Hajj: the greatest annual gathering of humanity

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This year’s Hajj pilgrimage commenced on Sunday, with close on 3 million Muslims travelling to Makkah and surrounds for what is the world’s biggest annual gathering of humanity.

Here are some visuals covering the Hajj so far. All visuals are from social media.

Pilgrims make their way to Mina on the opening morning of Hajj
The roads of Mina
Pilgrims make their way to Mina on the opening morning of Hajj
Pilgrims make their way to Mina on the opening morning of Hajj
Pilgrims make their way to Mina on the opening morning of Hajj
Pilgrims in Mina
Inside a tent on Mina – the main camp site of Hajj
Tents on Mina – the main camp site of Hajj
The prayer pilgrims chant during Hajj
Tents in Mina
Inside a tent on Mina – the main camp site of Hajj
Tents on Mina – the main camp site of Hajj
Mina
Mina
Mina
Mina
Tents line the temporary city of Mina
Inside one of the camps on Mina
Inside one of the camps on Mina
Inside a tent on Mina
Inside a tent on Mina
Inside a tent on Mina
Inside a tent on Mina
Aerial view of Mina
Pilgrims on Mina
Mina
Tents as far as the eye can see on Mina
More tents on Mina
A sandstorm on the first day of Hajj
A lightning storm on the first night of Hajj
A lightning storm on the first night of Hajj
A lightning storm on the first night of Hajj
Strong winds blow the cover off the Kabah on the first night of Hajj
Pilgrims begin the walk to Arafah this morning, for the peak of Hajj
Cloud on Arafah this morning
Muslims come from all over the world for Hajj

 

Monday (Day 2) marked the day of Arafah – the peak of the Hajj. Here are some videos to give you a sense of it:

 

Visuals from the morning:

 

Shaykh Hamza Yusuf explains a little more about Hajj:

 

Later visuals from the Day of Arafah (20th August) and that night, when the pilgrims moved to the next stop of Muzdalifah.

Pilgrims head to Arafah this morning
Pilgrims outside the mosque on Arafah
Pilgrims on Mount Arafah
Mount Arafah
A camp on Arafah
The next stop for pilgrims
Pilgrims head to Muzdalifah
Pilgrims sleep wherever they can find space on Muzdalifah
Pilgrims pray at Muzdalifah
Pilgrims sleep on Muzdalifah
Pilgrims sleep on Muzdalifah
Pilgrims on Muzdalifah
Pilgrims on Muzdalifah
Pilgrims on Muzdalifah

 

Day 3 (21st August) marks Eid:

Pilgrims stream back to Mina
Pilgrims stream back to Mina
Pilgrims stream back to Mina
Pilgrims stream back to Mina
Pilgrims stream back to Mina
Pilgrims throw stones at the Jamaraat pillars – representing Satan
Pilgrims shave their head after the stoning
Pilgrims circle the Kabah in Makkah as one of their final acts of Hajj
Pilgrims circle the Kabah in Makkah as one of their final acts of Hajj
Pilgrims walk between the hills of Saffa and Marwah in Makkah as one of their final acts of Hajj

And you can watch live coverage of the Hajj here (courtesy of South Africa’s ITV):

6 thoughts on “Hajj: the greatest annual gathering of humanity”

    • It is – so there’s a whole government ministry dedicated to that. The people of that region have been hosting the Hajj for many hundreds of years – and indeed the Hajj itself has been around way longer (since the time of Prophet Abraham), so it’s been a progression in logistical advancements. The newer integration of technology seems quite promising – but that’s still filtering through.

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  2. I can only imagine all the emotions the Hujaaj must be feeling! I’ve never been, or even on Umrah, but would love to be able to experience the journey as well. A journey that where the rich rubs shoulders with the poor, where you find yourself swapping your king sized bed for a mattress on the floor inside a tent. How Allah shows people the path to being humble!! 🙂

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  3. Maasha Allah. It has always been my dream to perform hajj. But anyway, In sha Allah one day.
    Great post this is! Also, I just discovered your blog and I find it really interesting. So I’m gonna give a follow right now and do follow back 😌

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