that is certainly easy for Allaah)) [57:22]. Adversities lead a servant of Allaah to remember the multitude of goodness and blessings that Allaah already granted him. Allaah, the Most Exalted, said, ((And if you attempted to enumerate the blessings of Allaah, you would remain unable to do so. Allaah is truly Most Forgiving, Bestower of mercy)) [16:18]. Allaah also said, ((Have you not seen that Allaah placed everything in the heavens and everything in the Earth at your service, and that He bestowed immense apparent and inconspicuous blessings upon you?)) [31:20]. Adversities lead a servant of Allaah to recognize his Lord's limitless ability, and to then return to his Lord with humility, penitence, and hope. Allaah said, ((We tested them with both prosperity and adversity in order for them to repent and return to the truth)) [7:168]. Allaah further said, ((And We will surely make them taste a near torment prior to the ultimate torment, in order for them to repent and return to the truth)) [32:21]. In addition, Allaah said, ((Messenger of Allaah, We certainly sent Messengers to many peoples prior to you, calling their respective people to Allaah. However, they rejected the Messengers. Thus, We tested those people with loss of wealth and loss of health so that they would humbly submit to their Lord)) [6:42]. Allaah further said, ((Mankind, you are the ones in dire need of Allaah, whereas Allaah has no needs and He is always the Most Praiseworthy.)) [35:15].

Adversities faced remind human beings about the hereafter and prompt them to prepare for the abode of Jannah which contains no adversities or sorrows. Allaah, the Most Exalted, said ((No individual knows the delight that has been concealed for them as a reward for the deeds they had performed)) [32:17]. Allaah also said about the residents of Jannah, ((There, they will have all that their souls desire, and all that their eyes could find delight in. In addition, they will be told, "You will abide here endlessly.")) [43:71]. Adversities of this world serve as a test for people, and allow those who persevere to be distinguished from those who are impatient. Allaah, the Most Exalted, said, ((And We will test all of you through Our commands, prohibitions, and the various circumstances We decree - both good and bad. Then, your final return shall be to Us alone)) [21:35]. However, no matter how difficult circumstances may become in this world, those difficulties do not last forever. Allaah's mercy is always more expansive, and the relief He grants is always near. He promised to provide relief and ease. He said, ((Along with every hardship that is faced, there will certainly come relief. Along with every hardship that is faced, there will certainly come relief)) [94:5-6]. Allaah further said, ((Allaah does not make any person responsible for what is beyond his ability. Allaah will cause a person's time of difficulty to be followed by one of ease and prosperity)) [65:7]. Allaah also said, ((Allaah wants ease for you in what He prescribes, and He does not want to put you through hardship.)) [2:185]. Adversities faced in this life open various gates to obeying Allaah, the Most Exalted, by hoping to attain His reward for taking measures to prevent harms before they may occur, as well as for striving to remove them after they have set in. The blessed teachings of Islaam have prescribed a number of directives that aim to achieve those outcomes. For instance, there are directives Allaah prescribed for dealing with adversities of an economic and financial nature, so as to bring about a dignified life for people at large. Islaam's teachings encourage earnings, promote productivity, urge doing work, and support commerce. According to Islaam's teachings, the default ruling concerning trade is permissibility; and they only prohibit things such as usury, deception, and dishonesty in transactions. Islaam's teachings prescribe that public and private property be protected, that agreements be honoured, and that stipulated terms be fulfilled. Islaam's teachings give order to commercial cooperation and exchange; they prescribe settling debts, as well as documenting liabilities and obligations; they warn against extravagance; they obligate giving charity to the needy; and they encourage charity during times of adversity and distress. Allaah, the Most Exalted, said, ((People of eemaan, you must fulfil all your obligations which bind you to others)) [5:1]. Allaah further said, ((They are neither extravagant nor miserly when they spend. Rather, they are moderate between those two extremes)) [25:67]. Allaah also said, ((Allaah has permitted trade and forbidden usury)) [2:275]. Allaah, the Most Exalted, further said, ((People of eemaan, you must not take the property of anyone else when you have no right to do so. However, you may take or use the property of others when there is trade between you by mutual consent)) [4:29]. Allaah further said about buying and selling, ((It is recommended to have witnesses so as to preclude the possibility of any disputes happening)) [2:282]. Allaah also said, ((You must be fair when buying and selling by giving others the full measure and weight to which they are entitled)) [6:152]. In addition, Allaah said about Jannah, ((It has been prepared for the people of taqwaa. Among their qualities is that they give during both prosperity and hardship)) [3:133-134].

There are also directives prescribed for protecting communities, as well as resolving social and psychological issues. Islaam's teachings prescribe treating parents well, upholding ties of kinship, and raising children properly; they foster harmony, togetherness, and social solidarity; they give each spouse rights that must be fulfilled by the other; and they protect the rights of any human being whether man, woman, child, elderly, young, able-bodied, or with special needs. Islaam's teachings promote giving consideration to the feelings of others, supporting others during their times of hardship, observing sound conduct, and using wholesome words when speaking. They encourage the promotion of love, harmony, and cooperation among people. Allaah, the Most Exalted, said, ((Your Lord has commanded all of you to worship none besides Him, and He has commanded each of you treat both of your parents well. If, while with you, one or both of your parents reach old age, you must not let either of them hear the slightest word which expresses your irritation, and you must not treat either of them harshly. Rather, be gentle and speak to both of them kindly and honourably. Remain humble out of your compassion towards both of them and say, “My Lord, grant Your mercy to both of my parents since they mercifully and patiently bore raising me while I was still young and weak.")) [17:23-24]. Allaah also said, ((Tell My servants to say the words that are best)) [17:53]. Allaah further said, ((Ensure that your life with your wives is one of kindness, love, and fulfilment of their rights. If you dislike something about them for any mundane reason, you must bear that patiently because it may well be that you dislike something when, in fact, Allaah brings about much goodness by it)) [4:19]. Allaah also said, ((Indeed, Allaah commands all of you to uphold justice, worship Him in the best way, deal with His servants in the best manner, and give relatives what is due to them. He also forbids you from immorality, sins, and transgression. He admonishes you and reminds you of the consequences so that you would be mindful of His directives)) [16:90]. In addition, Allaah said, ((Fulfil the rights of relatives by treating them well and upholding ties of kinship, give to the needy and to stranded travellers, and do not spend your wealth extravagantly or use it for anything which is tantamount to disobeying Allaah)) [17:26]. Usaamah ibn Shareek [may Allaah be pleased with him] stated, "I witnessed Allaah's Messenger (may Allaah grant him commendation and protection) giving a sermon during the Farewell Hajj and he was saying, 'Give to your mother, your father, your sister, your brother, and then those who are next in nearness to you'."

Other issues for which Islaam prescribes various directives include those pertaining to governance and security. Islaam's teachings prescribe measures which ensure the safety and stability of people and their lands, and which enable people to perform all of their tasks and duties. Islaam's teachings protect people's rights, preserve their lives, and safeguard their properties. They prohibit transgression against others or extending harm to them. They also prohibit instigating problems, supporting terrorism, and spreading corruption anywhere in the world. They encourage staying clear of any paths leading to strife, and they emphasize not falling prey to opponents who lurk and look for a chance to attack. They obligate adherence to official regulations, and obedience to leaders in authority in all things that do not amount to disobeying Allaah. They enjoin justice, bringing about the greatest overall good, averting all that is disadvantageous, achieving accord between people, and striving for rectification. Allaah, the Most Exalted, said, ((You must all adhere to the Qur'aan and Sunnah, and you must not be divided among yourselves)) [3:103]. Allaah also said, ((Those who have eemaan and do not mix their eemaan with the injustice of worshipping others besides Allaah are the ones for whom there will be security, and they are the ones who are soundly guided.)) [6:82]. Allaah also said, ((Indeed, Allaah commands you to fulfil all trusts, giving them to those who rightfully deserve them, and to be fair whenever you judge between people. The guidance and directives Allaah gives you are certainly most admirable. Indeed, Allaah hears all and sees all. People of eemaan, obey Allaah, obey the Messenger, and those in authority among you. If you ever dispute about something, refer it back to Allaah and the Messenger if you truly have eemaan in Allaah and the Last Day. Doing so is better than disputing or acting based on mere opinion, and it will produce the best outcome)) [4:58-59]. Allaah further said, ((Do not be unjust towards others concerning their belongings, and do not cause corruption upon the Earth after it has been set in order. Abiding by these directives would be best for you, if you accept the truth from Allaah. You must not sit along every path, threatening people, hindering the people who believe in Allaah from following His path, and seeking to make Allaah's path crooked)) [7:85-86]. Allaah further said, ((If fighting ever takes place between two groups among the people of eemaan, then you are to reconcile between those two groups)) [49:9]. Allaah also said, ((The people of eemaan are to be nothing besides brothers to each other.)) [49:10]. In addition, the Prophet (may Allaah grant him commendation and protection) said in his sermon during the Farewell Hajj, "Your blood, properties, and honour are most certainly inviolable to one another, just as the inviolability of this day of yours, in this month of yours, in this land of yours. After I am gone, you must not go back to rejecting Islaam once again, striking the necks of each other." He subsequently instructed them to obey the leaders in authority when he said, "Worship your Lord, pray your five daily prayers, fast your month of Ramadaan, and obey the leaders when they give you instructions. If you do those things, you will be admitted to Jannah which your Lord has prepared."

In addition to the preceding, there are directives of Islaam pertaining to medicine. Islaam's teachings seek to ensure people's health and physical wellbeing, and that includes its directives to maintain the cleanliness of oneself and to keep the environment clean. Islaam's directives permit wholesome foods, and prohibit harmful ones. In addition, Islaam's teachings prescribe measures to protect communities against the spread of epidemics. Allaah, the Most Exalted, said ((People of eemaan, when you want to perform prayers but you are in a state of lesser impurity, you must first perform wudoo' by washing your faces, washing your forearms up to and including the elbows, passing your wet hands over your heads, and washing your feet up to and including the ankles. If you are in a state of major impurity, you must first perform ghusl by washing your bodies in their entirety)) [5:6]. Allaah further said, ((And purify your garments)) [74:4]. Allaah also told us that His Prophet Ibraaheem had said, ((And when I am ill, it is Allaah who cures me)) [26:80]. Additionally, Allaah described His Prophet Muhammad (may Allaah grant him commendation and protection) by saying, ((He will permit wholesome things for them and prohibit them from all that is detestable)) [7:157]. Furthermore, the Prophet (may Allaah grant him commendation and protection) said, "Servants of Allaah, seek cure for ailments, since there is no ailment which does not have a cure." The Prophet (may Allaah grant him commendation and protection) also said, "Flee from a person with leprosy as you would flee from a lion", as well as "Do not put one who is ill with one who is healthy." The Prophet (may Allaah grant him commendation and protection) further said, "If you hear of an epidemic in a place, do not enter it; and if an epidemic spreads in a place where you are, do not leave it." Based on this hadeeth which prohibits travelling from one location to another during times when there are highly contagious diseases spreading, a decision was made by the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to limit the number of people performing Hajj this year, and to only have it consist of individuals from a wide array of nationalities who are already within the nation's borders. This allows for Hajj to still be performed while taking all necessary measures for protecting people's health and maintaining social distancing. Precautions have been put in place to protect lives against the damage that the pandemic can cause, and also to actualize Islaam's teachings pertaining to safeguarding human life by Allaah's permission. Deep gratitude is also extended to all Muslims for their positive response to comply with our nation's precautionary regulations that were implemented in Makkah and al-Madeenah to protect people from the potential effects of the current pandemic. We pray that Allaah rewards the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salmaan ibn 'Abdil-'Azeez, as well as his Crown Prince, Muhammad ibn Salmaan, and all individuals of the nation's leadership and government for the efforts they expend to serve and protect the Two Holy Mosques. O Allaah, bless their efforts, reward them immensely, and protect them against all harms and against all individuals who want ill for them.

In addition, just as a person of eemaan should seek to draw nearer to Allaah by supplicating for the aforementioned people, he should also seek nearness to Allaah by supplicating for himself, his relatives, his nation, and for the people of Islaam in general. When a person supplicates Allaah for his brother, without his brother knowing, Allaah entrusts to the supplicant and angel who says, "May Allaah respond to your prayer for your brother and also grant you the same." This is something to be kept in mind especially in these sacred sites, and while here at 'Arafah in this time of tremendous virtue. Allaah's Messenger (may Allaah grant him commendation and protection) said, "There is no day on which Allaah frees more of His worshipping servants from the hellfire than the day of ‘Arafah. He draws near and then boasts to the angels about them." This is why it is encouraged for those performing Hajj to not fast on the Day of 'Arafah, so they can have the energy to mention Allaah and supplicate Him much, as was done by the Prophet himself (may Allaah grant him commendation and protection). He delivered a sermon while in 'Arafah and then gave instruction to Bilaal who then called the athaan once and then the iqaamah, and the Prophet (may Allaah grant him commendation and protection) prayed Thuhr shortened to two units. Another iqaamah was then called and the Prophet (may Allaah grant him commendation and protection) prayed 'Asr also shortened to two units. He then stayed at 'Arafah mentioning Allaah and supplicating Him until the sun's disc had completely descended beneath the horizon. He then departed to Muzdalifah where he prayed Maghrib as three units and 'Ishaa' as two units. They were combined and shortened in that manner. He spent the night in Muzdalifah, prayed Fajr there at dawn, remained there supplicating Allaah until the sky had become bright, and then departed to Minaa. In Minaa, he stoned Jamratul-'Aqabah with seven pebbles, offered his sacrifice, shaved his head, and then departed to the Ka'bah where he performed Tawaaf al-Ifaadah. He stayed in Minaa throughout the Days of Tashreeq [i.e. 13-15 of Thul-Hijjah]. Each day, he continued to mention Allaah, and stoned all three of the Jamaraat. When he concluded the rites of Hajj and intended to leave Makkah, he performed Tawaaf at the Ka'bah.

In Hajj this year, we reiterate that it is a must for the Hujjaaj, as well as everyone assisting them, to adhere to the precautionary regulations that have been implemented. This is to be done for their own safety. Dear people of eemaan, the greatest means to attaining Allaah's blessings and averting hardships is du'aa' (supplicating Allaah). Allaah Himself promised to respond to those who supplicate Him. He said, ((Call upon Me. If you do so, I will respond to you)) [40:60]. Allaah also told His Messenger, ((When My servants ask you about Me, inform them that I am most certainly near. I respond to the prayer of the supplicant when he calls upon Me)) [2:186]. Therefore, dear Muslims, call upon Allaah with humility, sincerity, and certainty that He will respond to you. In addition, when others supplicate, say aameen (O Allaah, I implore You to respond). O Allaah, remove the pandemic we are facing, cure the ill, and enable researchers and those working in the medical field to uncover treatments for diseases. O Allaah, bestow an abundance of Your favours upon Your servants, and enrich them out of Your bounty. O Allaah, sow the seeds of love and affinity between Your servants; and enable them to cooperate in fulfilling Your commands and avoiding Your prohibitions, not in perpetrating sins or transgression. O Allaah, spread in our midst safety and stability, out of Your favour and kindness. Our Lord is perfect in every way and exalted above all falsity ascribed to Him, and He grants protection to all His Messengers. All praise is due to Allaah, the Lord of all creation, and may He grant commendation and protection to His trustworthy final Messenger.

                                                                          ===========

The Hujj pilgrims are now leaving for Muzdalifah where they will offer Maghrib and Isha prayers together and spend the night under open sky.  

They will also collect pebbles from Muzdalifah to throw at Satan the next morning.   

After offering Fajr Prayer at Muzdalfa, they will leave for Mina for remaining Hajj rituals.

Rather than standing and praying shoulder-to-shoulder in a sea of people, Hajj pilgrims this year are observing social distancing, standing apart and moving in small groups of 20 to avoid the potential transmission of coronavirus. 

Only one thousand people, already residing in Saudi Arabia, were selected to take part in the Hajj this year.