A total of 2,626 Sierra Leonean Hajj pilgrims joined 1.7 million of their fellow Muslims on the plains and rocky hills of Arafat on Tuesday to perform Wuquf, the most significant pillar of the Hajj pilgrimage.
Despite the sweltering heat, the pilgrims devoted the day to intense prayer and supplication. Some spent the day inside the tents of Arafat, while others joined thousands of pilgrims from across the world on the slopes of Jabal Al-Rahmah (the Mountain of Mercy), where Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is believed to have delivered his Farewell Sermon over 1,400 years ago.
Sierra Leone’s Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, H.E. Mohammed S. Barrie, and members of the Presidential Taskforce on Hajj visited the pilgrims in their tents to address them.
In his welcome address, Ambassador Barrie thanked Almighty Allah for making it possible for such a large contingent of 2,626 Sierra Leonean pilgrims to perform this year’s Hajj. He told the pilgrims: “You are not the wealthiest, you are not the most educated to come for the Hajj, but you are here for the 1447/2026 Hajj through Allah’s calling and favour. You are here because Allah has chosen you to answer that call to be at Arafat. You should be thankful and glorify Allah for making that happen.” Ambassador Barrie expressed gratitude to His Excellency President Dr. Julius Maada Bio and Honourable Vice President Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh for their unwavering support to the Hajj process since 2018, which has ensured successive successful pilgrimages.
He urged the pilgrims to pray for His Excellency President Bio and Hon. Vice President Jalloh for Allah’s guidance and wisdom to lead the nation. “Leadership is not an easy task. It is like captaining a ship sometimes the captain encounters storms and rough seas, but with faith he overcomes them and sails safely to shore,” he added.
Ambassador Barrie concluded by commending Alhaji Murtada Sesay, Chairman of the Presidential Taskforce on Hajj, and his team for their “fantastic work” in making this year’s Hajj successful.
In his statement, Alhaji Murtada Sesay, Chairman of the Presidential Taskforce on Hajj, congratulated the pilgrims for reaching Arafat, noting that the Day of Arafah is the climax of Hajj. He praised Almighty Allah for granting him and his team a smooth Hajj operation and commended His Excellency President Bio and Hon. Vice President Jalloh for their continuous support.
Alhaji Sesay advised the pilgrims to imbibe the lessons of Hajj and be role models as Muslims. “Having performed Hajj, you should be different in your ways and conduct. Let your actions after Hajj reflect the discipline, patience, and piety you have shown here. Be good Muslims and ambassadors of Islam,” he urged.
“On behalf of my team, I apologise for any challenges you may have encountered since embarking on this sacred journey, especially in Mina. Hajj is inherently demanding. You left your comfort zones for this pilgrimage, and some difficulties are expected. I ask for your pardon and assure you that my team and I are working tirelessly to make this Hajj smooth. Every year, we strive to improve,” Alhaji Sesay said.
He also thanked Ambassador Barrie and the Embassy staff for their support to the Taskforce during the Hajj.
Deputy Minister of Social Welfare, Alhaji Mohamed Haji-Kella, while introducing Taskforce members, described himself as technical adviser to the Hajj Taskforce. He said the appointment of Alhaji Murtada Sesay as Chairman in 2018 was “one of the best decisions.”
“Since Alhaji Murtada and his team took over Hajj affairs in 2018, the pilgrimage has been smooth and successful. Gone are the days of ‘Alhaji Abuja’ and ‘Haja Lungi.’ Under Chairman Sesay, your pilgrimage to Makkah with the Sierra Leone Taskforce is guaranteed,” he stated.
Alhaji Haji-Kella recalled the 2024 tragedy in Makkah when some Sierra Leoneans on fake Hajj visas lost their lives. He said this prompted President Bio to instruct the Taskforce to engage Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah to ensure Sierra Leoneans in the diaspora could perform Hajj smoothly under the national contingent.
Speaking to this writer during a live Facebook stream, Ahmed Shaw, a Sierra Leonean-American pilgrim from Columbus, Ohio, commended President Bio for incorporating diaspora pilgrims. “The President’s decision has made it easy for us to perform Hajj smoothly,” he said.
Haja Zainab Kamara from the U.K. also described her Hajj as smooth and peaceful, calling the diaspora inclusion “laudable.”
The pilgrims spent the day combining Dhuhr and Asr prayers in shortened form (2 rakats each) and standing in supplication until sunset. They then proceeded to Muzdalifah, where they combined Maghrib (3 rakats, not shortened) and Isha (shortened to 2 rakats), collected pebbles, and spent the night under the open sky until Fajr.
After Fajr on Wednesday, 10 Dhul-Hijjah (27 May), the pilgrims returned to Mina, reciting Talbiyah and glorifying Allah, before proceeding to Jamarat for the first day of the symbolic stoning of Jamarat Al-Aqabah, casting seven pebbles. They are expected to stone all three Jamarat with 21 pebbles total 7 in each Jamarah on Thursday and Friday before proceeding to Makkah to complete the remaining Hajj rites.
A total of 1,707,301 pilgrims are performing this year’s Hajj in Makkah.
Credit: Alhaji Abubakarr Bah
Information Attaché
Embassy of Sierra Leone, Saudi Arabia
