Million-Plus Take Part in Hajj Pilgrimage Under Shadow of Gaza War

AFP/APP

Mina: Over one million Muslim pilgrims gathered in a sprawling tent city near Makkah, Saudi Arabia, on Friday for the Hajj pilgrimage, enduring sweltering heat amid the backdrop of the Gaza conflict.

Arriving by bus or on foot, robed worshippers, many shaded by umbrellas, converged at the expansive encampment in Mina after completing the “tawaf” — circling the Holy Kaaba seven times at Makkah’s Grand Mosque.

With chants of “God is great” and “God, we answer your call,” many pilgrims were filled with spiritual zeal as they retraced the steps of Prophet Mohammed’s final pilgrimage nearly 1,400 years ago.

The participants, numbering 1.5 million by Monday, had traveled from across the globe for the annual rites, facing extreme temperatures with daily highs forecasted at 44 degrees Celsius (111 Fahrenheit).

“It’s very, very hot,” remarked Fahad Azmar, 31, from Pakistan. “But I thank God for the opportunity to be here.”

They spent the night in Mina, a rocky valley several kilometers outside Makkah, before ascending Mount Arafat for the pinnacle of the pilgrimage on Saturday.

Accommodations in Mina’s air-conditioned tents were arranged by nationality and cost, reflecting the pilgrims’ respective Hajj packages.

Many worshippers were tightly packed inside, resting on narrow mattresses placed closely together on the floor.

“There should be more space between the beds, and the air-conditioning doesn’t work very well… but Hajj is about patience,” noted Intisham al-Ahi, a 44-year-old Pakistani sharing a tent with dozens of compatriots.

Meanwhile, a group of Moroccan pilgrims expressed frustration, alleging mistreatment by the agent who arranged their pilgrimage.

“There are more people than the tents can hold… they’re asking us to share tents with those who paid half of what we did,” complained Hicham, who paid approximately 17,000 euros for his trip.

Outside, misting stations were installed to cool the faithful, and security personnel sprayed passers-by with water.

Although most of the Hajj activities took place outdoors, Saturday posed a particularly tough challenge as worshippers spent the day in prayer on Mount Arafat.

Mohammed al-Abdulali, spokesperson for the Saudi health ministry, reported over 10,000 documented cases of heat-related illnesses last year, with 10 percent being heat strokes.

A text message sent to pilgrims on Thursday advised them to “drink water regularly, more than two liters daily,” and to “always carry an umbrella,” warning of temperatures potentially reaching 48 degrees Celsius.

Many pilgrims expressed their intention to pray for Palestinians in Gaza, amidst ongoing conflict that has claimed tens of thousands of lives.

Zahra Benizahra, 78, from Morocco, tearfully described the haunting images of war and suffering.

“Our brothers are dying, and we see it with our own eyes,” she lamented.

Belinda Elham from Indonesia, home to the world’s largest Muslim population, vowed to pray daily for an end to the Palestinian crisis.

Approximately 2,000 Palestinians were invited by King Salman to perform Hajj, underscoring the global significance of the pilgrimage.

Hajj, one of Islam’s five pillars, draws Muslims from around the world, with permits allocated by Saudi authorities based on quotas for each country.

Last year’s Hajj attracted over 1.8 million pilgrims after pandemic-related restrictions were lifted and age limits were removed.