Over 1.4 Million Muslims Embark on Hajj Pilgrimage Amidst Scorching Heat
This year’s Hajj pilgrimage has commenced in the Saudi holy city of Mecca, with over 1.4 million Muslims taking part, a year after a tragic incident claimed the lives of 1,300 people, mostly due to extreme heat. According to the BBC, Saudi authorities have implemented enhanced safety measures to mitigate the effects of the heat, which is forecast to reach 44C (111F).
The Saudi authorities have taken several steps to ensure the safety of the pilgrims, including planting thousands of trees and installing hundreds of cooling units. Additionally, children under 12 have been banned from participating, and pilgrims attempting to undertake the Hajj without an official permit face a $5,000 (£3,685) fine and a 10-year entry ban. As of Sunday, officials reported that they had stopped over 269,000 people from entering Mecca. The BBC cited officials stating that 80% of the pilgrims who died last year, including hundreds of Egyptians and Indonesians, were unregistered and therefore lacked access to proper air-conditioned accommodation, transport, and other amenities.
The Hajj, one of the five Pillars of Islam, is a journey that every adult Muslim must undertake at least once in their lives if they can afford it and are physically able. The pilgrimage takes place in the 12th month of the Islamic lunar calendar. On the first day of the Hajj, male pilgrims were required to change their clothes for two white cloths and enter the state of Ihram. Women put on modest clothing and covered their head, but not their face. The pilgrims then headed to Mecca’s Grand Mosque, Islam’s holiest site, and circled the Kaaba three times – a ritual known as tawaf. They could also walk seven times between the hills of Safa and Marwa, known as sai.
According to the BBC, many Muslims cannot afford an official Hajj package, which can cost from $4,000 to $20,000 depending on their country of origin, length of stay, and level of comfort. As a result, they enter the Gulf kingdom on tourist or visitor visas. The Saudi health ministry has urged pilgrims to follow strict guidelines to mitigate the effects of the heat, including avoiding exposure to the sun between 10:00 and 16:00, using umbrellas to shade themselves, and drinking water regularly.
To combat the heat, shaded areas have been enlarged by 50,000 sq m (12 acres), and over 400 cooling units have been installed, according to the Hajj minister. The cooling system in the Grand Mosque is reportedly the largest in the world. Additionally, more rubberized and cooled roads have been built to reduce surface temperatures, and artificial intelligence will be used to monitor a fleet of drones and help manage crowds.
The BBC noted that in 2015, more than 2,300 people were reportedly killed in a stampede in Mina. In light of this, the Saudi authorities have taken steps to enhance safety, including the use of drones and AI to manage crowds. The pilgrims will spend the night in a tent city in Mina before heading to Mount Arafat on Thursday, where the Prophet Muhammad is said to have delivered his final sermon. With the implementation of these safety measures, the Saudi authorities are hopeful that this year’s Hajj pilgrimage will be a safe and successful one.
The Hajj minister has emphasized that the safety of the pilgrims is of utmost importance, and the authorities will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that the pilgrimage is completed without any major incidents. As reported by the BBC, the Saudi authorities are committed to providing a safe and comfortable experience for all pilgrims, and have taken significant steps to mitigate the effects of the heat.
