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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
Baraa Anwer and Mariam Fam

Muslim pilgrims converge on Arafat for prayers and worship as Hajj reaches its peak

Photos of the annual Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca - (Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

Muslim pilgrims from around the world congregated on Mount Arafat in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, the second official day of the annual Islamic pilgrimage, considered the pinnacle of Hajj.

Despite the sweltering heat, the pilgrims gathered on the rocky hill and the surrounding plains for intense prayers that often mark a spiritual peak. Typically, they fervently murmur prayers and pour their hearts out in supplications, asking God for forgiveness, mercy, blessings and good health. It is common for many pilgrims on that day to raise their hands in worship, with tears streaming down their faces, on the slopes of the rocky hill and in the surrounding area.

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