2025 HAJJ: SAUDI ARABIA ADDS YORUBA AMONG 34 LANGUAGES FOR ARAFAT SERMON TRANSLATION

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By Oduola F.A.

Saudi authorities have added Yoruba to the list of 34 languages into which the Arafat sermon will be translated during the 2025 Hajj pilgrimage.

Fula (Fulani), another Nigerian language, is also included this year, while Hausa was introduced in the previous edition.

The Presidency of Religious Affairs at the Grand Mosque in Mecca and the Prophet’s Mosque in Medina made the announced in a statemement issued via Dr. Abdulrahman al-Sudais, head of the Religious Affairs Authority, on Thursday, May 29, 2025,

Al-Saudai said the initiative to translate the Arafat sermon for this year’s Hajj season (1446 AH) into 35 global languages, aimed to deliver the message to over 5 million people around the world.

The head of religious affairs in the Kingdom added that this project is also part of the broader mission to spread a message of moderation to the international community.

Al-Sudais emphasized that one of the central goals of the broadcast is to convey the moral and spiritual guidance of the Arafat sermon, which embodies the principles of human and civilizational fraternity and religious tolerance.

“This year, the sermon will be available in 34 languages. He also noted that preparations for the translation were completed well in advance, with the presidency forming a dedicated committee to devise a strategic plan to maximize the impact of the sermon.”

The aim, he said, is to spiritually enrich the pilgrims and globally convey the moderate message of the Two Holy Mosques.

The Day of Arafat—falling on the 9th of Zi al-Hijjah—is one of the most sacred days in Islam. It features a sermon that urges forgiveness and adherence to Islamic teachings.

Pilgrims gather at Mount Arafat on this day, which represents the most essential pillar of the Hajj pilgrimage. This year, Arafat Day will take place on Thursday, June 5.

Full List of Languagues to be translated for the 2025 Arafat Sermon

1. Arabic

2. Urdu

3. English

4. French

5. Indonesian

6. Persian (Farsi)

7. Hausa

8. Chinese (Mandarin)

9. Russian

10. Bengali

11. Turkish