The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has announced a significant expansion of its multilingual broadcast of the Arafah sermon, a cornerstone of the annual Hajj pilgrimage. The 2025 sermon, delivered on the 9th of Dhul Hijjah 1446 (June 5, 2025), will be translated and broadcast live in 37 languages, a substantial increase from previous years. This expansion notably includes several African languages, including Hausa, Yoruba, and Fulani, spoken by millions in Nigeria and across the continent. This initiative underscores Saudi Arabia’s commitment to making the message of Islam accessible to a global audience, fostering greater understanding and facilitating communication between Muslims and non-Muslims worldwide. The inclusion of these Nigerian languages reflects the growing importance of Africa in the global Muslim community and the Kingdom’s recognition of this demographic shift.
The Arafah sermon, delivered from Mount Arafat near Mecca, is a pivotal moment in the Hajj pilgrimage, representing a culmination of spiritual reflection and supplication. It carries profound religious significance for Muslims worldwide and is considered a powerful expression of Islamic teachings, encompassing themes of unity, peace, and devotion. By making this sermon accessible in a multitude of languages, Saudi authorities are aiming to amplify its reach and resonance, ensuring that the message transcends linguistic barriers and connects with individuals from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds. This initiative leverages the power of modern communication technologies to disseminate the core tenets of Islam to a broader audience, fostering interfaith dialogue and promoting a shared understanding of the faith.
The 37 languages selected for the translation and broadcast encompass a wide range of spoken tongues, reflecting the global distribution of the Muslim population. Among these languages are major global languages such as English, French, Spanish, Chinese, Russian, and Indonesian, ensuring accessibility for a significant portion of the global population. The inclusion of languages like Bengali, Urdu, Persian, Turkish, and Malay caters to large Muslim populations in South and Southeast Asia, while the addition of Amharic, Somali, and Rohingya acknowledges the diverse linguistic landscape of Africa and addresses the needs of specific ethnic communities. This comprehensive approach reflects a commitment to inclusivity and recognizes the importance of engaging with diverse communities in their respective languages.
The inclusion of Hausa, Yoruba, and Fulani in the translation lineup signifies a targeted effort to connect with the significant Muslim population in Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation. These languages are spoken by tens of millions of people across West Africa and represent important cultural and linguistic markers within the region. This specific inclusion highlights the growing importance of sub-Saharan Africa within the global Muslim community and demonstrates Saudi Arabia’s commitment to engaging with this burgeoning demographic. By providing the Arafah sermon in these languages, the Kingdom is fostering stronger ties with African Muslim communities and facilitating greater participation in the shared spiritual experience of Hajj.
The announcement of the multilingual broadcast followed the official sighting of the Dhul Hijjah crescent moon, marking the beginning of the 12th and final month of the Islamic lunar calendar. This sighting confirmed the commencement of the Hajj season and set the dates for the key rituals, including the Day of Arafah on June 5th and Eid-el-Adha on June 6th. Dhul Hijjah is considered a sacred month for Muslims, characterized by increased devotion, prayer, and acts of charity. The Hajj pilgrimage, one of the five pillars of Islam, takes place during this month, drawing millions of Muslims to Mecca to perform a series of rituals, including the standing at Arafat, symbolizing the culmination of the pilgrimage.
The expansion of the multilingual broadcast of the Arafah sermon represents a significant step towards greater inclusivity and global outreach within the Muslim community. It reflects the Kingdom’s understanding of the importance of language accessibility in disseminating religious teachings and fostering intercultural understanding. By providing the sermon in a multitude of languages, including several prominent African languages, Saudi Arabia is fostering greater participation and connection with a global audience, bridging linguistic divides and promoting a shared spiritual experience during the holiest period of the Islamic calendar. This initiative embodies the spirit of unity and universality within Islam and reinforces the importance of communication in sharing the message of peace and tolerance with the world.
