World May 25 Muslims begin the annual Hajj in sweltering heat against a backdrop of war concerns By Baraa Anwer, Mariam Fam, Associated Press
World Jun 04 4 things to know about this year's Hajj pilgrimage In the coming days, people will immerse themselves in religious rituals and acts of worship that originated more than 1,400 years ago. They also have to contend with earthly factors, such as excess heat. By Riazat Butt, Associated Press
World Jun 01 Saudi Arabia cracks down on Hajj permits to prevent overcrowding Saudi officials said they had stopped 269,678 people without permits from entering Mecca, and blamed overcrowding at the Hajj on unauthorized participants. It also says they made up large numbers of those who died in last year’s searing summer heat. By Baraa Anwer, Associated Press
World Jun 10 The Hajj pilgrimage and why it's significant for Muslims Once a year, Muslim pilgrims flowing into Saudi Arabia unite in a series of religious rituals and acts of worship as they perform the Hajj, one of the pillars of Islam. By Mariam Fam, Associated Press
World Jun 26 2 million begin Hajj as pilgrimage returns to full capacity for first time since pandemic The Hajj pilgrimage has officially started in Saudi Arabia. By Riazat Butt, Associated Press
Jul 18 Virus transforms hajj in Mecca and future of the pilgrimage By Amr Nabil, Aya Batrawy, Associated Press The pared down hajj of this year and last due to the COVID-19 outbreak not only impacts the ability of people outside Saudi Arabia to fulfill the Islamic obligation but also the billions of dollars annually that Saudi Arabia draws… Continue reading
Jul 27 Pilgrims arrive in Mecca for downsized hajj amid pandemic By Aya Batrawy, Associated Press Muslim pilgrims have started arriving in Mecca for a drastically scaled-down hajj as Saudi authorities balance the kingdom’s oversight of one of Islam’s key pillars and the safety of visitors in the face of a global pandemic. Continue reading
Mar 04 Virus halts pilgrimages to Mecca, Friday prayers in Iran By Amir Vahdat, Jon Gambrell, Associated Press The coronavirus outbreak is disrupting Islamic worship in the Middle East. Saudi Arabia banned its citizens and other residents of the kingdom from performing the pilgrimage in Mecca and Iran canceled Friday prayers in major cities. The decisions affected both… Continue reading
Sep 02 Iranians return to annual hajj in Saudi Arabia By Kamala Kelkar Millions of Muslims from around the world retrace the steps of the Prophet Muhammad’s first pilgrimage to the city of Mecca, which he is believed to have traveled in the year 628 AD. Continue reading
Sep 11 Millions of Muslims meet in Mecca for hajj pilgrimage By Michael D. Regan More than a million Muslims on Sunday ascended the craggy hills of Mount Arafat outside the Saudi Arabian city of Mecca during the peak of the annual hajj pilgrimage. Continue reading