The Hajj pilgrimage starts in Mecca for Muslims.
During the war in Gaza Strip, the annual journey known as Hajj has started for millions of believers in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. Under intense heat, over a million people gathered near Mecca in a large tent city on Friday, wearing traditional white clothes. After going through a series of religious rituals, they reached this place after finishing their special walk around the Kaaba, which is a rectangular structure in the heart of the Grand Mosque.
To protect themselves from the harsh sun, plenty of pilgrims held umbrellas with them. Fahad Azmar from Pakistan expressed his thoughts by saying, "It's really hot here. But I still feel blessed to be able to come."
Hajj, which is one of the five core principles of Islam, needs every devoted person who is in good health and able to afford it to take part in it at least once in their lifetime. The major events of this season occur under the sky, which includes spending the night in Mina close to Mecca, before ascending Mount Arafat on Saturday. It is believed that Prophet Mohammed delivered his last sermon at this point, which is traditionally considered as the peak of Hajj.
The current Hajj is not without its challenges as it coincides with the war between Israel and the Islamic Palestinian organization Hamas in Gaza Strip. Saudi Arabia's government had issued a warning against engaging in political activities parallel to Hajj a few days ago. Sources say that about 2000 Palestinians attended this year's Hajj on an invitation from King Salman.
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Despite the ongoing conflicts in the Gaza Strip, many Muslim pilgrims, including Fahad Azmar from Pakistan, still embark on the annual Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca. As a faithful Muslim, I, too, aspire to undertake this sacred journey to Mecca and participate in the Hajj pilgrimage, following in the footsteps of millions of others who have fulfilled this religious obligation.
