For the benefit of those who have followed this blog within the last year, who are not familiar with the Islamic pilgrimage (Hajj), I’m re-publishing a post I did last year – which tells the visual tale of this immense journey that millions embark upon each year.

This year’s Hajj began today (Friday 9th August 2019), and will peak tomorrow the continue for a few days thereafter.

It’s the world’s biggest annual gathering of humanity, with close on 3 million Muslims – from all parts of the world – gathering in Makkah to fulfill this once-in-a-lifetime religious journey.

All visuals were collected from social media last year – so I don’t have specific credit for each item.

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

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

Visuals from the morning last year:

Shaykh Hamza Yusuf explains a little more about Hajj:

Later visuals from the Day of Arafah 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 marks Eid – though it’s a very different experience for pilgrims as compared to Eid back home:

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 courtesy of several English-language Islamic TV stations:

• South Africa’s ITV
• The UK’s Islam Channel
• Egypt’s Huda TV