Over 31,600 Malaysian Hajj Pilgrims Commence Journey to Arafah Mecca, Saudi Arabia – More than 31,600 Malaysian pilgrims have begun their journey to the sacred site of Arafah, a crucial stage in the annual Hajj pilgrimage. The pilgrims, who have been residing in Mecca for several days, departed in batches on Friday morning. They will spend the night in Arafah, where they will engage in fervent prayers and spiritual reflections. The move to Arafah signifies the commencement of the main rituals of the Hajj, which include spending the day on the plains of Arafah, offering prayers, and seeking forgiveness from Allah. The Malaysian pilgrims will be joined by millions of other Muslims from around the world who are performing the Hajj this year. The Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam and is a mandatory religious duty for all able-bodied Muslims who can afford it. The Malaysian government has made extensive arrangements to ensure the well-being of its pilgrims during their stay in Saudi Arabia. A team of medical personnel, religious guides, and security officers has been deployed to assist the pilgrims. The journey to Arafah is a significant moment in the Hajj experience, and it is expected to be a spiritually uplifting and transformative time for the Malaysian pilgrims as they seek closeness to Allah and strive for His forgiveness.Biden’s Waning Support Among Generation Z Voters
Biden’s Waning Support Among Generation Z Voters In 2020, the social media collective “TikTok for Biden” played a pivotal role in Joe Biden’s presidential election victory. However, in 2024, the collective has rebranded as “Gen-Z for Change” and has yet to endorse Biden. The collective’s founder, Aidan Kohn-Murphy, has expressed dissatisfaction with Biden’s policies, including his stance on the Gaza conflict and his proposed TikTok ban. This sentiment is echoed by other young left-wing content creators on TikTok, who have been posting anti-Biden content in increasing numbers. According to social media analytics firm CredoIQ, about 25% of left-wing content creators on TikTok posted anti-Biden content between January-April 2024. This content is shared primarily by young, non-white liberals. The perceived attack on free speech, particularly the proposed TikTok ban, has further alienated Gen Z voters and led to a decline in their support for Biden. Biden’s Evolving Relationship with Influencers In 2021, the Biden administration welcomed influencers as “new media” and enlisted their support in public outreach campaigns. However, the relationship has since changed. Influencers have reported that the Biden campaign is now selective in its invitations, shunning those who have criticized Biden. This has led to accusations of favoritism and a lack of transparency within the administration. Annie Wu Henry, an influencer and digital strategist, criticized the Biden administration for only allowing influencers who fully support the president into press conferences. Gen Z Voters’ Disapproval of Biden’s Policies A Morning Consult survey reveals that as many as two-thirds of Gen Z voters are less likely to vote for Biden after the proposed TikTok ban. The survey also found that 46% of Gen Z voters are turned off by Biden’s handling of the Gaza conflict, while 38% are dissatisfied with his environmental policies. Biden’s Lagging Polls Overall, Biden is trailing Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican candidate, in almost all surveys ahead of the presidential election, albeit by narrow margins.
31,600+ Malaysian Hajj pilgrims begin moving to Arafah MAKKAH, June 27 (Bernama) — More than 31,600 Malaysian Hajj pilgrims have started to move from Makkah to Arafah on Tuesday in preparation for the wuquf that will be held on Wednesday. Head of the Malaysian Hajj Delegation, Datuk Seri Syed Saleh Syed Abdul Rahman said the first group of pilgrims left for Arafah at 8 am local time (2 pm Malaysian time). “The process of transporting the pilgrims is expected to finish by around 11 pm tonight (5 am Wednesday Malaysian time),” he told Bernama when met at the Makkah Royal Clock Tower Hotel. He said yesterday, the pilgrims performed the tawaf al-ifadhah (the circumambulation of the Kaabah) and saie (the walking between Safa and Marwa). “Today, they will spend their day in their hotel to prepare for their journey to Arafah,” he added. According to Syed Saleh, the pilgrims will perform the zohor and asar prayers combined (jam’u qasar) and leave for Arafah after the maghrib prayers. “After reaching Arafah, the pilgrims will perform the maghrib and isyak prayers combined (jam’u taqdim) and spend the night in congregation (bituluthumah) at the Muzdalifah field. “On the day of wuquf, the pilgrims are advised to pray as much as they can, seek forgiveness from Allah and perform other acts of worship such as reading the Quran and dhikr (remembrance of Allah),” he said. Syed Saleh asked all the Malaysian pilgrims to remain vigilant and take care of their health so that they can perform the Hajj rites with ease. “I also hope that they will multiply their prayers for the prosperity of the country and the well-being of the people,” he added.
