As pilgrims continue to arrive in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the 2026 Hajj, authorities have announced a historic initiative to translate the Arafat Day sermon into 35 languages, including Yoruba and Hausa. This move aims to ensure that millions of non-Arabic speaking Muslims can benefit from the message delivered during the spiritual peak of the pilgrimage.
Translation Initiative Announced
Sheikh Abdulrahman bin Abdulaziz Al-Sudais, Head of Religious Affairs at the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque, revealed that the sermon, to be delivered by Sheikh Ali bin Abdulrahman Al-Hudhaifi, an Imam and preacher in the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah, will be translated into 35 international languages. The translated sermon will also be broadcast through digital platforms and channels affiliated with the Presidency of Religious Affairs.
“This initiative is aimed at conveying the message of Islam and the content of the sermon to Muslims across the world,” Al-Sudais said. He added that the translation project is part of Saudi Arabia’s wider efforts to serve Islam and Muslims.
Languages Included
The approved languages for translation are: English, French, Indonesian, Urdu, Turkish, Persian, Spanish, Chinese, Russian, Bengali, Hindi, Malay, Amharic, Hausa, Swahili, Somali, Pashto, Punjabi, Tamil, Filipino, Bosnian, German, Italian, Portuguese, Swedish, Uzbek, Tajik, Nepali, Sinhala, Malayalam, Oromo, Tigrinya, Yoruba, Ugandan, and Lithuanian.
Al-Sudais noted that the Presidency has built strong experience in translation projects over the years, stressing that the initiative enriches religious content and ensures non-Arabic speaking Muslims benefit from the sermon.
2026 Hajj Schedule
The five-day Hajj exercise will begin on Monday, when pilgrims depart from Makkah for Mina, also known as Tent City, to start their journey. On Tuesday, pilgrims will gather at Mount Arafat, also called Jabbal Rahma (Mount of Mercy), which marks the Day of Arafat, the spiritual peak of the Hajj. Over the following three days, pilgrims will perform the stoning of pebbles at the Jamarat, among other rites. The Hajj will conclude on May 29, when pilgrims return to Makkah before departing for their home countries.
Inclusivity and Global Reach
The 2026 Hajj highlights inclusivity as the Arafat sermon is broadcast in 35 languages worldwide. This effort underscores Saudi Arabia’s commitment to serving Islam and enriching religious content for Muslims everywhere.
