Malaysian haj pilgrims congregate here for wukuf prayed for Malaysia to continue to be blessed with peace, stability, prosperity and safety.

Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki when leading the prayer also said that it was hoped that Malaysia and its leaders would be protected from all evil and humiliation.

"Protect us from all evil and wrongdoing. Lead us in the way that You (Allah) will be pleased forever," he said in the prayer after delivering the special Arafah sermon at one of the Malaysian pilgrims' camps here on Thursday.

Also present were Tabung Haji chairman Datuk Seri Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim, Tabung Haji group managing director and chief executive officer Datuk Seri Johan Abdullah and head of Malaysian Haj Delegation 1438H Datuk Syed Saleh Syed Abdul Rahman.

The Arafah sermon was also delivered by several religious experts at 13 other pilgrims' camps.

In the sermon, Asyraf Wajdi said the strength of a nation would only reach its peak when the people's solidarity was well maintained in a spirit of brotherhood as pointed by Prophet Muhammad in his Khutbatul Wada' (Farewell Sermon), on the 10th year of the Hijrah on the 9th day of Zulhijjah at Mount Arafah.

Over two million pilgrims from all over the world are currently in Arafah for the wukuf (grand gathering on the plain of Arafah), which is the pinnacle of the haj ritual.

During their stay in Arafah, over 1,000 Malaysian haj pilgrims also participated in the recitation of the Quran in conjunction with the World #QuranHour 2017. - BERNAMA