Every Muslim who is physically and financially capable is required to make the Hajj trip at least once in their lifetime.Muslim pilgrims cast stones at pillars in the symbolic stoning of the devil during the annual Hajj, near the holy city of Mecca, June 30, 2023.MECCA, Saudi Arabia — Once a year, Muslim pilgrims flowing into Saudi Arabia unite in a series of religious rituals and acts of worship as they perform the Hajj, one of the pillars of Islam.
For pilgrims, performing Hajj fulfills a religious obligation, but it’s also a deeply spiritual experience of a lifetime for many. It’s seen as a chance to seek God’s forgiveness for past sins, to grow closer to God and to walk in the footsteps of prophets. In 2019, nearly 2.5 million Muslims performed Hajj before the coronavirus pandemic disrupted religious and other gatherings the world over andon the Islamic pilgrimage. Last year’s Hajj was the first to be held without COVID-19 restrictions since the start of the pandemic in 2020.
Muslims do not worship the Kaaba, a cube-shaped structure that they consider the metaphorical house of God; it’s the focal point toward which devout Muslims face during their daily prayers from anywhere in the world.