Follow the latest updates on Hajj 2021 here
Muslims around the world celebrated Eid Al Adha on Tuesday, marking the beginning of the final rituals of the Hajj in Saudi Arabia.
Pilgrims returned to the Grand Mosque in Makkah from Muzdalifah plains early in the morning to start the Jamarat stoning of the devil ceremony.
In previous years, pilgrims have gathered small rocks at Muzdalifah, but because of Covid-19 this year the faithful were given a small sack of pebbles that had already been collected, to ensure they could maintain social distancing.
The stoning ceremony is a symbolic re-enactment of Prophet Ibrahim's hajj, where he stoned three pillars representing the temptation to disobey God. It marks the beginning of one of the most sacred Muslim holidays.
Some stood and prayed at the site, gathering on yellow markers laid down as a guide for social distancing.
The stoning came as Muslims around the world celebrate Eid Al Adha, a holiday marked by prayers and the sacrifice of a sheep, goat or cow - by those who can afford to - to give meat to family members and the poor.
-
Pilgrims take a selfie after the symbolic stoning ritual during the Hajj in Mina, near Saudi Arabia's holy city of Makkah. AP -
A woman pilgrim prays after the stoning ritual. AP -
Pilgrims cast stones at a pillar representing the devil, one of several rituals that form part of the annual Hajj. Reuters -
A pilgrim flings a stone at a pillar symbolising Satan. Reuters -
An official in Mina, near Makkah, directs a pilgrim during the annual Hajj pilgrimage. -
Coronavirus hit the Hajj for a second year running. An event that annually attracts about 2. 5 million Muslims from around the world this year is unrecognisable in scale with strict health restrictions in place. -
Pilgrims at prayer after participating in the symbolic stoning of the devil during the Hajj pilgrimage in Mina, Saudi Arabia. -
A pilgrim during prayer after the stone-throwing ritual. -
Pilgrims cast stones in a ritual stoning of Satan during Hajj. -
Pilgrims pray after the stone-throwing ritual in Mina, Saudi Arabia. -
A Hajj pilgrim in Mina, near Makkah, casts a stone at a pillar representing Satan. -
Pilgrims cast stones at a pillar symbolising Satan during the annual Hajj. -
A pilgrim prays after throwing stones at a pillar symbolising Satan. -
A worker distributes free water from the holy well of Zamzam to pilgrims. -
A Saudi policewoman, Samar, stands in front of the Kaaba. -
A pilgrim casts stones at a pillar symbolising Satan. -
Pilgrims throw stones at pillars symbolising Satan during Hajj in Mina, near Makkah, Saudi Arabia. -
Pilgrims have their heads shaved on the second day of Eid Al Adha after throwing stones at a pillar symbolising Satan. -
Pilgrims, keeping social distancing and wearing protective masks, cast stones at pillars symbolising Satan. -
Pilgrims pray on top of the rocky hill known as the Mountain of Mercy, on the Plain of Arafat, near Makkah. -
Pilgrims gather on the plain of Arafat during Hajj. -
A pilgrim prays in front of the rocky hill known as the Mountain of Mercy, on the plain of Arafat, near Makkah, Saudi Arabia. -
Pilgrims gather around Mount Arafat, also known as Jabal Al Rahma, or the Mountain of Mercy. -
Muslim pilgrims at Mount Arafat. -
Vaccinated pilgrims performing Hajj. -
Pilgrims shelter from the sun under an umbrella. -
Participants remained socially distanced and wore masks as the coronavirus took its toll on the Hajj for a second year running. -
Officials replace the covering cloth of the Kaaba. -
Aerial view of the Mina area during the annual Hajj pilgrimage, in the holy city of Makkah. -
The Kaaba is covered with the Kiswa cloth. -
Another view of the Mina area. -
Pilgrims must be under 65 and without a chronic disease. -
Rules for the 2021 Hajj allow for a maximum of 60,000 citizens and residents Saudi Arabia. -
Pilgrims must show proof of Covid-19 vaccination to be allowed entry. -
It is the second consecutive year that numbers at Hajj are limited due to pandemic. -
Muslim pilgrims, wearing protective face masks, circle the Kaaba. -
Coronavirus precautions are taken across the site. -
Pilgrims arrive at their tented camp in Mina, near the Muslim holy city of Makkah, Saudi Arabia. -
Time for prayer and reflection. -
For some worshippers, this year’s Hajj is a strange experience because it has been scaled down to such an extent. -
A pilgrim recites the Quran. -
Saudi pilgrim Irak al Dofairy, 65, reads the Quran on his mobile phone at a camp in Mina. -
A pilgrim sits cross-legged. -
.Mina sits in a narrow valley surrounded by rocky mountains. -
Visitors partake in the rituals of the great pilgrimage. -
Walking around the Kaaba, Islam's holiest shrine, at the Grand Mosque. -
Back at the camp. -
The annual Hajj pilgrimage, one of the five pillars of Islam, started with only 60,000 vaccinated Saudi citizens and residents allowed to take part this year because of the pandemic. -
Pilgrims pour into Makkah for first Hajj rituals amid strict health measures. -
A pilgrim takes a selfie at the Grand Mosque as he wears a mask and stands on social distancing signs. -
A total of 60,000 assembled in Mina on Sunday before moving to Arafat on Monday. -
Muslim pilgrims pray in front of the Kaaba. -
A robot sterilises an area of the Grand Mosque before Hajj. -
The pilgrimage to Makkah is required once in a lifetime of every Muslim who can afford it and is physically able to make it. -
Muslim pilgrims pray at the Grand Mosque. -
Workers disinfect the grounds. -
Muslim pilgrims walk around the cubic building of the Kaaba. -
A Muslim pilgrim walks past a sign reminding Hajj participants of social distancing. -
A pilgrims arrives to atend the Hajj season in Makkah. -
Hajj authorities have been disinfecting the Grand Mosque around the clock to ensure pilgrims' safety. -
The pilgrimage remains a deeply personal experience for many, despite the downsizing for the second year running. -
A person can perform Hajj on behalf of someone who has died or is unable to come to Makkah but only if they have already performed the pilgrimage for themselves. -
A man hands a bottle of water to a pilgrim at the Grand Mosque. -
The annual ritual is an important part of Islam. -
Pilgrims are dotted around the site. -
Saudi troops stand guard as the first pilgrims arrive at the Kaaba, Islam's holiest shrine, at the Grand Mosque. -
A person takes a video as pilgrims perform Tawaf, the rite of circumambulating the Kaaba. -
Pilgrims pray in the evening near the Kaaba. -
A Saudi security officer watches as pilgrims circumambulate the Kaaba
Muslims believe the Prophet Ibrahim was commanded by God to sacrifice his son, Ismail, but God spared him and sent a ram in his place.
In an address on Tuesday morning, Saudi Arabia's King Salman wished Muslims around the world a blessed Eid Al Adha.
He spoke of the success of Saudi Arabia's fight against the pandemic and the work done to ensure a safe Hajj for all pilgrims.
“Praise be to God — in raising the operational capacity of the Two Holy Mosques and enabling those who visit them to perform rituals in a healthy and safe environment.”
-
Yemenis gather at the historic 12th century citadel of al-Qahira in Yemen's third city of Taez, during the celebrations of the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha. -
Yemenis gather at the historic 12th century citadel of al-Qahira in Yemen's third city of Taez, during the celebrations of the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha. -
A Senegalese Muslim from the Layene Brotherhood, a religious sect of Sufi Muslims, waits to attend Eid-al-Adha prayers, as coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases spike, in Dakar, Senegal. -
Palestinians enjoy the day on the beach during the Eid Al Adha festival in Tel Aviv, Israel. The major Muslim holiday, at the end of the hajj pilgrimage to Mecca, is observed around the world by believers and commemorates prophet Abraham's pledge to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience to God. -
Women enjoy themselves as they bathe in the Mediterranean Sea during the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha, in Tel Aviv, Israel. -
Iraqi children watch a show during the Eid Al Adha holiday in the Old City of Mosul in northern Iraq.. -
A boy walks away from mosque after Eid Al Adha prayers in Dakar, Senegal. -
Bosnian Muslims visit Ravne Bakije cemetery during the second day of Eid Al Adha, in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. -
Senegalese Muslims attend Eid Al Adha prayers as Covid-19 cases surge in Dakar, Senegal. -
A Rohingya Muslim refugee and children ride a scooter during Eid Al Adha at a refugee camp on the outskirts of Chennai, India. -
Muslims offer prayers on the morning of Eid Al Adha at Baitul Mukarram National Mosque in Dhaka, Bangladesh. -
Iraqis perform Eid Al Adha prayers at the Great Mosque of Kufa, 10km north-east of the city of Najaf. -
A woman takes a selfie with her friends after prayers at the historical Badshahi Mosque during Eid Al Adha in Lahore, Pakistan. -
Muslims offer prayers at Badshahi Mosque in Lahore, Pakistan, for Eid Al Adha. -
A young Muslim devotee offers prayers during the Eid al-Adha or the 'Festival of Sacrifice, in Ajmer. -
Mosque workers sweep out rain water before others arrive to offer morning prayers for Eid Al Adha at Jama Masjid Khairuddin in Amritsar, India. -
A Muslim family watches pigeons fly after Eid prayers at a Mosque in Chennai, India. -
Young girls pose for pictures while celebrating Eid Al Adha at Ibafo Mosque in Ogun state, south-west Nigeria. -
Albanian Muslims at Eid prayers in Skenderbeg Square, Tirana. -
A girl celebrates Eid Al Adha in the Kibera slum in Nairobi, Kenya. -
Sheep are prepared for slaughter during celebrations of Eid Al Adha in Kazan, Russia. -
Balloon sellers wait for customers in Srinagar, the summer capital of Indian Kashmir. -
A child arrives with his family to mark Eid Al Adha at the Blue Mosque in Taguig city, south of Manila, in the Philippines. -
Children celebrate Eid Al Adha at an amusement park in Damascus, Syria. -
Sultan Qaboos Street in the Omani capital Muscat amid a Covid-19 lockdown during Eid Al Adha. -
Muslims gather at the Huntington Bank Stadium during Eid Al Adha prayers and festivities in Minneapolis, Minnesota, in the US. -
A peanut seller prepares for Eid Al Adha in Dhaka, Bangladesh. -
A blacksmith sharpens a knife at his shop in Karachi, Pakistan, before Eid Al Adha. -
Muslims pray during Eid Al Adha in the street in front of the mosque in Adjame, a popular neighbourhood of Abidjan, in the Ivory Coast. -
Muslim families celebrate Eid Al Adha in Southall Park in Southall, England. -
Palestinians celebrate Eid Al Adha at Al Aqsa compound in Jerusalem's Old City. -
Shoppers at Meena Bazaar, Bur Dubai. -
Afghans arrive at a mosque to offer Eid Al Adha prayers in Herat, Afghanistan -
Eid Al Adha morning prayers at Sheikh Hazza bin Sultan Mosque on Electra Street in Abu Dhabi. -
Palestinians celebrate Eid Al Adha at Al Aqsa. -
Iraqi Muslims offer Eid Al Adha prayers on the street outside Abu Hanifa Mosque in Baghdad's Adhamiya district. -
Muslims gather to pray at the Islamic Centre Mosque to mark Eid Al Adha in Lhokseumawe, in Aceh, Indonesia. -
Indonesian Muslims offer Eid Al Adha prayers on the street amid a surge of Covid-19 cases in Bandung, West Java province, Indonesia. -
Muslims offer prayers during the first day of Eid Al Adha, outside the Hagia Sophia in the historic Sultan Ahmed district of Istanbul, Turkey. -
Malaysian Muslims prepare a cow for slaughter as a sacrifice during Eid Al Adha celebrations in Kuala Lumpur. -
Indonesians arrange pieces of meat before distribution during Eid Al Adha celebrations in Depok, West Java, Indonesia. -
A Palestinian woman prepares sweets for Eid Al Adha in the West Bank city of Nablus. -
A seller arranges oriental sweets at his shop at Al Midan market in Damascus, Syria. -
A Palestinian carries his child before the Eid Al Adha holiday, near the rubble of Al Shurouq tower in Gaza City's Al Rimal neighbourhood, which was hit by Israeli air strikes in May fighting. -
Eid Al Adha shoppers at Al Wahda Mall in Abu Dhabi.
King Salman went on to thank all those who were stationed in Makkah for helping to ensure a smooth Hajj.
“I ask God to accept their pilgrimages, and from all Muslims, their good deeds, and that the Almighty will return this feast to the Islamic nation as it enjoys security, stability, safety and prosperity.”
Like so many around the world, the pilgrims also marked Eid.
“The first thing I did was FaceTime my grandchildren and children and now it feels like Eid,” Fatima, a Moroccan pilgrim, told The National in Makkah.
“I had to see their faces … They are so excited and happy for me, and even though they miss me, this is the best place for me to be. May God accept our Hajj.”
Stoning of the devil rituals
The mask-clad faithful at Hajj, who spent Monday night at camps in the Valley of Mina, converged on Mount Arafat on Monday where it is believed the Prophet Mohammed delivered his final sermon, for the most important of the Hajj rituals.
The Hajj, one of the five pillars of Islam and a must for able-bodied Muslims with the means to travel at least once in their lifetime, is usually one of the world's largest religious gatherings, but it has been held in a downsized form under coronavirus limits for the second year running.
Just 60,000 people, all citizens or residents of Saudi Arabia, were selected to take part in this year's Hajj, with foreign pilgrims again barred.
Participants were chosen this year from more than 558,000 applicants through an online vetting system, with the event confined to fully vaccinated adults aged 18-65 with no chronic illnesses.
After the first stoning, pilgrims offer their own sacrifices, but this year for safety reasons that is being done through an online token system.
“I paid 799 Saudi riyals ($213) online for my sacrifice,” one pilgrim said.
Female pilgrims cut a lock of their hair and men opt to either cut or shave their heads.
Pilgrims will throw pebbles in the symbolic stoning of the devil rituals over the next three days, before heading to the Grand Mosque to perform the farewell Tawaf to complete their Hajj.
Misting devices installed by the authorities helped ease the hot conditions as the pilgrims performed the rites in the glare of the Gulf summer.
The kingdom has recorded more than 509,000 coronavirus infections to date, and more than 8,000 deaths. Some 20 million vaccine doses have been administered in the country of more than 34 million people.
