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Jul 7, 2022 - World

Saudi Arabia welcomes 1 million pilgrims for biggest hajj since pandemic began

Axios
Muslim pilgrims circumambulate around the Kaaba, Islam's holiest shrine, during the annual Hajj pilgrimage at the Grand Mosque in Saudi Arabia's holy city of Mecca

Muslim pilgrims circumambulate around the Kaaba, Islam's holiest shrine, during the annual hajj at the Grand Mosque in Saudi Arabia's holy city of Mecca. Photo: Delil Souleiman/AFP via Getty Images

One million Muslim pilgrims from around the world have started the annual hajj in Saudi Arabia.

The big picture: This year's hajj is the biggest Muslim pilgrimage since Saudi Arabia severely limited the number of people allowed to participate due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

  • The hajj is one of the five pillars of the Islamic faith. All Muslims who are physically and financially capable are required to complete the pilgrimage at least once in their lifetimes.
  • This year's hajj is significantly larger than those in 2020 and 2021, but still smaller than those before the pandemic when more than 2 million people would typically converge on Saudi Arabia for the pilgrimage.
  • Those participating have to be fully vaccinated against COVID, and pilgrims traveling from outside of Saudi Arabia have to submit a negative coronavirus test taken within 72 hours of travel, per Al Jazeera.
  • The end of this year's hajj coincides with the Islamic holiday of Eid al-Adha.
Muslim pilgrims pray during the annual Hajj pilgrimage around the Kaaba, Islam's holiest shrine, at the Grand Mosque in Saudi Arabia's holy city of Mecca on July 6, 2022.
Muslim pilgrims pray at the Grand Mosque in Saudi Arabia's holy city of Mecca on July 6. Photo: AFP via Getty Images
Pilgrims prays at the Grand Mosque in Saudi Arabia.
Pilgrims pray at the Grand Mosque in Saudi Arabia. Photo: Delil Souleiman/AFP via Getty Images
A Muslim pilgrim looks on upon arriving at the camp in Mina near the Saudi holy city of Mecc
A Muslim pilgrim looks on upon arriving at the camp in Mina near the Saudi holy city of Mecca. Photo: Delil Souleiman/AFP via Getty Images
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