Mecca's streets are once again filled with white-robed worshipers from around the world.

The holiest city in Islam is preparing for the biggest Hajj since the beginning of the Corona pandemic, which begins these days.

Banners greet the pilgrims, squares and streets are decorated and armed security forces patrol the city, the birthplace of Prophet Muhammad.

Abdel Kader Cheder from Sudan says he feels pure joy.

"I almost can't believe I'm here.

I enjoy every moment.”

At the climax of the Hajj, the Islamic Festival of Sacrifice will take place, which is also the highest Islamic festival.

It lasts four days, beginning this year on the evening of July 9th and ending on July 13th.

What is Hajj?

The Hajj is the great Muslim pilgrimage to the city of Mecca in western Saudi Arabia and is one of the five pillars of Islam, along with public confession of faith, daily prayer, fasting during the month of Ramadan and helping those in need.

Where are the origins of Hajj?

The ritual sequence of the pilgrimage goes back to the "farewell pilgrimage" in the spring of 632.

With her, Muhammad, the Prophet of the Muslims, laid down all the details followed to this day.

He walked with a few thousand Muslims the way that millions of pilgrims walk 1400 years after him.

For many Muslims, the "farewell pilgrimage" is the high point in Muhammad's work and his legacy.

He died a few months later.

Why do Muslims have to make a pilgrimage to Mecca?

It is a religious duty for every Muslim to make a pilgrimage to Mecca once in their lifetime – as long as they can afford it financially and physically.

Those who do not meet the requirements for the strenuous journey lasting several days are theologically exempt from the pilgrimage.

How much does Hajj cost?

The Hajj costs the equivalent of at least around 4800 euros per person.

It is a gold mine for Saudi Arabia, the world's largest oil exporter, and together with other religious tourism brings in around twelve billion euros a year.

The pilgrimage is also a chance for the country to show its willingness to reform to the outside world at a time when human rights abuses continue to be regularly reported.

When is Hajj 2022?

The Hajj takes place every year in the last month of the Islamic lunar calendar.

This month is called Dhu al Hajj.

This year the Hajj falls on or after July 7th.

Because of the constantly growing number of pilgrims, especially foreign ones, Saudi Arabia has limited their number per country.

The strict restrictions had caused resentment among many Muslims abroad.

In the past two years, the pilgrimage to Mecca had also only taken place in a greatly reduced form due to the corona pandemic.

How many pilgrims are expected in Mecca?

One million people are allowed to attend this year's Hajj, including 850,000 from abroad.

According to the authorities in Saudi Arabia, 650,000 of them arrived on Sunday.

Three years ago, about 2.5 million people took part in the pilgrimage.

In order not to promote mass infections with the corona virus, foreigners were excluded from the Hajj in 2020 and only 10,000 pilgrims were admitted.

In 2021, 60,000 fully vaccinated believers from Saudi Arabia were allowed to participate.

This year, only pilgrims who are vaccinated and under the age of 65 can participate, in compliance with strict hygiene rules.

While Saudi Arabia has abolished the requirement to wear a mask in most enclosed spaces, wearing a mouth and nose protector is mandatory in the Grand Mosque.

Foreigners must also show a negative PCR test.

According to authorities, the Grand Mosque is "cleaned ten times a day" during the Hajj by "more than 4,000 male and female workers."

More than 130,000 liters of disinfectant are to be used each time.

Since the pandemic began, Saudi Arabia has recorded more than 795,000 coronavirus cases, 9,000 of them fatal, in a population of about 34 million.

What happens at Hajj?

The Hajj includes, among other things, the circumambulation of the Kaaba, the cube-shaped building in the courtyard of the Holy Mosque of Mecca, the assembly on Mount Arafat and the symbolic stoning of the devil in Mina.

After arriving in Mecca, pilgrims have to circumambulate the Kaaba seven times on the left.

Then they also walk the path between the hills of Safa and Marwa seven times and drink from the well of Zamzan.

With the ritual they want to come close to the experience of God Hagar, Abraham's concubine, who opened the saving spring of Zamzan in the desert with her son Ishmael.

On the seventh day of the pilgrimage month, the pilgrims in Mecca hear a sermon, and on the eighth they set off for the "Mercy Hill" on Mount Arafat, which is 25 kilometers from Mecca.

They spend the night in Mina before spending the ninth day in silence on the slopes of Mount Arafat - the spiritual climax of the pilgrimage.

According to Islamic tradition, the Prophet gave his farewell sermon to his followers there,

After sunset they go back to Mina, where on the tenth day they throw seven pebbles at a rock that symbolizes the devil.

Afterwards, the pilgrims slaughter a sacrificial animal in Mina.

The Festival of Sacrifice marks both the climax and the end of the pilgrimage and is also celebrated by the Muslims who have stayed at home all over the world.

At the end of the pilgrimage, they circle the Kaaba again seven times.

What is the Kaaba?

The Kaaba is the cube-shaped building in the courtyard of the Holy Mosque of Mecca, revered as the "House of God."

It also specifies the direction of prayer for Muslims.

Muslims around the world pray towards this sacred building, which according to Islamic belief is said to have been built by Adam and later rebuilt by Prophet Abraham and his son Ishmael.

The name Kaaba is also the description of the building: Kaaba is Arabic and means cube.

The Kaaba is about 15 meters high, 13 meters long, 13 meters wide and its corners point in the four cardinal directions.

In the eastern wall lies a black stone that pilgrims like to touch.

However, it is unclear what it is made of and where the stone comes from, as it has not yet been scientifically examined.

All sides and the roof of the Kaaba are covered with a huge black cloth.

The woven fabric is called kiswa and is embroidered with gold decorations and verses from the Koran.

Before the month of pilgrimage, the Kaaba gets a new cloth every year.

Inside the Kaaba is a small room called the "Atonement Room" and three pillars supporting the ceiling.

Halfway up the walls are covered with marble, in which are embedded panels with inscriptions from the Koran.

The building is only opened twice a year for a purification ritual, otherwise the Kaaba remains closed.

What is the difference between Umrah and Hajj?

In addition to the big Hajj, which is fixed on a date, Muslims can go on a small pilgrimage to Mecca at any time.

It is called Umra (Omrah in English).

Why do Muslims in Mecca wear white robes?

During the Hajj, pilgrims dress in white.

Uniform clothing is intended to symbolize the equality of all Muslims before God.

challenge heat

In addition to the corona pandemic, the burning sun is probably the biggest challenge for the pilgrims at the moment.

The region is one of the hottest and driest in the world, and global warming is making the weather increasingly extreme.

Although summer has only just begun, temperatures of more than 50 degrees Celsius have already been recorded in some areas of Saudi Arabia.

Pilgrim Ahmed Abdul-Hassan al-Fatlawi from Iraq, however, does not think about the weather while in Mecca.

"I'm 60 years old, so it's normal to get tired because of the hot weather," he said.

But he was "in a state of serenity and composure and that's all that matters to me".