Mufti-e-Azam Shaikh Abdul Aziz bin Abdullah has said that Ummah is facing serious challenges. During his sermon (Khutba) from Masjid-e-Nimra at Arafat to hujjaj, the Mufti-e-Azam emphasised on forging unity in the ranks of the Ummah, a private TV news channel reported.

He said the common enemy of the Muslims is conspiring and sowing disunity among the Ummah to weaken Muslims. The Imam said Muslims the world over were wrongly being labelled as terrorists and are being subjugated and terrorised and their rights usurped.

He advised the Muslim governments to treat their people sincerely and with justice. He said the wealth of the Muslim countries is the trust of the Muslims of other countries in distress. He asked the preachers to execute their work with seriousness, maturity and engage the youth positively.

He asked the Muslim governments for tailoring the economic system in accordance with the teachings of Islam and to abolish interest. More than two million Muslims from across the globe gathered Tuesday around Mount Arafat near Makkah for the zenith of their annual pilgrimage. At Arafat, in western Saudi Arabia, a massive crowd of the faithful was to spend the day praying and asking for God`s forgiveness, in a symbolic wait, or "wuquf", for the final judgment.

Among this year`s pilgrims is Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, invited by Saudi King Abdullah to become the first president of the Islamic republic to take part. Ahmadinejad was due to have joined Iranian pilgrims at Arafat but an announcement at the gathering said, "Due to the heavy traffic, the president was not able to make it."

Muslims wearing Ehram repeated: "I am here in response to your call, Lord, I am here." Meanwhile Eidul Azha will be celebrated in Saudi Arabia today (Wednesday). The pilgrims, after offering Fajr prayers at Muzdalifah, will return to Mina valley. On reaching Mina, they would perform stoning Jamaratul Aqba and offer animal sacrifice. After that the pilgrims will leave for Makkah al-Mukarrama, where they will perform Tawaf-e-Ziarat in Masjidul Haraam and, thereafter, shaving their heads would doff the Ehram.

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