More than one million Muslim pilgrims streamed into a giant tented city near Makkah, Saudi Arabia, under a scorching sun on Friday as the Hajj pilgrimage got underway against the grim backdrop of the Gaza war.
Robed worshippers arrived on buses or on foot, many shaded by umbrellas, at the vast encampment after performing the 鈥榯awaf鈥� 鈥� walking seven times around the Kaaba, the giant black cube at Mecca鈥檚 Grand Mosque.
Chanting 鈥楪od is great鈥櫬� and 鈥楪od, we answer your call鈥�, many were awash with spiritual fervour as they followed in the footsteps of the Prophet Muhammad鈥檚 final pilgrimage nearly 1,400 years ago.
Participants, who numbered 1.5 million by Monday, have travelled from all parts of the world for the annual rites, this year held in sweltering conditions with forecast daily highs of 44 degrees Celsius.
鈥業t鈥檚 very, very hot,鈥� said Fahad Azmar, 31, from Pakistan. 鈥楤ut I thank God for the opportunity to be here.鈥�
They will spend the night at Mina, a rocky valley several kilometres outside Makkah, before climbing Mount Arafat for the pilgrimage鈥檚 climax on Saturday.
Accommodation in Mina鈥檚 air-conditioned tents is organised by nationality and price, depending on how much each pilgrim paid for their Hajj package.
鈥楾here should be more space between the beds, and the air-conditioning doesn鈥檛 work very well but the Hajj is all about patience,鈥� said Intisham al-Ahi, a 44-year-old Pakistani who was sharing a tent with dozens of his compatriots.
Outside, misting stations were installed to cool the faithful, and security guards splashed passers-by with water.
Most of the Hajj is outdoors but Saturday will be particularly testing for the worshippers, when they spend most of the day praying on Mount Arafat.
Mohammed al-Abdulali, spokesperson for the Saudi health ministry, said this week there were more than 10,000 documented cases of heat-related illnesses last year, 10 per cent of which were heat stroke.
A text message sent to pilgrims on Thursday instructed them to 鈥榙rink water regularly, more than two litres daily鈥� and to 鈥榓lways carry an umbrella鈥�, warning that temperatures could climb to 48 degrees Celsius.
Many pilgrims said they would pray for Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, more than eight months into the Israel-Hamas war that has left tens of thousands dead.
Zahra Benizahra, 78, from Morocco could not hold back her tears as described the 鈥榠mages of war, displaced people, dead children鈥� that haunt her.
鈥極ur brothers are dying, and we can see it with our own eyes,鈥� she said.
Belinda Elham of Indonesia, which has the world鈥檚 largest Muslim population, said she would 鈥榩ray every day so that what鈥檚 happening in Palestine ends鈥�.
Some 2,000 Palestinians are conducting the Hajj at the special invitation of King Salman, official media said.
However, the Gulf kingdom鈥檚 minister in charge of religious pilgrimages warned last week that 鈥榥o political activity鈥� will be tolerated.
The Hajj, one of the world鈥檚 largest religious gatherings, is one of the five pillars of Islam and must be performed at least once by all Muslims who have the means to do so.
Some have waited for years for the chance to make the trip, with permits allocated by Saudi authorities on a quota basis for each country.
Nonaartina Hajipaoli, 50, said she felt privileged to be among the 1,000 pilgrims who came this year from Brunei in Southeast Asia.
鈥業鈥檓 speechless, I can鈥檛 describe what I feel,鈥� she said.
Last year鈥檚 Hajj drew more than 1.8 million pilgrims, according to official figures, after authorities lifted pandemic-era restrictions and scrapped age limits.