Hajj Pilgrimage Starts In Saudi Arabia, With 2 Million Expected After Lifting Of COVID Measures

Muslim pilgrims pray across the Kaaba, the cubic constructing on the Grand Mosque, through the annual Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Sunday, June 25, 2023. Muslim pilgrims are converging on Saudi Arabia's holy metropolis of Mecca for the biggest Hajj for the reason that coronavirus pandemic severely curtailed entry to one among Islam's 5 pillars. (AP Photograph/Amr Nabil)

by way of Related Press

MINA, Saudi Arabia (AP) — Some 2 million Muslim pilgrims formally started the annual Hajj pilgrimage on Monday, making their approach out of Mecca after circling Islam’s holiest web site, the Kaaba, and converging on an unlimited tent camp within the close by desert for a day and night time of prayer.

One of many largest spiritual gatherings on the planet has returned to full capability this yr for the primary time for the reason that onset of the coronavirus pandemic three years in the past.

The pilgrimage is likely one of the 5 pillars of Islam, and all Muslims are required to make the five-day Hajj a minimum of as soon as of their lives if they're bodily and financially capable of do it.

For pilgrims, it's a deeply transferring non secular expertise that absolves sins, brings them nearer to God and unites the world’s greater than 1.8 billion Muslims. Some spend years saving up cash and ready for a allow to embark on the journey.

The rituals throughout Hajj largely commemorate the Quran’s accounts of Ibrahim, his son Ismail and Ismail’s mom Hajar.

Pilgrims have been doing the ritual circuit across the Kaaba since arriving in Mecca over latest days. Because the final ones carried out it Monday, the pilgrims made their approach by foot or by bus to Mina, the place they are going to camp in one of many largest tent cities on the planet. They'll pray all through the day and night time earlier than touring on Tuesday to Mount Arafat, the place the Prophet Muhammad is alleged to have delivered his ultimate sermon.

Mina is huge and open, with little respite from the desert warmth and blazing solar. Troopers sprayed pilgrims with water to chill them down.

Egyptian businessman Yehya Al-Ghanam mentioned he was perplexed to explain his emotions upon arriving at Mina.

“Tears will fall from my eyes out of pleasure and happiness,” he mentioned. “I don't sleep. I've not slept for 15 days, solely an hour a day,” overwhelmed by the magnitude of the feelings surrounding his pilgrimage.

After Arafat, pilgrims gather pebbles from a web site referred to as Muzdalifa for use within the symbolic stoning of pillars representing the satan again in Mina. The ultimate three days of the Hajj coincide with the festive Eid al-Adha vacation, when Muslims all over the world slaughter livestock and distribute the meat to the poor.