By Uzair Adam
Saudi Arabian authorities have approved Hausa and Yoruba among 35 international languages selected for the live translation of the 2026 Arafah sermon during Hajj, a move aimed at widening global access to one of Islam’s most important annual sermons.
The initiative, coordinated by the General Presidency for the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque, is part of ongoing efforts to utilise digital technology and media platforms to reach millions of Muslims worldwide in languages they understand.
The selected languages include English, French, Urdu, Indonesian, Turkish, Persian, Chinese, Russian, Hindi and Swahili, alongside Hausa and Yoruba, which are widely spoken in Nigeria and parts of West Africa.
Saudi authorities said the project was designed to ensure that the spiritual teachings, guidance and messages contained in the Arafah sermon are accessible to Muslims across different linguistic backgrounds without barriers.
Speaking on the initiative, Abdulrahman Al-Sudais described the translation programme as one of the major projects developed through years of experience in serving pilgrims and promoting Islamic teachings globally.
He noted that the live translations would help non-Arabic-speaking Muslims better understand the sermon’s messages of faith, morality, compassion and spirituality while also conveying Islam’s message of peace and coexistence to the wider international community.
The Arafah sermon, delivered annually at Mount Arafat during the Hajj pilgrimage, is regarded as one of the most significant sermons in Islam and attracts millions of listeners and viewers across the world each year.
Saudi authorities also urged participating countries to continue educating pilgrims on compliance with Hajj rules and regulations to ensure a safe and successful pilgrimage exercise.
Meanwhile, the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) said it was aligning its operations with evolving digital standards, noting that its information technology department was developing comprehensive technological systems to improve Hajj operations in line with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 reforms.
Observers of Hajj affairs described the inclusion of Hausa and Yoruba among the official translation languages as a major recognition of Nigeria’s large Muslim population, noting that it would enable millions of speakers of both languages to follow the sermon more directly and benefit from its teachings.
