One million Muslim pilgrims have converged on Saudi Arabia's holy city of Mecca for the largest Hajj since the coronavirus pandemic.
The pilgrimage is one of the five pillars of Islam and a journey that every adult Muslim must make at least once in their lifetime, as long as they are physically and financially able to do so. It runs from the seventh to the twelfth day of Dhul Hijjah – the final month of the Islamic calendar – which this year is July 7-12.
Organisers limited participation in Hajj to domestic pilgrims only in 2020 and 2021, much to the disappointment of those who had spent years saving up for the religious rite. For the majority of Muslims, this is therefore the first opportunity they have had to embark on the spiritual and physical journey since 2019.
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What happens during Hajj?
Muslims carry out a number of rituals while they are on pilgrimage, beginning when they are around six miles (10km) from Mecca. Pilgrims enter a state of holiness and purity known as ihram and don special clothes – two sheets of white cloth for men and traditional sewn clothing with head coverings for women.
They enter the holy city and walk seven times anticlockwise around the cuboid Kaaba shrine in the Great Mosque. During this ritual, known as tawaf, pilgrims kiss or touch the Black Stone in the eastern wall of the Kaaba.
Then comes the sai, in which Muslims walk or run seven times between the hills of Safa and Marwah, emulating the journey of Abraham's wife Hagar when she was in search of water. From here, pilgrims are transported out of the city to visit the holy sites of Mina, Mount Arafat and the plains of Muzdalifah.
Returning to Mina, Muslims throw stones at three pillars representing the Devil. They also sacrifice an animal and shave or trim their hair.
In the following few days before their departure, pilgrims repeat tawaf and sai in Mecca and once more stone the Devil. This occurs before they perform the final tawaf of the Kaaba.
Why do Muslims perform Hajj?
The Quran says that all Muslims who are physically and financially able should make the pilgrimage once in their lifetime – but only if their absence will not place hardships on their family. Hajj follows a route established by the Prophet Muhammad nearly 1,400 years ago.
The rite centres around Mecca, the birthplace of Muhammad and hence the Islamic religion. The holy city is home to the Kaaba, the holiest site in Islam.
If performed properly, Hajj is believed to wipe out previous sins. Pilgrims may add the title hajj (m) or hajjah (f) to their name after completion.
How is Hajj different in 2022?
One million foreign and domestic pilgrims are participating in this year’s Hajj. While this is bigger than in 2020 and 2021 – when pandemic restrictions meant 1,000 and 60,000 Muslims took part respectively – it is still down on the 2.5 million people who made the journey in 2019.
Pilgrims have to apply for places on the pilgrimage and are selected through an online lottery system. This year, Saudi organisers have decreed that they must be under 65, vaccinated against Covid-19 and have tested negative for the virus within 72 hours of travel.
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