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Nimra: Mosque for Hajj Sermon in Arafat | ASHARQ AL-AWSAT English Archive 2005 -2017
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Makkah-Pilgrims visited Arafat Mountain on Sunday to accomplish the biggest duty of their pilgrimage in the place where Prophet Mohammed (peace upon him) delivered his farewell sermon and where he received the inspiration to complete his prophecy from Jibreel.

Nimra was built during the era of Abbasside Caliphate in the middle of the second century of Hegira; it is located to the west of Arafat Mish’ar; it is one of the most prominent features of Arafat and gathers thousands of pilgrims during the noon and after noon prayers on Arafat Day every year.

The mosque witnessed many expansions over the history; the biggest expansion was made during the Saudi era and cost around USD100 million. The mosque has a capacity of around 350,000 people, has six minarets, three domes, 10 main entrances that include 64 doors, and a room for exterior coverage prepared to air sermons of prayers on Arafat Day through satellites.

The Plain of Arafat hosts pilgrims for around 12 hours during pilgrimage season, unlike other times of the year. Failure to be present in the plain of Arafat on the required day invalidates the pilgrimage.