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Hajj

Every year, millions of Muslims undertake the Hajj, the pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia. All Muslims who are financially and physically able must complete the Hajj once in their lifetime.

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BdTD Saudi-Arabien Mekka 2026 | Pilger am Berg Arafat während der Hadsch

BdTD Saudi-Arabien Mekka 2026 | Pilger am Berg Arafat während der Hadsch

Pilgrims pray on Mount Arafat as Hajj reaches peak

The Hajj, one of the five pillars of Islam, must be performed at least once by all Muslims with the means to do so.

Muslim pilgrims from various countries around the world who come to perform the Hajj, visit the Masjid al-Haram ahead of the Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca, Saudi Arabia.

Muslim pilgrims from various countries around the world who come to perform the Hajj, visit the Masjid al-Haram ahead of the Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca, Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia: 1.5 million join Hajj pilgrimage despite war

Saudi Arabia has been targeted during the Iran war, but is hosting the all-important Muslim pilgrimage anyway.

Muslim pilgrims pray at dawn on Saudi Arabia's Mount Arafat, also known as Jabal al-Rahma or Mount of Mercy, during the climax of the Hajj pilgrimage on June 5, 2025

Muslim pilgrims pray at dawn on Saudi Arabia's Mount Arafat, also known as Jabal al-Rahma or Mount of Mercy, during the climax of the Hajj pilgrimage on June 5, 2025

Millions of Muslim pilgrims arrive in Mecca for annual Hajj

Saudi Arabia braces for scorching temperatures to avoid a repeat of last year, when over 1,000 pilgrims died from heat.

Muslim worshippers hold up mobile phones as pilgrims gather for prayers around the Kaaba, Islam's holiest shrine, at the Grand Mosque complex in the holy city of Mecca on June 2, 2025 ahead of the annual Hajj pilgrimage.

Muslim worshippers hold up mobile phones as pilgrims gather for prayers around the Kaaba, Islam's holiest shrine, at the Grand Mosque complex in the holy city of Mecca on June 2, 2025 ahead of the annual Hajj pilgrimage.

High-tech Hajj: More security, less privacy?

Saudi authorities will use drones, AI and other tech for safety at the Hajj pilgrimage. But this increases other risks.

Rescuers carry away a man effected by the scorching heat as Muslim pilgrims perform Hajj

Rescuers carry away a man effected by the scorching heat as Muslim pilgrims perform Hajj

Over 1,300 pilgrims died during Hajj, Saudi authorities say

Saudi authorities say the majority were "unauthorized" pilgrimed who accessed the holy sites via an illegal route.

Rescuers carry away a man effected by the scorching heat as Muslim pilgrims perform the symbolic 'stoning of the devil' ritual as part of the hajj pilgrimage in Mina, near Saudi Arabia's holy city of Mecca, on June 16, 2024

Rescuers carry away a man effected by the scorching heat as Muslim pilgrims perform the symbolic 'stoning of the devil' ritual as part of the hajj pilgrimage in Mina, near Saudi Arabia's holy city of Mecca, on June 16, 2024

Egypt blames Hajj deaths on 'unregistered' Mecca arrivals

Hundreds are believed to have died during the Muslim pilgrimage this year, the majority being from Egypt.

A man is carried away on a stretcher during the hajj pilgrimage

A man is carried away on a stretcher during the hajj pilgrimage

Hajj heat deaths

Hundreds have died during the annual pilgrimage to Mecca, where temperatures rose to around 52 degrees Celsius.

Muslim pilgrims use umbrellas to shield themselves from the sun as they arrive to cast stones at pillars in the symbolic stoning of the devil, the last rite of the annual hajj,

Muslim pilgrims use umbrellas to shield themselves from the sun as they arrive to cast stones at pillars in the symbolic stoning of the devil, the last rite of the annual hajj,

Who or what is responsible for Hajj deaths?

Are the authorities, the weather or gate-crashers to blame for the high death toll at the hajj in Saudi Arabia?

An aerial view shows Mecca's Grand Mosque with the Kaaba, Islam's holiest site, with many people

An aerial view shows Mecca's Grand Mosque with the Kaaba, Islam's holiest site, with many people

Hajj in Saudi Arabia: Extreme heat in Mecca

Extreme temperatures claimed hundreds of lives during the Hajj, turning the pilgrimage into a drama for many families.

Paramedics carry a Muslim pilgrim for a medical check after he fell down due to a heat stroke at pillars, in Mina, near the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia

Paramedics carry a Muslim pilgrim for a medical check after he fell down due to a heat stroke at pillars, in Mina, near the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia: 19 Hajj pilgrims die as temperatures rise

Temperatures have been rising as the ritual "stoning of the devil" gets underway and Muslims celebrate Eid al-Adha.

Muslim worshippers pray around the Kaaba, Islam's holiest shrine

Muslim worshippers pray around the Kaaba, Islam's holiest shrine

Saudi Arabia: Pilgrims gather for Hajj amid sweltering heat

Muslims from around the world have amassed around the Saudi Arabian city of Mecca for the Hajj pilgrimage.

Afghanistani elderly pilgrims wait outside the Grand Mosque in Mecca.

Afghanistani elderly pilgrims wait outside the Grand Mosque in Mecca.

Hajj 2024: Saudi Arabia braces for extreme heat

A heat wave during the Islamic pilgrimage will be mitigated but observers warn that long-term policy changes are needed.

A Muslim lady in a white robe shields her eyes from the sun outside the Grand Mosque in Mecca

A Muslim lady in a white robe shields her eyes from the sun outside the Grand Mosque in Mecca

Millions of Hajj pilgrims arrive in Saudi Arabia

The largest Hajj pilgrimage in years has around 2 million Muslims from around 160 countries arriving in Saudi Arabia.

Muslim pilgrims circumambulate around the Kaaba, the cubic building at the Grand Mosque, during the annual Hajj pilgrimage.

Muslim pilgrims circumambulate around the Kaaba, the cubic building at the Grand Mosque, during the annual Hajj pilgrimage.

Who gets to do Hajj in Saudi Arabia?

An opaque process of quotas, corruption, politics and logistical hassles all means the answer is fraught.

Muslims perform their Umrah as they start arriving to perform the annual Hajj in the Grand Mosque.

Muslims perform their Umrah as they start arriving to perform the annual Hajj in the Grand Mosque.

Millions reach Mecca for huge Hajj in Saudi heat

Nearly two million people are expected to take part in the Hajj pilgrimage — the biggest in years.

Pilgrims stand in long lines, waiting to enter the Great Mosque of Touba

Pilgrims stand in long lines, waiting to enter the Great Mosque of Touba

Millions of faithful make pilgrimage to Senegal

Each year, millions of Muslims set out on a pilgrimage to Touba, in central Senegal — even more than to Mecca.

Muslim worshippers pray around the Kaaba at the Grand Mosque in Saudi Arabia's holy city of Mecca on July 5, 2022.

Muslim worshippers pray around the Kaaba at the Grand Mosque in Saudi Arabia's holy city of Mecca on July 5, 2022.

Hajj: 1 million pilgrims descend on Mecca

The Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca has begun, the Hajj. This year, many coronavirus restrictions have been lifted.

Hands praying man before the Kaaba

Hands praying man before the Kaaba

Hajj 2022: Thousands of African Muslims stranded

The pilgrimage begins today but unexpected delays mean some will lose everything they paid for the trip.

Muslim pilgrims attend Friday prayer around the Kaaba

Muslim pilgrims attend Friday prayer around the Kaaba

Saudi Arabia expects a million pilgrims to make the hajj

Pilgrims began converging on the holy city of Mecca for the largest hajj since the COVID-19 pandemic.

A Muslim pilgrim prays beside robots used to vacuum and sanitize air at the Grand Mosque in Saudi Arabia's holy city of Mecca

A Muslim pilgrim prays beside robots used to vacuum and sanitize air at the Grand Mosque in Saudi Arabia's holy city of Mecca

Saudi Arabia's hajj lottery has Muslims fuming

Preparing for this year's pilgrimage to Mecca became a financial and logistical nightmare for many Muslims.

people celebrating in Jerusalem

people celebrating in Jerusalem

Pandemic overshadows hajj, Eid al-Adha celebrations

Hajj and celebrations for Eid al-Adha, Islam's festival of sacrifice, are now underway worldwide.

A picture taken on July 29, 2020, shows pilgrims circumambulating around the Kaaba, Islam's holiest shrine, at the centre of the Grand Mosque in the holy city of Mecca

A picture taken on July 29, 2020, shows pilgrims circumambulating around the Kaaba, Islam's holiest shrine, at the centre of the Grand Mosque in the holy city of Mecca

Saudi Arabia approves 60,000 residents for hajj

Only locally based worshippers will be able to attend this year's hajj pilgrimage.

Hajj pilgrims wearning masks walk on colored lines to circulate around the Kaaba in Mecca

Hajj pilgrims wearning masks walk on colored lines to circulate around the Kaaba in Mecca

Africa's Muslims woeful over scaled-down hajj

With the downsizing of this year's hajj, Africa's Muslims regret the missed chance and worry about getting a refund.

Pilgrims circumambulating around the Kaaba, Islam's holiest shrine, at the centre of the Grand Mosque in the holy city of Mecca

Pilgrims circumambulating around the Kaaba, Islam's holiest shrine, at the centre of the Grand Mosque in the holy city of Mecca

2020 hajj: Amid COVID-19, thousands flock to Mecca

With COVID-19 still a global threat, only a few thousand people have been allowed to make the trip to Mecca this year.

Men burn incense as Muslim a small number of pilgrims circumambulate the Kaaba

Men burn incense as Muslim a small number of pilgrims circumambulate the Kaaba

Scaled-down hajj gets underway in Mecca

Only a small number of faithful are taking part in this year's hajj to limit that chance of infection.

Sanitation workers disinfect the area around the Kaaba in Mecca's Grand Mosque, on the first day of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan

Sanitation workers disinfect the area around the Kaaba in Mecca's Grand Mosque, on the first day of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan

Pakistanis dejected over Hajj restrictions this year

Some 200,000 Pakistanis travel to Mecca every year to perform the Hajj, but this year, they can only watch it on TV.

Social distancing during prayers inside Mecca's Grand Mosque

Social distancing during prayers inside Mecca's Grand Mosque

Hajj cancellation leaves Mecca lifeless

The effective cancellation of this year's hajj has upended the dreams of many of its 2 million pilgrims.

The ferry

The ferry

EU court rules Red Sea ferry victims can sue in Italy

The EU’s top court ruled that two Italian companies can be sued for damages, 14 years after the disaster.

Muslim pilgrims cast stones at a pillar in the symbolic stoning of the devil

Muslim pilgrims cast stones at a pillar in the symbolic stoning of the devil

Hajj 'stoning of the devil' ceremony underway

More than 2 million Muslim pilgrims attended the symbolic ritual of stoning the devil near the Saudi holy city of Mecca.

Muslims pray toward the Kaaba during the hajj

Muslims pray toward the Kaaba during the hajj

The hajj, Islam's annual pilgrimage to Mecca, begins

Every year, around 2 million Muslims from around the world journey to the holy city of Mecca for a five-day pilgrimage.

Muslim pilgrims circle the Kaaba

Muslim pilgrims circle the Kaaba

Hajj at the height of summer

Millions of believers, heat and loud prayers: This is the hajj in Mecca, the pilgrimage hot spot in Saudi Arabia.

Saudi-Arabien - Beginn des Hadsch (picture-alliance/dpa/D. Yasin)

Saudi-Arabien - Beginn des Hadsch (picture-alliance/dpa/D. Yasin)

The hajj by the numbers

The annual pilgrimage to Islam's holiest sites, located in Saudi Arabia, is among the world's largest gatherings.

Saudi-Arabien - Beginn des Hadsch

Saudi-Arabien - Beginn des Hadsch

Hajj begins amid political and economic tensions

The six-day Muslim pilgrimage known as the hajj began amid a political feud between Qatar and Saudi Arabia.

Hadsch in Saudi-Arabien

Hadsch in Saudi-Arabien

Stoning of the Devil

This year's "Stoning of the Devil" ritual occured without incident as Muslims make their annual Hajj pilgrimage.

Muslims pray at the Grand mosque ahead of the annual Haj pilgrimage in Mecca, Saudi Arabia

Muslims pray at the Grand mosque ahead of the annual Haj pilgrimage in Mecca, Saudi Arabia

Millions descend on Mecca for hajj

Saudi Arabia is welcoming Muslims from around the globe for the world's biggest annual gathering of people.

Pilgrims touching Kaaba

Pilgrims touching Kaaba

What is the Hajj?

Here are the key things you need to know about the Hajj, a pilgrimage every Muslim is expected to do once in their life.

The entrance to the Iranian Embassy in Qatar

The entrance to the Iranian Embassy in Qatar

Qatar resumes full diplomatic ties with Iran

The move is the latest twist in a nearly 3-month-old diplomatic row between Sunni countries in the Middle East.

Grenze Katar / Saudi-Arabien

Grenze Katar / Saudi-Arabien

Saudi Arabia to open border for Qatari pilgrims

Saudi King Salman has ordered that the border with Qatar be reopened to allow pilgrims for the hajj.

Mohammad Javad Zarif Iran Davos World Economic Forum Schweiz

Mohammad Javad Zarif Iran Davos World Economic Forum Schweiz

Iran and Saudi Arabia struggle to reconcile differences

Tehran has claimed that 10 countries are to mediate a reconciliation between regional adversaries Iran and Saudi Arabia.

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@dwnews - Eid al-Adha on social media

Hajj 2016

Hajj 2016

Hajj pilgrimage gets underway

Security has been stepped up in the Saudi holy city of Mecca following last year's stampede, which killed 2,300 people.

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@dwnews: Saudi Arabia and Iran trade barbs as Hajj starts

Mustafa Kishwar Kommentarbild App

Mustafa Kishwar Kommentarbild App

Islam's holy sites belong to Muslims

Kishwar Mustafa

Riyadh and Tehran have no right to decide who should perform the hajj pilgrimage in Mecca, writes DW's Kishwar Mustafa.

Saudi Arabien Mekka Pilger Kaaba

Saudi Arabien Mekka Pilger Kaaba

Sunni-Shiite cold war

The "cold war" rhetoric between Iran and Saudi Arabia threatens the entire Middle East.

Iran pilgrims blocked from hajj

The leader has criticized Saudi Arabia and asked the Muslim world to challenge the country's control of hajj sites.

Hajj in Mecca

Hajj in Mecca

E-bracelets ordered for Hajj pilgrims

Saudi newspapers have reported that pilgrims joining this year's Hajj will have to wear an electronic safety bracelet.

Saudi Arabien Hadsch in Mekka

Saudi Arabien Hadsch in Mekka

Iran pilgrims must skip hajj after Saudi dispute

After failing to reach a security agreement with Riyadh, Tehran has said no Iranians can make the pilgrimage this year.

Riad Indiens Premierminister Narendra Modi in Saudi Arabien bei Prinz aisal bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz

Riad Indiens Premierminister Narendra Modi in Saudi Arabien bei Prinz aisal bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz

India PM Modi in Saudi Arabia

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has touched down in Riyadh with hopes to secure trade ties as Indian demand for oil booms.

Over 450 Iranians killed in hajj stampede

Saudi Arabia has reported the death of 769 pilgrims during the hajj stampede on September 24

Protests against Saudi Arabia on the streets of Teheran

Protests against Saudi Arabia on the streets of Teheran

Iran seeks Saudi apology for hajj disaster

Iran's supreme leader has demanded an apology from Riyadh for the deadly hajj stampede earlier this week.