MECCA, Saudi Arabia (AP) — Muslim pilgrims have been streaming into Saudi Arabia’s holy metropolis of Mecca forward of the beginning of the Hajj later this week, because the annual pilgrimage returns to its monumental scale.
Saudi officers say greater than 1.5 million international pilgrims have arrived within the nation by Tuesday, the overwhelming majority by air, from the world over. Extra are anticipated, and lots of of hundreds of Saudis and others dwelling in Saudi Arabia may even be a part of them when the pilgrimage formally begins on Friday.
Saudi officers have stated they count on the variety of pilgrims this yr to exceed 2023, when greater than 1.8 million folks carried out Hajj, approaching pre-pandemic ranges. In 2019, greater than 2.4 million Muslims made the pilgrimage.
The pilgrims included 4,200 Palestinians from the occupied West Financial institution who arrived in Mecca earlier this month, based on the Palestinian Ministry of Awqaf and Non secular Affairs. Palestinians within the Gaza Strip weren’t in a position to journey to Saudi Arabia for Hajj this yr, due to the 8-month struggle between Israel and Hamas.
On Tuesday, pilgrims thronged the Grand Mosque in Mecca, performing a ritual circuit strolling seven occasions across the Kaaba, the cube-shaped construction contained in the mosque that’s thought of Islam’s holiest website. They wore ihrams, two unstitched sheets of white fabric that resemble a shroud.
Many have been seen carrying umbrellas in opposition to the solar, in temperatures reaching 42 levels Celsius (107 Fahrenheit) through the day on Tuesday.
“I used to be relieved once I arrived on the Al-Masjid Al-Haram and noticed the Kaaba,” stated Rabeia al-Raghi, a Moroccan girl who got here to Mecca for Hajj alongside along with her husband and their daughter. “I’m very completely happy.”
At night time, the huge marble court docket across the Kaaba was full of the trustworthy, strolling almost shoulder to shoulder and infrequently jostling with barricades arrange by safety forces to direct the enormous flows of individuals in and across the Grand Mosque.
Pilgrims do the circumambulation, often called “Tawaf” in Arabic, upon arriving in Mecca. The massive crowds circling the Kaaba will final into the Hajj’s first day.
On Friday, pilgrims will transfer to the Mountain of Arafat for a daylong vigil, then to Muzdalifah, a rocky plain space a number of miles away. In Muzdalifa, pilgrims accumulate pebbles for use within the symbolic stoning of pillars representing the satan again in Mina.
One of many world’s largest non secular gatherings, the Hajj is among the 5 Pillars of Islam. All Muslims are required to undertake it at the least as soon as of their lives if they’re bodily and financially ready to take action.
These within the Hajj view the pilgrimage as a chance to strengthen their religion, wipe out outdated sins and begin new.
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