ARAFAT, 22 February — In an atmosphere filled with spirituality and serenity, more than two million pilgrims yesterday performed the most important rite of the Haj as they stood in prayers from dawn to dusk in the plains of Arafat, 15 km east of Makkah.

A white sea of faithful surged to Mount Arafat as dawn broke on the second day of the five-day event. Waves of men in seamless white robes and women in long dresses joined voices in a crescendo chanting Labbaik Allahumma Labbaik (Here I am O God, answering your call).

Delivering the Arafat sermon, the Kingdom’s Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Aziz Al-Sheikh strongly defended Islam against terrorism charges made in the West in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States.

“It is unfair to associate Islam with terrorism,” he said addressing the faithful. “Terrorism equals tyranny and injustice, and these are alien to Islam,” he said.

“How can terrorism be linked to a religion which orders respect for human life ... (a religion which advocates) justice and promotes peace rather than war?” Sheikh Abdul Aziz asked. “Islam strictly forbids the killing of women, children and innocent people ... It calls for respect of treaties and agreements... and upholds rights at all times,” he added.

Sheikh Abdul Aziz also urged the world’s 1.3 billion Muslims to adhere to Islamic teachings in all walks of life.

“The Islamic nation is experiencing momentous events these days, and this requires it to think rationally and unite in defense of its faith,” the mufti said.

Sheikh Abdul Aziz, who also heads the Council of Senior Islamic Scholars, slammed what he called the “resentment” harbored by the enemies of Islam, whose spurious civilization discriminates between human beings and “gave mankind (no more than) all types of destructive weapons.”

But he also urged Muslims not to pin the blame for all their woes on others. “What is happening to us was (partly) caused by our sins,” he said. “It is unwise and irrational to blame our enemies for everything that harms us. Weak faith, disputes and differences among us are other causes,” he said.

Meanwhile, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd and Crown Prince Abdullah, deputy premier and commander of the National Guard, arrived in Mina yesterday to supervise the Haj operation.

Makkah Governor Prince Abdul Majeed announced yesterday that the large trek of pilgrims from Mina to Arafat and then to Muzdalifa took place in a record time. He said the security and health condition of pilgrims was excellent.

Tears rolled down the cheeks of pilgrims as they climbed Jabal Al-Rahma or Mount of Mercy, where Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) delivered his final sermon 14 centuries ago. The Jabal was flooded by pilgrims who sat or stood there for hours contemplating and praying. Standing at Mount Arafat in prayer before sunset on 9th Dul Hijjah is the high point of the Haj. The pilgrims who fail to make it on time must come for Haj again.

The faithful spent the day praying for mercy and forgiveness. “I really can’t describe the feeling of being here at Arafat for the first time. It’s overwhelming,” 52-year-old Egyptian Fakhri Bassyuni said.

“I will pray for forgiveness and for the victory of Muslims all over the world. I wish to see the Ummah (Islamic nation) united and progressing,” he said.

“O God, grant me and my loved ones good health, forgiveness and save us from hell,” Abdul Mouti, an Egyptian pilgrim, prayed as he raised his hands and faced the sky. With tears in his eyes, he added: “Forgive me for my sins and have mercy on my soul.”

“I pray God to help Muslims the world over, especially the Palestinians, and grant them victory,” said Ahmad Mohsen, a 65-year-old Yemeni resident of Makkah who is on his eighth pilgrimage.

More than 1.4 million pilgrims have come this year from some 120 countries. According to unofficial statistics, up to 800,000 have joined them from various parts of the Kingdom including over 100,000 Makkah residents.

“Words can’t describe how I feel,” a Nigerian pilgrim said. “Look at this crowd answering God’s call, 1,400 years after the Prophet, the nation is alive and well. This is awesome, just awesome.”

The pilgrims left Arafat after sunset, moving to Muzdalifa where they will spend the night following in the footsteps of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). They will also collect pebbles from Muzdalifa to stone the Jamarat in Mina at dawn today in a ritual symbolizing the stoning of the devil.

The pilgrimage proceeded without incident under the watchful eyes of thousands of police and troops.