Hajj

Tehran pushes for Saudi Arabia to release Iranian cleric who posted critical video

Gholamreza Qassemian posted a video in which he heavily criticized Saudi Arabia for enabling moral corruption in the kingdom.

 Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi speaks during a joint press conference with Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Tehran, Iran, February 25, 2025.
Muslim pilgrims take part in the annual haj pilgrimage in Mina, Saudi Arabia, June 16, 2024.

Hundreds reportedly died at this year's Hajj in Saudi Arabia

Muslim pilgrims circle the Kaaba and pray at the Grand mosque ahead of annual Hajj pilgrimage in the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia August 16, 2018

Soaring temperatures scorch pilgrims on Hajj in Saudi Arabia

Muslim pilgrims circle the Kaaba and pray at the Grand mosque ahead of annual Hajj pilgrimage in the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia August 16, 2018

Iran's Khamenei politicizes Hajj again, calls for global dissociation from Israel


Muslim pilgrims gather for peak of haj east of Mecca

Pilgrims clad in white robes climbed the rocky Mount of Mercy, which oversees the plain of Arafat where the Prophet Mohammad held his last sermon.

Muslim pilgrims gather on Mount of Mercy at the plain of Arafat during the annual haj pilgrimage, outside the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, July 8, 2022

'Zionist capitalists' plague for world even before Israel - Khamenei

"The Zionists have always been a plague, even before establishing the fraudulent Zionist regime," the Iranian leader said.

 Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei address Hajj officials in Iran, June 8, 2022

For the first time, Saudi women stand guard in Mecca during Hajj

"This is a huge accomplishment for us and it is the biggest pride to be in the service of religion, the country, and the guests of God".

A female Saudi police officer stands guard as pilgrims perform Tawaf during Hajj/Mecca, Saudi Arabia.

Explainer: Who can attend this year’s Hajj?

Islam’s sacred pilgrimage will be limited to 60,000 people already present in the kingdom due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Muslim pilgrims circle the Kaaba and pray at the Grand mosque ahead of annual Hajj pilgrimage in the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia August 16, 2018

Saudi Arabia lays out restrictions for hajj

Saudi Arabia's coronavirus infection count passed 200,000 on Monday, as the number of new cases continues to climb following the lifting of the curfew last month.

General view of Kaaba at empty Grand Mosque, as a preventive measure against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), during the holy month of Ramadan, in the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia May 7, 2020

Saudi Arabia to bar arrivals from abroad to attend the hajj

The announcement means this will be the first year in modern times that Muslims from around the world have not been allowed to make the annual pilgrimage to Mecca.

A Muslim pilgrim prays atop Mount Thor in the holy city of Mecca ahead of the annual hajj pilgrimage

Thousands of Iranians register for, plan to attend hajj amid coronavirus

Considering that Saudi Arabia has not officially announced its position on this year's hajj, registration and selections have gone on as they had in previous years.

General view of Kaaba at the Grand Mosque, which is almost empty of worshippers, after Saudi authority suspended umrah amid the fear of coronavirus outbreak, at Muslim holy city of Mecca

Muslim pilgrims descend on Mecca for haj, Saudis warn against politics

Saudi Arabia stakes its reputation on its guardianship of Islam's holiest sites and organizing a peaceful haj, which has been marred in the past by deadly stampedes, fires and riots.

Muslims pray at the Grand Mosque during the annual Haj pilgrimage in the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia August 6, 2019

COGAT prepares for thousands of Palestinians on Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca

“To the pilgrims, and to the entire Muslim world, we wish a blessed Hajj," COGAT's head, Maj.-Gen. Kamil Abu Rukun, said.

Palestinians travel through a crossing monitored by COGAT on umrah, the pilgrimage to Mecca for Hajj

The Changing Faces of Eid Al-Adha

The ‘Feast of Sacrifice’ is celebrated by Muslims around the world with slowly evolving culinary and ritual traditions

Muslim pilgrims circle the Kaaba and pray at the Grand mosque ahead of annual Hajj pilgrimage in  Mecca, Saudi Arabia