Friday, June 14, 2024 The Hajj pilgrimage has already started in Mecca and Medina. But what is happening to the people who have gathered for this holy trip. In the midst of scorching heat, Muslim pilgrims from around the globe gathered on June 14 in the vast tent city in the desert outside Mecca, marking the official opening of the annual Hajj pilgrimage.
This year’s Hajj sees over 1.5 million pilgrims converging in Mecca, with numbers expected to surpass 2 million as more join from within Saudi Arabia. Despite the massive heatwave, we have to understand that the faith has surpassed for the divine being in this holy land.
In 2024, the Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca draws over 2 million Muslims despite soaring temperatures and regional tensions. Enduring Faith : Extreme Heat Conditions : Geopolitical Tensions : Real-Life Examples of Pilgrims Facing Travel Hurdles Amna Abu Mutlaq, a 75-year-old woman from Gaza’s southern city of Khan Younis, expressed her disappointment: “We are deprived of Hajj because the crossing is closed, and because of the raging wars and destruction,” highlighting how geopolitical issues can disrupt the spiritual aspirations of many. Meanwhile, for the first time in over a decade, Syrian pilgrims traveled directly from Damascus to Mecca, a significant development reflecting the thawing relations between Saudi Arabia and Syria.
Abdel-Aziz al-Ashqar, a coordinator for the Syrian group, remarked, “This is the natural thing: Pilgrims go to Hajj directly .
