Several dozens of Tajik pilgrims have reportedly been left under the open sky in Mina Valley.
The Committee on Religious Affairs (CRA) under the Government of Tajikistan says several dozens of pilgrims from the Tajik cities of Istaravshan and Panjakent have been left under the open sky in Mina Valley after return from the Mount Arafat and their belongings have been thrown out of tents.
“Saudi company responsible for accommodation of pilgrims has mixed up tents of Tajik and Uzbek pilgrims and placed Tajik pilgrims in tents intended for Uzbek pilgrims. The accommodation problem has been solved quickly,” Afshin Muqim, a spokesman for CRA, told Asia-Plus in an interview.
Mina (also known as the Tent City) is a neighborhood of the Holy city of Mecca. It is situated 5 kilometers to the east of Mecca, and stands on the road from Mecca's city center to the Hill of Arafat. Mina is best known for the role it plays during the annual Hajj pilgrimage. More than 100,000 air-conditioned tents that can house more than 3 million people provide temporary accommodation to visiting pilgrims
Mount Arafat or Mount Arafah is a granite hill east of Mecca in the plain of Arafat. Arafat is a plain about 20 kilometers southeast of Mecca. Mount Arafat reaches about 70 meters in height and is also known as the Mount of Mercy (Jabal ar-Rahmah). According to Islamic tradition, the hill is the place where the Islamic prophet Muhammad stood and delivered the Farewell Sermon to the Muslims who had accompanied him for the Hajj towards the end of his life. On the 9th of the month of Dhu al-Hijjah pilgrims go to Arafat from Mina, for the most important part of the Hajj. The Khutbah of Hajj is narrated and Zuhr prayer and Asr prayer are prayed together. The pilgrims spend the whole day on the mountain to supplicate to Allah to forgive their sins and to pray for personal strength in the future.
Recall, 6,000 Muslims from Tajikistan have performed the Hajj this year. This year the Hajj has fallen between August 30, 2017 and September 4, 2017.
