In a significant development for Nigerian pilgrims, Saudi Arabia has included Yoruba among the 34 languages that will be used to translate the Arafat sermon during the 2025 Hajj. Also newly added is Fula (Fulani), another major Nigerian language. Hausa, which was introduced last year, remains on the list.
The announcement was made on Thursday, May 29, 2025, by Dr. Abdulrahman Al-Sudais, head of the Presidency of Religious Affairs at the Grand Mosque in Mecca and the Prophet’s Mosque in Medina.
Al-Sudais stated that the translation initiative for the Arafat sermon during this year’s Hajj (1446 AH) aims to reach over 5 million people worldwide, ensuring they receive the spiritual, moral, and religious guidance embedded in the sermon.
“This project reflects Saudi Arabia’s commitment to serving Islam and Muslims globally and caring for pilgrims and visitors to the Two Holy Mosques,” Al-Sudais said.
He added that the translation project is also part of a broader mission to spread messages of moderation, tolerance, and unity across the international Muslim community.
According to him, preparations were completed well in advance, with a special committee set up to strategize and maximize the sermon’s global impact.
The Day of Arafat, observed on the 9th of Dhul Hijjah (this year falling on Thursday, June 5), is considered the holiest day of Hajj. Pilgrims gather at Mount Arafat to hear the sermon, which serves as a powerful spiritual reminder and call to righteousness.
✅ Full List of Languages for 2025 Arafat Sermon Translation:
- Arabic
- Urdu
- English
- French
- Indonesian
- Persian (Farsi)
- Hausa
- Chinese (Mandarin)
- Russian
- Bengali
- Turkish
- Malay (Bahasa Melayu)
- Spanish
- Portuguese
- Italian
- German
- Filipino (Tagalog)
- Amharic (Ethiopia)
- Bosnian
- Hindi
- Dutch
- Thai
- Malayalam
- Swahili
- Pashto
- Tamil
- Azerbaijani
- Swedish
- Uzbek
- Albanian
- Fulani (Fula)
- Somali
- Rohingya
- Yoruba
This initiative is widely praised as a step toward greater inclusion and global access to one of Islam’s most profound spiritual messages.
