Stories of Hajj Pilgrims
Huda Omari patiently waited outside a broker’s office in Jordan to obtain her visa for the annual hajj pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia. In Egypt, Magda Moussa’s three sons pooled their resources to gather nearly $9,000 to fulfill their mother’s dream of joining her on the hajj. The news of her trip approval was met with jubilation by relatives and neighbors in her village.
The hajj is a profound spiritual journey and a challenging trek even under normal circumstances. However, this year, amidst scorching heat, over 1,300 pilgrims lost their lives during the hajj, with Saudi authorities reporting that more than 80% of the deceased did not have proper permits.
Both Ms. Omari and Ms. Moussa were part of a group of unregistered pilgrims who relied on illegal or fraudulent tour operators to bypass the official permit process. They were prepared for the physical and financial strains of the journey but did not anticipate the extreme heat and mistreatment they faced.
Returning home, Ms. Omari, 51, expressed feeling humiliated and punished for being there illegally. With close to two million participants annually, deaths from heat stress, illness, or chronic conditions during the hajj are not uncommon. Saudi Arabia does not regularly disclose these numbers, making it unclear if this year’s toll was higher than usual.
Indonesia alone reported 774 deaths during the hajj last year, and a study from 1985 found that over 1,700 individuals, mostly from heat stress, perished around the holy sites. The challenges and risks of the hajj pilgrimage underscore the importance of proper registration and adherence to safety protocols to ensure the well-being of all participants.
