President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, has charged the 91,000 Nigerian pilgrims currently performing this years hajj to pray quick recovery of the nation’s economy and good health of President Muhammadu Buhari.
He said they should explore the significance of Arafat Day which comes up today in their prayers.
Saraki further called on the pilgrims to pray for the security, peace, unity and development of the country as according to him, “a prayer for your country and her leaders is as important as asking Allah to grant you your personal wishes.”
Saraki, who is presently in Saudi Arabia for the hajj exercise, in a statement by his Special Adviser (Media and Publicity), Yusuph Olaniyonu, advised Nigerian pilgrims that the gathering of worshippers from all over the world on the plains of the holy Mount Arafat offerred a rare opportunity for them to intensify prayers to Almighty Allah to resolve the economic and security challenges facing the country.
The 9th day of Dhul-Hijjah is the day pilgrims gather at the plain of Mount Arafat, at the outskirt of Mecca, praying and supplicating to the Almighty Allah.
Arafat Day was also the day Islam was perfected and approved for mankind by the Almighty Allah.
The gathering is expected to consist nearly two million faithful from across the world.
Saraki said, “Today our country is passing through a difficult phase of nation building occasioned by economic recession, rising insecurity and threat to our corporate existence as a nation by actions of some citizens.
“The health of our leader, President Muhammadu Buhari, is also of national concern to all, and every opportunity must be utilised to pray for his continuous recuperation for him to continue to restore the lost glory of Nigeria.
“It is therefore not only advisable but necessary for our pilgrims to seize this rare opportunity the Arafat Day offers to offer prayers for our nation to overcome these challenges and for all development plans and policies initiated by government to start yielding fruits but that we as citizens should rededicate ourselves to the service of our country.”
