At least six Jordanian pilgrims have died of heatstroke while on the Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia, Jordan’s Foreign Ministry said over the weekend, amid growing concern over the risks that rising temperatures pose to one of the largest gatherings in the world.
Temperatures in Mecca, home to Islam’s holiest site, reached 120 degrees Fahrenheit (49 degrees Celsius) on Sunday, according to the National Center for Meteorology. Jordan’s Foreign Ministry later updated the toll to 14, though it was not immediately clear whether the additional deaths were also heat-related.
More than 2,700 cases of heat stress and sunstroke among pilgrims were reported, Mohammed al-Abdulaali, a spokesman for the Saudi Health Ministry, said Monday, according to the Saudi Press Agency.
The Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam, and at least one pilgrimage in a lifetime is considered an obligation for all Muslims who are able-bodied and have the financial means. Most rituals are outdoors, including walking in circles around the cube-shaped Kaaba, the most sacred Islamic site, saying prayers facing it and tracing the footsteps of the prophet Muhammad atop the Mount of Mercy.
This year’s Hajj is being attended by 1.8 million people from around the world, local authorities have said. The pilgrimage began on Friday and is set to culminate Wednesday. Islam follows the lunar calendar, with 354 days, so the Hajj shifts about 10 or 11 days earlier each year on the Gregorian calendar.
Increasing heat and humidity due to climate change in parts of Saudi Arabia where the Hajj takes place could make the pilgrimage dangerous for some, a study published in 2019 said. Researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles said the risks could be serious when the Hajj occurs during the hottest summer months — from 2047 to 2052 and from 2079 to 2086.
“While this is a truly tragic situation, it unfortunately does not come as a surprise except for perhaps that such events are occurring sooner than expected,” Jeremy Pal, one of the authors of the 2019 study, wrote in an email Monday, adding that the Hajj’s shift earlier and earlier each year means the pilgrimage should at least be able to avoid the window of extremely dangerous conditions for the next couple of decades.
Thousands of cases of heat stress were reported during last year’s Hajj, which fell in late June.
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Besides protective countermeasures, the researchers recommend limiting the number of pilgrims and prioritizing those in good health during high-risk years. (During the coronavirus pandemic in 2021, Saudi Arabia restricted the participation to pilgrims under 65 and capped the gathering at 60,000 people.)
In 2050, Mecca will have 182 days with highly dangerous heat above 89.6 degrees in the sun and 54 days with such heat in the shade, according to a global analysis by The Washington Post.
The country’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has also recommended measures that pilgrims can take to avoid heatstroke, including minimizing sun exposure and drinking fluids.
Pal, now at the Euro-Mediterranean Center on Climate Change in Italy, said that these measures are required and that under certain conditions, “even those not falling in the high-risk categories” can be vulnerable to heatstroke.
The challenge from surging heat is global. Dozens of heat-related deaths have been reported this summer in India, where temperatures have surged to 120 degrees and nights remain over 90 in parts of the country. In Greece, authorities are concerned as tourists have gone missing amid the high temperatures sweeping the country. And on Sunday, the National Weather Service issued a heat watch for parts of the United States, predicting a “prolonged period of dangerously hot conditions” with “intense heat and high humidity.”
FAQs
Hajj pilgrims die of heatstroke as Mecca temperatures hit 120 degrees. At least six Jordanian pilgrims died of heatstroke amid growing concern over the risks rising temperatures pose to one of the largest gatherings in the world. Summary is AI-generated, newsroom-reviewed.
Why do Muslims go to Mecca? ›
Mecca, city, western Saudi Arabia, located in the Ṣirāt Mountains, inland from the Red Sea coast. It is the holiest of Muslim cities. Muhammad, the founder of Islam, was born in Mecca, and it is toward this religious centre that Muslims turn five times daily in prayer (see qiblah).
How many people pilgrimage to Mecca? ›
Muslim worshippers pray around the Kaaba at the Grand Mosque in Saudi Arabia's holy city of Mecca on July 5. Recognizing the economic potential of religious tourism, Saudi Arabia plans to increase Hajj pilgrim numbers to 5 million by 2030 from just under 2 million now.
What is the Hajj summary? ›
In Islamic terminology, Hajj is a pilgrimage made to the Kaaba, the "House of Allah," in the sacred city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia. It is one of the Five Pillars of Islam, alongside Shahadah (oath that one believes there is no god but Allah (God)), salat (prayer), zakat (almsgiving), and sawm (fasting during Ramadan).
How long does Hajj last? ›
How Long Does Hajj Last? The Hajj pilgrimage is performed over five to six days, from the 8th to 12th or 13th of Dhul Hijjah.
Can I take my Bible to Saudi Arabia? ›
Bringing a Bible and other types of religious texts into the country is allowed as long as it is for personal use.
Why can non Muslims go to Mecca? ›
Mecca and Madinah and the areas around them are not allowed for non-Muslims to enter. In Saudi Arabia, intentionally attempting to enter Mecca or Madinah can result in many severe punishments like direct deportation from the kingdom and a permanent ban from Saudi Arabia along with a big fine.
What is the most populated pilgrimage in the world? ›
The Arba'in pilgrimage is the world's largest annual public gathering.
How long is the pilgrimage to Mecca? ›
Hajj is a religious obligation, but more than a mere duty. The unforgettable journey takes five days to complete, not counting travel time or a day of spiritual preparation. With journeys to the Holy Kaaba, pilgrims perform a ritual that dates to pre-Islamic days and was sanctified by The Prophet Mohamed (PBUH).
Is Mecca the most visited place in the world? ›
With over 10.8 million international visitors in 2023, Mecca was one of the ten most visited cities in the world. Mecca is generally considered "the fountainhead and cradle of Islam". Mecca is revered in Islam as the birthplace of the Islamic prophet Muhammad.
Answer and Explanation: When a Muslim completes the Hajj, they earn a title denoting their attainment of the Fifth Pillar of Islam. For women, the title is Hajjan, while the title is Hajji for men. They often add this to their name as al-Hajji or al-Hajjan.
What does Allah stand for? ›
Allah Summary. Allah, the one and only God in Islam. Etymologically, the name Allah is probably a contraction of the Arabic al-Ilāh, “the God.” The name's origin can be traced to the earliest Semitic writings in which the word for god was il, el, or eloah, the latter two used in the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament).
How much does Hajj cost? ›
Considering Hajj Costs
While the pilgrimage is affordable for most locals, those living outside of Saudi Arabia can expect the total cost to range from US$3,000 to US$10,000 per person. You will use cash for many of the day-to-day expenses.
What is in the black box at Mecca? ›
Located in the eastern corner of the Kaaba is the Black Stone (al-Ḥajar al-Aswad), whose now broken pieces are surrounded by a ring of stone and held together by a heavy silver band. According to tradition, this stone was given to Adam on his expulsion from paradise in order to obtain forgiveness of his sins.
Who is exempt from Hajj? ›
If you are sick or physically incapacitated with risk of your sickness worsening by travelling then you are temporarily exempt from performing Hajj. It once again becomes obligatory when your agility is restored. Those who don't have sufficient money to afford the journey are also exempt from Hajj.
Why is Hajj 40 days? ›
The Journey of 40 Days
Other than the 5 days of Hajj and 8 days of stay at Madina Shareef, the pilgrims are expected to stay back in Makkah and pray called Ibadat. It is believed that mundane everyday things are considered to be reward worthy (Arabic word - Sawaab) during this period.
Why can't Christians go to Mecca? ›
No, Christians are not allowed to enter Mecca. According to Islamic teachings, Christians are considered to be polytheists, and they are not allowed to enter the holy cities.
Why do Muslims worship the Mecca? ›
Muslims do not worship the Kaaba, but it is Islam's most sacred site because it represents the metaphorical house of God and the oneness of God in Islam. Observant Muslims around the world face toward the Kaaba during their five daily prayers.
Why did the Muslims leave Mecca? ›
In 622 the local rulers of Mecca forced Muhammad and his small band of followers to leave the city. Muhammad accepted an invitation to settle in the oasis of Yathrib, located some eleven days (280 miles) north by camel, for the oasis had been nearly torn apart by wars between the clans, of which many were Jewish.
