Millions of Muslims from all around the world are preparing to embark on the annual pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia.Next week, Hajj will take place, and for many who attend it is the ultimate spiritual experience of their lives. This year, it is expected to be even more significant due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which caused the Hajj to be drastically reduced in scale for the past three years.
The Hajj marks the first full pilgrimage to Mecca after a period where it was significantly reduced due to the pandemic. It is a communal experience where Muslims of every race and class come together to perform the same rituals while following their own individual intentions and beliefs.
The Macau Daily Times interviewed several pilgrims from around the world as they prepared for their journeys.
In Gaza Strip, 64-year-old Huda Zaqqout is preparing for her first Hajj. Zaqqout has waited years for this opportunity, and now, after a relaxing of Saudi policy, more women can participate without a male relative to escort them. Living in a territory blockaded by Israel and Egypt since 2007, she faces many bureaucratic obstacles, but the joy of experiencing the ultimate spiritual journey of her life is an opportunity she cannot miss.
In Indonesia, the population is predominately Muslim and has a large number of citizens wanting to go on Hajj. This year with the addition of 8,000 spots from Saudi Arabia, the country will reach an all-time high of 229,000 pilgrims. This year authorities are focusing on giving preference to the elderly, with nearly 67,000 of this year’s pilgrims over 65, the eldest is a 118-year-old woman.
Finally, the United States also has many pilgrims of the Muslim faith, including Saadiha Khaliq, a Pakistani-American Engineer from Tennessee. Hajj has been her lifelong dream, and this year she has applied for spaces on the Hajj for herself and her parents for the first time.
Hajj is an experience that represents a pinnacle of faith for many Muslims and its significance is felt deeply by all who attend.
