00:00For millions of Muslims around the world, there is one journey that defines a lifetime.
00:06A journey not about luxury, not about sightseeing, but about surrender.
00:13Every year, pilgrims leave their homes, jobs, families and comforts to answer what they believe is a divine call.
00:21They travel to one city, one sanctuary, one cube-shaped structure at the center of Islam itself.
00:30The Kabab.
00:31And this journey is called Hajj.
00:35Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam, a religious obligation every Muslim must perform at least once in
00:42their lifetime, if they are physically and financially capable.
00:47It takes place every year during the Islamic month of Zul Hijjah, in the holy city of Mecca in Saudi
00:54Arabia.
00:55But Hajj is not just a trip.
00:57It is considered the ultimate act of spiritual devotion.
01:02Pilgrims believe the ritual strays back to thousands of years, to the prophet Abraham, known as Abraham in Christianity and
01:10Judaism.
01:11His wife Hajjar and their son Ismail.
01:13For Muslims, Hajj is about sacrifice, humility, obedience and renewal.
01:20Many spend decades saving money for this single journey.
01:25Some wait all their lives and many never get the chance.
01:30According to Islamic tradition, Prophet Ibrahim was commanded by God to leave Hajjah and Bibi Ismail in the desert valley
01:38of Mecca.
01:39There was no city, no civilization, no water.
01:45Desperate to save her child, Hajjah ran seven times between the hills of Safa and Marwa, searching for water.
01:52That struggle is recreated by pilgrims during Hajj to this day.
01:57And Muslims believe that eventually a miracle happened.
02:02Water burst from the ground.
02:04The Zamzamwe, another major ritual commemorates Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience to God, before
02:13God replaced the sacrifice with a ram.
02:16That moment became the foundation of Eid al-Adha, celebrated by Muslims worldwide during Hajj season.
02:23Every ritual during Hajj carries memory, symbolism and emotion.
02:29It is history, relived through moment.
02:33Hajj is one of the largest annual human gatherings on the planet.
02:37In 2025, Saudi authorities reported more than 1.6 million pilgrims attending.
02:44And in pre-pandemic years, the number crossed 2.5 million.
02:49People arrived from nearly every corner of the world.
02:53Nigeria, India, Indonesia, Turkey, the United States, Senegal, Iraq, the Philippines.
03:01Different languages, different races, different cultures.
03:04Yet, during Hajj, pilgrims wear simple white garments called Ihram.
03:10A symbol that before God, everyone is equal.
03:14Kings and workers, celebrities and farmers, rich and poor, all walking the same path.
03:20For many pilgrims, the emotional impact is overwhelming.
03:25Some cry the moment they first see the kebab.
03:28Others describe it as a spiritual rebirth.
03:55Some spend years saving money for this journey.
03:59I was planning for last year to do it, but it's not working.
04:05Then this year, I was like, I'm saving money to be helped to come here.
04:09I was dreaming about it, thinking about it every time to come here to do the Hajj.
04:17And for others, simply touching the kebab becomes unforgettable.
04:21Then I touch the kebab.
04:23That's what I do.
04:24Yes, I do.
04:25I was so happy.
04:26How did it feel when you touched it?
04:27Oh yeah, I was crying.
04:30I was crying though, but it was good.
04:33Pilgrims often return believing they are spiritually charged.
04:37More patient, more grateful, more connected to faith.
04:40For many Muslims, Hajj represents a reset button for the soul.
04:46But modern Hajj also comes with enormous challenges.
04:50Extreme heat, crowd management, logistics, health emergencies.
04:56In 2024, hundreds of pilgrims reportedly died during intense summer temperatures that exceeded 50 degree Celsius in some areas.
05:06Now, Saudi authorities are expanding cooling systems, water stations, medical teams, missed fans, and heat prevention measures across pilgrimage routes.
05:17So far, it's quite obvious that the numbers are limited.
05:24And in comparison to last year, definitely it is less.
05:28And all that, we believe, is an outcome of the effective organization and preventative measures that have been carried out
05:39by all the different authorities and entities responsible about serving and organizing Hajj.
05:46Even under punishing conditions, pilgrims continue.
06:04Because for believers, the hardship itself becomes part of the devotion.
06:11This year's Hajj also unfolds during a tense moment in the Middle East.
06:15Regional conflict, war, uncertainty, and political division continue to shape the wider region.
06:22Yet, inside Mecca, millions gather peacefully in shared worship.
06:28No nationality dominates.
06:30No language unites everyone.
06:32Only faith.
06:33For many observers, Hajj remains one of the rare moments where humanity moves together with a single purpose.
06:42For outsiders, Hajj may look like a massive gathering.
06:45But for the people making the journey, it can become the most important moment of their lives.
06:51Not because of where they went, but because of who they believe they became after returning home.
06:58And every year, the call continues.
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