More than 1.5 million Muslim pilgrims gathered at Saudi Arabia’s Mount Arafat on Tuesday for the most significant ritual of the Hajj pilgrimage, enduring sweltering temperatures as they prayed for forgiveness, mercy and peace amid regional uncertainty.

Pilgrims flock to Saudi Arabia for Hajj as war rages in the Middle East, with worshippers citing faith, safety measures and a once-in-a-lifetime spiritual duty.

More than a million pilgrims gathered in Mecca on Monday for the Hajj, but the harsh heat has been brutal for many attendees. This week’s daytime temperatures will hover between…