The Imam-e-Kaaba has urged Muslims around the world to unite and uphold principles of Islam and offered special prayers for Palestinians of Gaza who are facing relentless deadly attacks by Israeli forces, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
Imam of Masjid al-Haram and a member of the Saudi Council of Senior Scholars Sheikh Dr Saleh bin Abdullah bin Humaid in his Hajj 2025 sermon on Thursday urged Muslims to adopt “Taqwa” and keep fearing Allah.
Delivering the Hajj sermon from the pulpit of Masjid al-Namirah near Mount Arafat in Arafat Plain, the Imam called on Muslims to keep praying and paying Zakat to the needy people.
The Imam broke down into tears while offering prayers for the Palestinians, saying, “O the Almighty Allah, have mercy on Muslims who are facing oppression anywhere.”
The Imam urged Muslims to adopt piety, uphold unity, and distance themselves from the whispers of Satan.
The Imam called upon believers to fear Allah and live with taqwa (God-consciousness), reminding them that Shaytan (Satan) remains the eternal enemy of the faithful.
“Satan seeks to mislead Muslims. It is imperative that we resist his deception and stand firm in our faith,” he said.
Highlighting the beauty of Islam, the Imam stressed that Allah has chosen Islam as a religion for the benefit of all humanity, and it is upon Muslims to uphold harmony, brotherhood, and unity among themselves. “Islam calls for compassion, not division,” he emphasised.
In a poignant moment, the Imam said that forgiving one’s enemies is a path to getting closer to Allah. “When a believer forgives his enemy, Allah makes him His friend,” he declared, echoing the Islamic values of mercy and reconciliation.
He said, “O people! Modesty is a part of faith, and fulfilling promises is also a part of faith. Allah has forbidden all His creations from engaging in 'Haram' (prohibited) acts, and those nations that disobeyed the commands of the prophets were ultimately disgraced by Allah.”
The Imam said, “O believers, take care of the rights of your neighbours. Show kindness to orphans, the needy, and widows. Treat your parents with respect and goodness."
He said, “Worship as commanded by the Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him), follow the Shariah, keep the religion before you, worship Allah, and do not associate any partners with Him.”
The Imam said, "Remain steadfast in your faith in Allah and His religion, and complete Hajj and Umrah solely for the sake of Allah. Fasting teaches patience and endurance. Observe the fasts of Ramadan and perform Hajj.”
He said, “Whatever good deeds you do, Allah is fully aware of them. Believe in the Day of Judgement and the Hereafter, when decisions will be made regarding Paradise and Hell. The pleasure of Allah is greater than even Paradise.”
He said, “Every kind of hardship can only be removed by Allah. Good and evil can never be equal.”
Imam Sheikh Dr Saleh bin Abdullah bin Humaid said, “O believers! Remain connected with your Lord, feed the needy, establish prayer, and give zakat.”
Millions of pilgrims have gathered in Arafat to perform one of the main rituals of Hajj where the Imam delivered the annual Hajj sermon.
Imam-e-Kabba said Allah commands believers to cooperate in righteousness and to adopt piety. The sermon called upon Muslims to treat their parents with kindness and always speak the truth.
Worshippers were urged to show compassion toward orphans, the needy, widows, and their neighbours. It was reminded that Allah does not like those who are arrogant or boastful. “Believers have also been instructed to remain faithful to their promises and commitments, with a warning that the devil seeks to create divisions among them.”
“Ibless is your enemy, avoid following him and keep praying to Allah,” Sheikh Saleh said in his Hajj sermon.
Pilgrims prayed atop Mount Arafat on Thursday during the high point of the annual Hajj pilgrimage, as Saudi officials called on participants to refrain from being outside during the hottest hours of the day.
Thousands of pilgrims gathered before dawn around the hill and the surrounding plain where the Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) had given his last sermon.
While some arrived early to take advantage of the relatively cool morning, many pilgrims will remain for hours for prayers and Holy Quran recitals until the evening.
Unique snap of house of Allah is full of hujjaaj for hajj Blessed are those Pilgrims in this pictures and may Allah accept every single one of their duas. Ameen. #DayOfArafah #riyadh #Hajj1446 #Hajj2025 pic.twitter.com/urOHRlUUxA
— Kiran Hanif (@Kiran_Hanif_) June 5, 2025
After sunset, they will head to Muzdalifah, halfway between Arafat and the sprawling tent city of Mina, where they will gather pebbles so they can perform the symbolic "stoning of the devil".
"This is something that I used to see every year on the TV screen during Hajj and I always thought: 'I wish I could be here'," said 33-year-old Ali from Pakistan, one of 1.5 million pilgrims who had arrived in Saudi Arabia for the pilgrimage.
"I've been trying to get here... for the past three years," he added as he gazed at the mount. "I feel very blessed."
Hundreds of pilgrims dressed in white dotted the mount itself, with many more at its foot praying or taking pictures.
Earlier this week, Saudi authorities called on pilgrims to stay inside their tents between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm on Thursday, when the desert sun is at its harshest.
Temperatures this year have already exceeded 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) as one of the world's largest annual religious gatherings, bringing together devotees from around the globe, kicked off earlier this week
Officials have beefed up heat mitigation efforts, aiming to avoid a repeat of last year's Hajj, which saw 1,301 pilgrims die as temperatures reached 51.8C.
"I came here early to (avoid) the sun and later I will pray inside my tent," said 54-year-old Adel Ismail, from Syria.
To make this year's pilgrimage safer, authorities have expanded infrastructure, deployed thousands of extra personnel and relied on an arsenal of high-tech tools to help better manage crowds.
Authorities have mobilised more than 40 government agencies and 250,000 officials, doubling their efforts against heat-related illness following the lethal heatwave of 2024.
Shaded areas have been expanded by 50,000 square metres (12 acres), thousands more medics will be on standby, and more than 400 cooling units will be deployed, the Hajj minister has told AFP.
Authorities said a majority of the deaths in 2024 were among unregistered pilgrims who lacked access to amenities like air-conditioned tents and buses.
This year, they have also cracked down on unregistered pilgrims looking to sneak into Makkah, relying on frequent raids, drone surveillance and a barrage of text alerts.
Hajj permits are allocated to countries on a quota basis and distributed to individuals by a lottery. But even for those who can obtain them, the steep costs prompt many to attempt the Hajj without a permit, even though they risk arrest and deportation if caught.
Large crowds at the Hajj have proved lethal in the past, most notably in 2015 when a stampede during the "stoning the devil" ritual in Mina killed up to 2,300 people in the deadliest Hajj disaster.
Saudi Arabia earns billions of dollars a year from the Hajj, and the lesser pilgrimage known as Umrah, undertaken at other times of the year.