Pilgrims 'stone the devil' with sanitised pebbles in hajj ritual
Muslim pilgrims cast sanitised pebbles Monday as they took part in the "stoning of the devil", the last major ritual of this year's hajj which is again under tight coronavirus restrictions. From first light, small groups of pilgrims made their way across the Valley of Mina near Mecca in western Saudi Arabia to symbolically "humiliate" the devil at the Jamrah al-Aqaba mosque.
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The renewed relevance of Hajj today
As many Muslims perform Hajj this week, we must be reminded that no society is immune from the scourge of racism and its toxic legacy
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Holy Kaaba gets new Kiswa
The Kiswa, the cloth covering the Holy Kaaba, was replaced with the new one early Monday in accordance with the annual tradition ahead of Eid Al-Adha, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
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Pilgrims ascend Arafat for climax of Hajj
At the high point of spirituality, around 60,000 pilgrims ascended on Monday on the vast plains of Arafat at the climax of the Hajj, which is being held in downsized form and under coronavirus restrictions for the second year running.
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Hajj sermon 2021: Don’t travel to areas affected by plague
Sheikh Bandar Baleela, one of the muftis of the grand mosque, delivered the Hajj sermon on Monday.
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Standing at Arafat
The day of Arafat is among the most sacred days for Muslims around the world. Considered as the day of repentance, Arafat Day falls on the ninth of Dhul-Hijjah, the 12th lunar month in the Islamic calendar, and is regarded as the most important pillar of the annual pilgrimage.
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Pilgrims converge on Mina as spiritual journey of lifetime begins
Marking the beginning of the annual pilgrimage of Hajj on Sunday, a total of 60,000 pilgrims have started their lifetime spiritual journey by converging on the tent city of Mina since morning.
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Saudi guard takes care of baby so that mother can pray at Grand Mosque of Makkah
In a humane gesture, a security guard at the Grand Mosque of Makkah was seen holding a crying baby so that his mother could pray. The caring gesture has gone viral on all social media platforms
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First flight carrying 258 pilgrims from Riyadh arrives in Jeddah
The first flight carrying 258 pilgrims from Riyadh arrived at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah on Saturday.
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Grand Mosque sees growing use of robots in serving pilgrims
The General Presidency for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques has intensified the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the Grand Mosques as it prepares to receive pilgrims for annual Hajj rites amid strict COVID-19 precautionary measures.
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Automated response service for pilgrims' Hajj queries to be available in 10 languages
The General Secretariat for Islamic Awareness of Hajj, Umrah and Visit, an affiliate of the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Call and Guidance, is set to launch the automated response service via the toll-free phone (8002451000) for answering queries of pilgrims around the clock in 10 languages throughout the Hajj period.
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300 volunteers to man 25 ambulatory points in Makkah to serve Hajj pilgrims
More than 300 volunteers from the Saudi Red Crescent Authority (SRCA) will help provide ambulatory services in Makkah, Mina, Arafat, and Muzdalifah during this year’s Hajj season.
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