The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has officially declared that the sacred Hajj pilgrimage for this year will commence on Tuesday, June 4, following the sighting of the crescent moon which signifies the beginning of Dhu Al Hijjah, the twelfth and final month of the Islamic lunar calendar. The announcement was made during a press briefing led by the country’s Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Tawfiq Al-Rabiah, who also confirmed that over one million international pilgrims have already landed in the kingdom in preparation for the revered Islamic ritual.
Hajj, one of the five fundamental pillars of Islam, is an obligatory religious duty that must be performed at least once in a lifetime by all Muslims who are physically and financially capable. The pilgrimage, which draws Muslims from across the globe to the holy city of Mecca, spans several days and involves a series of deeply symbolic rites. Among the most significant moments is the standing at Mount Arafat, a central ritual that will occur this year on Wednesday, June 5. It is at this very site, known as Jabal Arafat, that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is believed to have delivered his final sermon, a timeless message of faith, compassion, and social justice.
The culmination of Hajj traditionally aligns with the Islamic festival of Eid al-Adha, which has been confirmed to fall on Thursday, June 6, according to Saudi authorities, as reported by the state-run Saudi Press Agency. The four-day religious event honours the willingness of Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) to sacrifice his son in obedience to God’s command, an act later substituted by divine intervention with a ram.
Official records show that last year, the pilgrimage attracted approximately 1.8 million participants, despite the intense heat that characterizes the summer period in Saudi Arabia. The 2024 Hajj, for instance, saw temperatures soar to a staggering 51.8 degrees Celsius, with over 1,300 deaths reported, primarily due to heat-related illnesses. In light of such extreme weather, authorities have reinforced safety measures for this year, including access to medical services, hydration points, and shaded areas to protect pilgrims from heatstroke and exhaustion.
The sheer magnitude of the Hajj operation cannot be overstated. Beyond its religious significance, it represents one of the largest annual human gatherings globally, with logistical coordination involving thousands of personnel, transportation systems, and crowd management protocols to ensure the smooth flow of worshippers between the various holy sites, including Mina, Muzdalifah, and Arafat.
Saudi Arabia, custodian of Islam’s two holiest mosques, continues to invest heavily in infrastructure and technology to support the safety, comfort, and spiritual fulfilment of pilgrims. The nation’s readiness to host millions each year underscores its pivotal role in the Islamic world and its commitment to upholding the sanctity of Hajj.
As June 4 approaches, the spiritual focus of the global Muslim community turns once again to Mecca, where faith, sacrifice, and unity converge in one of the most powerful demonstrations of devotion known to humankind.
