Journey to Mecca: Scenes from the haj pilgrimage

An aerial view shows the Grand Mosque during the annual haj pilgrimage, in the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia July 10, 2022. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem

Muslim pilgrims gather on the plain of Arafat during the annual haj pilgrimage, outside the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, July 8, 2022. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem

Muslim pilgrims gather on Mount of Mercy at the plain of Arafat during the annual haj pilgrimage, outside the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, July 8, 2022. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem

An aerial view of the Grand Mosque during the annual haj pilgrimage, in the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia July 10, 2022. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem

A Muslim pilgrim prays on Mount of Mercy at the plain of Arafat during the annual haj pilgrimage, outside the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, July 8, 2022. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem

Muslim pilgrims gather on Mount of Mercy at the plain of Arafat during the annual haj pilgrimage, outside the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, July 8, 2022. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem

Muslim pilgrims arrive at the plain of Arafat during the annual Haj pilgrimage, outside the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, July 7, 2022.  REUTERS/Mohammed Salem

Muslim pilgrims pray on Mount Al-Noor, where Muslims believe Prophet Mohammad received the first words of the Koran through Gabriel in the Hira cave, in the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia July 4, 2022.  REUTERS/Mohammed Salem

View shows the Grand Mosque during the annual haj pilgrimage, in the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia July 10, 2022. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem

An aerial view of the Grand Mosque during the annual haj pilgrimage, in the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia July 10, 2022. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem

An aerial view of the Grand Mosque during the annual haj pilgrimage, in the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia July 10, 2022. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem

Muslim pilgrims circle the Kaaba and pray at the Grand Mosque ahead of the annual haj pilgrimage, in the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, July 6, 2022. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem

A Muslim pilgrim visits Mount Al-Noor, where Muslims believe Prophet Mohammad received the first words of the Koran through Gabriel in the Hira cave, in the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, July 4, 2022.  REUTERS/Mohammed Salem

Muslim pilgrims visit Mount Al-Noor, where Muslims believe Prophet Mohammad received the first words of the Koran through Gabriel in the Hira cave, in the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, July 4, 2022.  REUTERS/Mohammed Salem

Muslim pilgrims circle the Kaaba and pray at the Grand Mosque ahead of the annual haj pilgrimage, in the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, July 6, 2022. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem

Muslims pilgrims sleep on the Mount Al-Noor, where Muslims believe Prophet Mohammad received the first words of the Koran through Gabriel in the Hira cave, near the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, July 4, 2022. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem

Muslim pilgrims circle the Kaaba and pray at the Grand Mosque in the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, July 1, 2022.  REUTERS/Mohammed Salem

A Muslim pilgrim prays on the Mount Al-Noor, where Muslims believe Prophet Mohammad received the first words of the Koran through Gabriel in the Hira cave, near the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, July 4, 2022.  REUTERS/Mohammed Salem

Muslim pilgrims circle the Kaaba and pray at the Grand Mosque ahead of the annual haj pilgrimage, in the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, July 6, 2022. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem

The Sun sets ahead of the annual haj pilgrimage, in the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, July 6, 2022. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem

A Muslim pilgrim cries next to the Station of Ibrahim "Maqam Ibrahim" in the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia July 1, 2022.  REUTERS/Mohammed Salem

Muslims pilgrims walk outside  the Grand mosque in the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, July 5, 2022.  REUTERS/Mohammed Salem

Muslim pilgrims circle the Kaaba and pray at the Grand Mosque ahead of the annual haj pilgrimage, in the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, July 6, 2022. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem

Muslim pilgrims circle the Kaaba and pray at the Grand Mosque in the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia July 1, 2022.  REUTERS/Mohammed Salem

Muslim pilgrims visit Mount Al-Noor, where Muslims believe Prophet Mohammad received the first words of the Koran through Gabriel in the Hira cave, in the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, July 4, 2022.  REUTERS/Mohammed Salem

Muslims pilgrims pray on the Mount Al-Noor, where Muslims believe Prophet Mohammad received the first words of the Koran through Gabriel in the Hira cave, near the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, July 4, 2022.   REUTERS/Mohammed Salem

Muslim pilgrims circle the Kaaba and pray at the Grand mosque in the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia July 1, 2022.  REUTERS/Mohammed Salem

Muslim pilgrims gather on Mount of Mercy at the plain of Arafat during the annual haj pilgrimage, outside the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, July 8, 2022. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem

Volunteer Abdulrahman al Maani distributes watermelon to pilgrims leaving for Mecca for Haj, in Maan, Jordan, June 28, 2022. REUTERS/Muath Freij

A Muslim pilgrim visits Mount Al-Noor, where Muslims believe Prophet Mohammad received the first words of the Koran through Gabriel in the Hira cave, in the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, July 4, 2022.  REUTERS/Mohammed Salem

Workers prepare the Kiswa, a silk cloth that covers the Kaaba, the sacred building at the centre of the Grand Mosque, ahead of the annual haj pilgrimage, at a factory in the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, July 6, 2022. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem

Muslim pilgrims circle the Kaaba and pray at the Grand Mosque ahead of the annual haj pilgrimage, in the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, July 6, 2022. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem

Muslim pilgrims visit Mount Al-Noor, where Muslims believe Prophet Mohammad received the first words of the Koran through Gabriel in the Hira cave, in the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, July 4, 2022.  REUTERS/Mohammed Salem

Muslim pilgrims visit Mount Al-Noor, where Muslims believe Prophet Mohammad received the first words of the Koran through Gabriel in the Hira cave, in the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, July 4, 2022.  REUTERS/Mohammed Salem

An aerial view of the city of Mecca during the annual haj pilgrimage, Saudi Arabia July 10, 2022. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem