Over 1.5m fill Makkah’s tent city

Over 1.5 million Muslims began filling a vast tent city in the holy city of Makkah yesterday for an annual hajj pilgrimage carried out against the backdrop of hopes for an end to the war in the Middle East.

The white-robed pilgrims on buses or on foot arrived at the sprawling encampment in Mina after performing the “tawaf” -- walking seven times around the Kaaba, the giant black cube at Makkah’s Grand Mosque.

The start of the hajj came as US President Donald Trump continued to send mixed signals over a possible agreement to extend an uneasy ceasefire with Iran and a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

A video posted on social media by the Saudi defence ministry showed advanced air defence batteries positioned on the outskirts of Makkah.

“The air defence forces are responsible for protecting the skies over the holy sites and dealing with all aerial threats, ensuring the safety and peace of mind of the guests,” read the post.

Many pilgrims who spoke to AFP expressed their hope that peace would prevail soon.

The hajj, one of the five pillars of Islam, must be performed at least once by all Muslims with the means.

During the hajj, men wear a seamless shroud-like white garment that emphasises unity among believers regardless of their social status or nationality.

Women must wear loose dresses, exposing only their faces and hands.

The first ritual of the Hajj requires walking seven times around the Kaaba. Pilgrims next walk seven times between the two hills of Safa and Marwa.

They then move on to Mina, around five kilometres (three miles) away, ahead of the main rite of the pilgrimage at Mount Arafat.

Today, the climax of the hajj is the gathering on Mount Arafat, about 10 kilometres from Mina, where it is believed the Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) delivered his final sermon.

Despite the heat and the uncertainty over the war, pilgrims in Makkah were ecstatic.

“I have wanted to perform the pilgrimage my entire life, for 40 or 50 years,” said Jreish Mohammed, a 68-year-old decked out in the traditional attire from his native Morocco. “And this year, my dream came true.”