Five Things to Know About Hajj Pilgrimage This Year
Millions of Muslims have gathered in Mecca, marking the beginning of the five-day Hajj pilgrimage-the world's largest annual religious gathering. It is year 1446 in the Islamic calendar.
Pilgrims are expected to retrace the steps of the Prophet Muhammad, moving through the holiest sites in Saudi Arabia's Hejaz region.
The pilgrimage starts with standing at Mount Arafat, which is the pivotal moment of Hajj, where the prophet delivered his Farewell Sermon and ends with throwing stones at the three pillars (Jamarat) in Mina, symbolizing the rejection of evil. It includes the Eid al-Adha celebration, commemorating Abraham's (Ibrahim) willingness to sacrifice his son in obedience to God.
Over time, the pilgrimage has undergone significant changes and faced logistical, political, and safety-related challenges. Here are five things to know about Hajj:
Estimated to include nearly two million pillion-with at least 1.5 million from overseas-the kingdom had to cut back on the number of accepted pilgrims. Following repeated disastrous stampede deaths, authorities have enhanced crowd management and safety measures. A stampede in 2015 killed more than 2,400 people according to the Associated Press.
For years, experts have warned that climate change in Saudi Arabia could cause Hajj pilgrims to encounter extreme heat levels in coming decades. According to Saudi weather forecasts, the temperature is already at 104 F in Mecca.
Extreme heat has caused many pilgrim deaths during Hajj in recent years, with more than 1,300 reported dead last year. This year, Saudi Arabia launched a massive cooling system in Mecca's Grand Mosque.
Infrastructure in Mecca has been significantly expanded, with multiple new levels added around the Kaaba to ease crowd flow. Also introduced were electric mobility options to assist pilgrims, although walking remains the traditional method for performing rituals.
Hajj 2025 has witnessed significant use of military equipment, artificial Intelligence (AI) and drone surveillance systems to monitor crowd movements and detect unauthorized access, ensuring real-time response to potential issues.
Hajj reflects a distinct economic hierarchy, with wealthier pilgrims often opting for premium Hajj packages offering private tents, faster transport, and hotel proximity to the Haram, while lower-income pilgrims endure long queues, shared accommodation and basic services. This stratification is reinforced by a multi-tiered system of travel agencies and national quotas.
While reinforcing its role as custodian of Islam's holiest sites, Saudi Arabia has been criticized by some Muslim nations for using Hajj as a strategic power tool-especially during political crises-projecting religious leadership and regional influence, with Iran often capitalizing on criticism of the kingdom.
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