The Annual Destination of About 2.5 Million Pilgrims

Balquees Balsalom met approximately 2.5 million pilgrims who are gathering this year to perform Hajj, one of Islam’s five pillars. We caught up with them at Makkah.

Pilgrims from around the globe save for years to make this trip, even in regions afflicted by war or poverty. One of their greatest fears is heatstroke.

The Hajj

As one of humanity’s largest annual gatherings, Hajj draws millions of Muslims from across the globe each year to Saudi Arabia. For many, it is one of their most impactful religious experiences yet it does come at a cost; pilgrims must don ihram — special clothing — and spend time away from their homes and families during rites that can be physically and emotionally taxing in summer heat conditions; heatstroke risks increase significantly with pilgrims in tent cities where heatstroke risks increase further.

As soon as the sun goes down on the eighth day of Dhu al-Hijjah, pilgrims head for Arafat (also known as Muzdalifah). Muslims believe God forgave Adam and Hawa here before holding their Last Judgment here later. Pilgrims spend the night sleeping in tent cities nearby before praying under the stars during this pilgrimage.

Before dawn on Day 10, pilgrims depart Muzdalifah for Mina where they will spend the remainder of their Hajj. At Mina, pilgrims embark on their final stage of Hajj. Here they must follow a 100-yard wide path known as Jamarat to three stone pillars that represent Satan and throw pebbles at these while simultaneously worshipping Allah as an act of submission against evil.

Saudi Arabia views it as an honor to provide service to their guests and dedicates extensive resources to ensure a seamless pilgrimage journey. As well as increasing capacity at Mecca and Madinah mosques, Saudi Arabia has spent billions to construct airports, roads, hotels, and other infrastructure to accommodate pilgrims. Saudis and their Western allies see Hajj as an economic driver, generating $20 billion worth of tourist spending last year alone. However, due to a sluggish global economy, it has become harder for some Muslims to afford this pilgrimage; Lebanese Muslim Khalaf al-Khalidi works full-time but cannot afford the $4,000 required. He says that having been waiting his whole life, Hajj now seems out of reach.

Mecca

The annual pilgrimage to Mecca is the cornerstone of Islamic worship. Not only can it provide spiritual enlightenment and boost Saudi Arabia’s economy through millions of pilgrims flocking to holy cities in Saudi Arabia; but its logistics, political considerations, and misuse as a tool of state policy have created controversy around it.

This year’s pilgrims are making up for decades of decline as the global Muslim population doubled since 1940 and is projected to hit 3 billion by 2050, according to a recent report by Mastercard. Additionally, pilgrimage from outside Saudi Arabia increased by more than one-third.

Devout Muslims consider the Hajj to be a profound spiritual experience that purges sins and unifies over 1.8 billion Muslims worldwide. Pilgrims save up for years in preparation to make their pilgrimage which commemorates Biblical accounts about Ibrahim and Ismail from Scripture.

After arriving in Mecca, pilgrims take part in a seven-round circuit around the Kaaba and Masjid al-Haram mosque complex; ending their walk with kissing on Abraham’s Black Stone of Divinity which is considered sacred by Islam. Following this ritual, they recite their faith declaration (Shahada) while wearing white garments that symbolize purity – these include Jihabs and Jibahs which represent purity.

Pilgrims then travel east of Mecca, to Mina, where they stay in tent cities organized according to region. On Friday morning at dawn, they will march toward Arafat mountain where they ask God for forgiveness of any past transgressions.

Hajj has long been marred by deadly incidents and attacks. A stampede at Jamaraat pillars killed over 2,300 pilgrims; 360 pilgrims perished during an indefensible ritual to reject Satan involving throwing pebbles against three tombstones symbolically; but recently the kingdom has tightened security measures and instituted stricter rules to avoid such disasters that have outraged Muslims worldwide.

Mina

Mina is the final stop on Hajj, where pilgrims participate in a symbolic ritual to stone Satan by penetrating three stone pillars with stones to represent him as they move towards Mina’s tent city. Following an increase in coronavirus infections this year and subsequent restrictions and preventive protocols being lifted by officials, this year’s annual pilgrimage — Islam’s fifth pillar — returned at full capacity after returning this week after restrictions and protocols had been removed for access.

Pilgrims gathered early at their campsite before sunrise to start a day of prayers, supplications, and reading from the Quran. They brought food supplies as well as carpets for camping and fans for cooling themselves as temperatures approached 40 degrees Celsius (104deg Fahrenheit).

On the first day of Tarwiyah, pilgrims collected pebbles to throw at Jamarat pillars. Stoning of Satan is meant as an analogy for shattering idols in life and as Satan attempts to divert pilgrims away from following Allah, pilgrims use stones as weapons against his influence and hit Jamarat pillars with them with stones instead. At this time of prayer for countries and the entire globe.

Experienced pilgrims know what to expect when entering Mina. Armed with strategy and determination that have been carefully planned out in advance, they arrive with plans ready for action against Satan and his minions. Starting by taking on one of three jamaat pillars (al-jarrah al-kubra), over several days or so they take on all three, as he understands that fighting this fight against him must be ongoing – not limited to occasional skirmishes alone.

Mina pilgrims typically stay longer in Mina than other pilgrims do at ‘Arafah and Muzdalifah due to its more settled atmosphere and freedom from ihram restrictions than in these other areas; here they can more regularly carry out daily prayers and worship rituals, plus closer to home and their regular daily life processes.

Staying at Mina provides pilgrims with an opportunity to carefully assess themselves, identify any lapses, and resolve to avoid repeating them in the future. Preparations before entering Mina also enable pilgrims to appreciate more fully what this annual journey and its significance are to their lives; seeing how important it is for overcoming difficulties they encounter along their path while discovering more about themselves as individuals while strengthening themselves to endure and overcome hardship.

Arafat

Mount Arafat, also known as “the hill of forgiveness”, marks the culmination of any pilgrimage and serves as one of its central parts, where Prophet Muhammad delivered his final sermon on his final Hajj. Muslims believe this momentous pilgrimage allows God to draw closer and forgive their sins.

As dawn broke over a plain scattered with tents ranging in size from football fields to micro tents barely covering an individual head, giant ring-shaped sprinklers sprayed mist into the air to try and cool pilgrims who were starting their day by praying or holding up palms towards the sky; others simply enjoyed taking photos or snapping selfies as souvenirs of this momentous event.

Some pilgrims had traveled from Syria, Turkey, and Libya to visit this holy site in Saudi Arabia’s southern province of Jazan – fulfilling one of their five obligations according to Islam.

Journeying to Mecca and Mount Arafat can be an emotionally charged journey, yet also serves as an opportunity for celebration and reunion with family members from around the globe who join in its rituals.

Pilgrims must abide by stringent social distancing rules and undergo tests for the COVID-19 virus, which has killed over 90 people this year alone. Yet still highly popular and attended by large crowds.

This year’s pilgrims will stay on the Plain of Arafat until sunset before traveling to Muzdalifah for an overnight stay and returning tomorrow, 10 January for final round rituals such as collecting seven pebbles from hill slopes for use during the stoning of three jamaraat (pillars representing devil).

Some pilgrims will sacrifice sheep and goats as an act of worship to Abraham for offering his son Ishmael up as a sacrifice, while for others it provides relief from ongoing violence in their homelands.