I remember I was not yet an adult when I performed the rituals of the Day of Arafah. The rituals of that day take a lot of time, you probably know this; most of the young people are familiar with the rituals. They take several hours. The rituals start after Zuhr and Asr prayers (about noon), and if one wants to do all the rituals, it might last until the sunset--if we are not in very long days (during summer).

Then, I remember when my mother, who was very religious, used to sit in the shade of a corner of our little yard because it is recommended to do the rituals in open air. It was hot. The years I remember, it was maybe in summer or autumn; we had long days. We used to sit in the shade and perform the rituals for long hours. They consisted of prayers to recite and perform. My mother would recite, some of my siblings and I would follow. I spent my adolescence and youthful years as such: bonding with spirituality, prayers and worship.

Ayatollah Khamenei February 03, 1998