A Pilgrimage in Peril: Saudi Arabia's Daring Decision to Host Hajj Amid War The image of millions of pilgrims converging on Mecca is a potent symbol of faith and devotion.
This year's Hajj pilgrimage, however, unfolds against a backdrop of war, with 1. 5 million Muslims preparing to descend upon Saudi Arabia despite the danger posed by the Iran conflict.
For centuries, the Hajj has been a sacred ritual unmoored from geopolitics.