MINA, Saudi Arabia (AP) — The annual Hajj pilgrimage officially commenced on Monday, with approximately 2 million Muslim pilgrims making their way out of Mecca. After circling the Kaaba, Islam’s holiest site, they converged on a vast tent camp in the nearby desert for a day and night of prayer.
This year, one of the largest religious gatherings in the world has returned to full capacity for the first time since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic three years ago.
The pilgrimage is one of the five pillars of Islam, and it is obligatory for all physically and financially capable Muslims to perform the five-day Hajj at least once in their lifetime.
The Hajj is a profoundly moving spiritual experience for pilgrims, cleansing them of sins, bringing them closer to God, and fostering unity among the world’s more than 1.8 billion Muslims. Some individuals spend years saving money and waiting for a permit to embark on this journey.
The rituals carried out during Hajj primarily commemorate the accounts of Ibrahim, his son Ismail, and Ismail’s mother Hajar as described in the Quran.
In the days leading up to Monday, pilgrims have been performing the ritual circuit around the Kaaba upon their arrival in Mecca. As the last group completed the circuit, pilgrims traveled by foot or bus to Mina, where they will reside in one of the world’s largest tent cities. They will engage in prayers throughout the day and night before proceeding to Mount Arafat on Tuesday, the site where the Prophet Muhammad delivered his final sermon.
Mina, located in the desert, offers little respite from the scorching sun and intense heat. To alleviate the heat, soldiers are spraying pilgrims with water.
Yehya Al-Ghanam, an Egyptian businessman, expressed his indescribable emotions upon reaching Mina.
“Tears of joy and happiness will stream down my face,” he said. “I have been unable to sleep for the past 15 days, resting only one hour a day.” The overwhelming magnitude of the emotions surrounding his pilgrimage has left him speechless.
After Arafat, pilgrims collect pebbles from Muzdalifa, a site that will be used for the symbolic stoning of pillars representing the devil in Mina. The final three days of the Hajj coincide with the festive Eid al-Adha holiday. During this time, Muslims worldwide participate in the slaughter of livestock and distribute the meat to the less fortunate.
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