On June 5, 2025, Muslim pilgrims gathered under the blazing sun at the sacred plain of Arafat, marking the spiritual peak of the Hajj. For many, especially the Cameroonian faithful, this moment was the emotional centerpiece of their journey to the heart of Islam.
On the eve of Eid al-Adha (Tabaski), a sea of white-robed pilgrims slowly spread across the plains of Arafat, near Mecca. Among them, thousands of Cameroonian Muslims joined their brothers and sisters in faith in what is considered the most important day of the Hajj: the Day of Arafat.
As early as dawn, masses of believers made their way to Mount Arafat—Jabal al-Rahma, the Mountain of Mercy. According to Islamic tradition, this is where the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) delivered his Farewell Sermon, emphasizing unity, justice, and piety.
“It’s overwhelming. Being here, where the Prophet stood, feels like stepping into sacred history,” said Ahmadou Bello, a pilgrim from Garoua, Cameroon.
A Sacred Pause for Reflection and Mercy
The atmosphere on the plain was one of deep reverence. While some pilgrims wept silently, others lifted their hands skyward, immersed in personal prayers. Despite the crowd, a powerful silence lingered, broken only by soft murmurs of invocations.
“Arafat is the moment when you stand before God with nothing but your soul,” shared Fatima Ndiaye, a Cameroonian pilgrim. “You beg for forgiveness, you remember your purpose. It changes you.”
This collective moment of prayer and introspection marks the spiritual climax of the Hajj. Without standing at Arafat, a pilgrim’s Hajj is considered invalid.
Global Connection Through Fasting and Prayer
Back home, millions of Muslims who could not attend the pilgrimage joined spiritually by observing the Sunnah fast of Arafat. Across Cameroon and the wider Muslim world, the day became one of solidarity, reflection, and devotion.
“Even from home, we feel united with the pilgrims through prayer and fasting,” said Imam Saliou of Yaoundé. “Arafat reminds us that Islam is about community, wherever you are.”
As night fell over Arafat, the vast plain stirred again. Pilgrims began moving toward Muzdalifah, the next stage of their sacred journey. There, they would sleep under the stars, gathering pebbles for the symbolic stoning of the devil—another key ritual of the pilgrimage.
Arafat: The Beating Heart of Hajj 2025
For many, the Day of Arafat is more than just a ritual; it is a moment of divine encounter. Social boundaries and national identities dissolve, replaced by a sense of global unity in faith.
“Here, everyone is the same before God—rich, poor, black, white. We’re just believers seeking His mercy,” said Hawa Ibrahim, a teacher from Douala.
Though the Hajj 2025 continues with many rites ahead, for most pilgrims, the spiritual heart of their journey beat strongest at Arafat.
