MAKKAH — Thousands of Muslims started to leave the holy city of Makkah on Friday after completing the annual Hajj pilgrimage, a profound spiritual journey undertaken this year by more than 1.7 million people from 165 countries. The massive religious gathering unfolded under scorching temperatures and against a tense geopolitical backdrop of conflict across the Middle East.
The rituals were performed in the shadow of a regional war triggered by US-Israeli strikes on Iran earlier this year. Since hostilities erupted in February, Tehran has responded with waves of drone and missile attacks targeting infrastructure and energy installations across the Gulf, including inside Saudi Arabia.
Iranian Pilgrim Numbers Drop Amid Wartime Situation
More than 30,000 Iranian nationals made the journey to Makkah, a figure representing roughly one-third of the 86,000 pilgrims originally expected from the country. Iran’s IRNA state news agency attributed the significant drop to the “wartime situation” gripping the region.
For many, completing the pilgrimage was an emotional triumph over adversity. “I can’t believe I completed the Hajj,” said Ahmed Mamdouh, a 37-year-old Egyptian performing the pilgrimage for the first time. Fighting back tears, he added, “I am very happy that I completed the rituals safely. Hajj is truly exhausting, especially in such hot weather.”
The sentiment of lifelong dreams fulfilled resonated across the holy sites. Algerian pilgrim Al-Zaoui, 74, wrapped his arm around his wife and shared their personal milestone. “It was our dream to perform the Hajj together,” he said. “Now that dream has come true after 50 years of marriage.”
Final Rituals and Farewell Tawaf
On Friday, the faithful concluded the third and final day of the stoning ritual in the valley of Mina, southeast of Makkah. The symbolic act involves throwing pebbles at concrete pillars that represent the devil. Following this, pilgrims boarded buses to the Grand Mosque to perform the farewell “tawaf,” circumambulating the Holy Kaaba seven times. The giant black cube is the focal point of Islam and the direction of prayer for Muslims worldwide.
The Hajj, one of the five pillars of Islam, is a mandatory religious duty that must be performed at least once in a lifetime by all adult Muslims who are physically and financially capable. The multi-day event consists of a series of rituals that take place largely outdoors.
Heat Mitigation Measures After Past Tragedies
This year’s pilgrimage occurred during a period of intense heat, prompting Saudi authorities to implement extensive safety measures. The precautions follow the tragic 2024 Hajj, during which more than 1,300 pilgrims died as temperatures soared above 50°C. New mitigation strategies deployed this year included the creation of additional shaded areas and the deployment of thousands of extra health workers.
The Saudi Red Crescent reported on Thursday that its emergency services had provided medical assistance to “more than 83,000 people since the beginning of the Hajj season,” highlighting the immense logistical and humanitarian effort required to safeguard the massive crowd.
