Muslims begin haj in sweltering heat and shadow of Middle East tensions

Lead

The annual Hajj pilgrimage, one of the Five Pillars of Islam, is underway in Saudi Arabia as more than 1.5 million Muslims from around the world gather in Mecca and its surroundings. The pilgrimage, which officially began on Monday, takes place against the backdrop of a fragile ceasefire in the Iran war and related regional tensions, according to multiple reports.

Saudi authorities said earlier this week that over 1.5 million pilgrims had arrived from outside the kingdom, with more expected, according to the BBC, Dawn, and South China Morning Post. Official figures cited by ABC Australia and AllAfrica put total participation this year at more than 1.7 million people from 165 countries.

The Hajj, required once in a lifetime for all Muslims who are physically and financially able, involves several days of mostly outdoor rituals in intense heat. Temperatures in Mecca have reached 44 degrees Celsius, prompting Saudi authorities to urge pilgrims to drink plenty of water and protect themselves from the sun, reports ABC Australia, Al Jazeera, and Dawn.

Coverage Comparison

Across the outlets, reporting converged on the core facts: the pilgrimage's start, the record or near-record number of foreign pilgrims, the extreme heat, and the shadow cast by the war between the United States, Israel, and Iran. Several sources highlighted the resilience of pilgrims who overcame travel disruptions and soaring costs.

BBC reported that the number of pilgrims arriving from abroad — some 1.51 million — was 11,000 more than last year, despite concerns about a resumption of the three-month-old conflict. It also noted that two civilians and a US service member had been killed in an Iranian attack in March near al-Kharj, and that Saudi air defence batteries had been positioned on the outskirts of Mecca.

Dawn and Al Jazeera both reported that more than 30,000 Iranians made the journey, about a third of the 86,000 originally expected, attributing the drop to the “wartime situation,” as cited by Iran’s IRNA state news agency. Al Jazeera also described the war as pitting the US and Israel against Iran, with Tehran retaliating with drone and ballistic missile strikes that hit infrastructure across the Gulf, including in Saudi Arabia.

AllAfrica noted that this year’s hajj took place despite the scorching heat and the regional conflict, and that pilgrims had begun leaving Mecca on Friday after completing the rituals. It echoed the Iranian attendance figures and the IRNA explanation.

The Hindu and South China Morning Post both reported US President Donald Trump’s statement that a deal with Iran, including opening the Strait of Hormuz, had been “largely negotiated,” describing it as a potential memorandum of understanding. Dawn reported Trump had sent “mixed signals” over extending the ceasefire.

Several outlets quoted pilgrims expressing gratitude and hope. Egyptian pilgrim Samya Abdul Moneim told Al Jazeera and South China Morning Post that she was in a state of blessing and happiness. Mohammed Chahada, an Egyptian in his 50s, told AFP (via BBC and Dawn) that the war had affected the entire world and that nobody wanted wars.

All sources described the heat as a major challenge. Volunteers handed out water, parasols, and misting fans, and since men are prohibited from wearing hats, many relied on umbrellas. Al Jazeera reported that Saudi health workers had used drones to supply medical clinics treating heat-stressed pilgrims, and ABC Australia noted similar technological assistance.

Key Claims

• The Hajj is obligatory once in a lifetime for all Muslims who are physically and financially able to perform it, a tenet repeated across all sources.
• More than 1.5 million foreign pilgrims had arrived by the start, a figure cited by BBC, Dawn, South China Morning Post, and The Hindu, based on statements by Saleh bin Saad al-Murabba, commander of the Hajj passport forces.
• Total participation this year exceeded 1.7 million, according to official figures reported by ABC Australia and AllAfrica.
• Temperatures reached 44 degrees Celsius in Mecca, prompting heat warnings from Saudi authorities, as reported by ABC Australia, Al Jazeera, and Dawn.
• Iranian participation was about 30,000, roughly a third of the expected 86,000, with the drop attributed to the wartime situation, per Al Jazeera, AllAfrica, and Dawn.
• The Saudi defence ministry posted video of air defence batteries near Mecca, assuring pilgrims of protection, as reported by BBC and Dawn.

Perspectives

The coverage reflects a broadly shared factual account, with variations in emphasis:

• International Wire Perspective (Al Jazeera, Dawn, AllAfrica): These outlets, drawing on AP and AFP reporting, placed the pilgrimage squarely within the context of the Iran war, highlighting the reduced Iranian turnout and the war’s direct impact on the region.
• Regional Security Focus (BBC, Dawn): BBC and Dawn gave prominent attention to Saudi defensive preparations, including the air defence deployments, and the killing of civilians and a US service member in an Iranian attack, underscoring the threat environment.
• Diplomatic Narrative (The Hindu, South China Morning Post, Dawn): These outlets highlighted the potential for a US–Iran deal, quoting President Trump’s statements, suggesting a fragile hope for de-escalation.
• Human Interest Angle (Al Jazeera, South China Morning Post, BBC): Several pieces featured emotional pilgrim quotes, emphasizing the spiritual significance and personal sacrifice involved, even amid uncertainty.