2 million Muslims take part in 2023 Hajj pilgrimage

Muslim pilgrims commute at the Grand Mosque in the holy city of Mecca early on June 30, 2023.

This aerial view shows the Saudi holy city of Mecca's Grand Mosque and its clock tower with the Kaaba, Islam's holiest site in the centre during the annual Hajj pilgrimage, on June 30, 2023.

Thousands of Muslim pilgrims circumambulate the Kaaba, the cubic building at the Grand Mosque during the annual Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Friday, June 30, 2023.

A Muslim pilgrim recites from the Quran during the symbolic stoning of the devil ritual as part of the hajj pilgrimage in Mina, near Saudi Arabia's holy city of Mecca, on June 29, 2023.

Muslim pilgrims hold umbrellas as they walk to cast stones at pillars in the symbolic stoning of the devil, the last rite of the annual Hajj, in Mina near the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Friday, June 30, 2023.

An aerial view of rows of tents housing Muslim pilgrims in Mina, near the holy city of Mecca on June 30, 2023.

Muslim pilgrims arrive to perform the symbolic stoning of the devil ritual as part of the hajj pilgrimage in Mina, near Saudi Arabia's holy city of Mecca, on June 29, 2023. More than 2,000 pilgrims have suffered heat stress during the hajj pilgrimage, Saudi officials said, after temperatures soared to 118 degrees Fahrenheit during the annual rites.

Muslim pilgrims gather around the Kaaba, Islam's holiest shrine, at the Grand Mosque in the holy city of Mecca early on June 28, 2023, as they perform the farewell circumambulation or "tawaf", circling seven times around the large black cube, which is the focal point on the final day of the hajj.

A Syrian amputees prays inside a tent near the Mount Arafat, also known as Jabal al-Rahma or Mount of Mercy, during the climax of the Hajj pilgrimage on June 27, 2023. The ritual is the high point of the annual pilgrimage, one of the five pillars of Islam, that officials say could be the biggest on record after three years of Covid restrictions.

Pilgrims cast stones at a pillar in the symbolic stoning of the devil, the last rite of the annual Hajj pilgrimage, in Mina near the holly city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Thursday, June 29, 2023.

Muslim pilgrims perform the symbolic stoning of the devil ritual as part of the hajj pilgrimage, in Mina, near Saudi Arabia's holy city of Mecca on June 28, 2023.

Pilgrims cast stones at a pillar in the symbolic stoning of the devil, the last rite of the annual Hajj pilgrimage, in Mina near the holly city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Wednesday, June 28, 2023.

Muslim pilgrims hold stones as they prepare to perform the symbolic stoning of the devil ritual as part of the hajj pilgrimage in Mina, near Saudi Arabia's holy city of Mecca on June 28, 2023.

Muslim pilgrims perform the symbolic stoning of the devil ritual as part of the hajj pilgrimage, in Mina, near Saudi Arabia's holy city of Mecca on June 28, 2023.

Muslim pilgrims rest after arriving at Muzdalifah before heading to Mina during the annual Muslim Hajj pilgrimage on June 27, 2023.

A vendor, left, gets an agreement with a client for a lamb at an open-air market where animals are on sale for Eid al-Adha, or the "Festival of Sacrifice" in Istanbul, Turkey, Tuesday, June 27, 2023. The major Muslim holiday, at the end of the hajj pilgrimage to Mecca, is observed around the world by believers and commemorates prophet Abraham's pledge to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience to God.

A Muslim pilgrim prays atop Saudi Arabia's Mount Arafat, also known as Jabal al-Rahma or Mount of Mercy, during the climax of the Hajj pilgrimage on June 27, 2023. The ritual is the high point of the annual pilgrimage, one of the five pillars of Islam, that officials say could be the biggest on record after three years of Covid restrictions.

Muslim pilgrims crowd Saudi Arabia's Mount Arafat, also known as Jabal al-Rahma or Mount of Mercy, during the climax of the Hajj pilgrimage on June 27, 2023. The ritual is the high point of the annual pilgrimage, one of the five pillars of Islam, that officials say could be the biggest on record after three years of Covid restrictions.

Muslim pilgrims pray atop Saudi Arabia's Mount Arafat, also known as Jabal al-Rahma or Mount of Mercy, during the climax of the Hajj pilgrimage on June 27, 2023.

A general view of the Grand Mosque is seen from the Clock Tower during the Hajj pilgrimage in the Muslim holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Thursday, June 22, 2023. Mecca is Islam's holiest city and a focal point for the faith's followers. But it's also a place where around 2 million people live, work, and do everyday activities like laundry, grocery shopping, homework, putting the trash out and paying the bills. Traffic, the population and prices balloon during the peak Ramadan and Hajj seasons.

Muslim pilgrims gather at top of the rocky hill known as the Mountain of Mercy, on the Plain of Arafat, during the annual Hajj pilgrimage, near the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Tuesday, June 27, 2023.

Muslim pilgrims pray around the Kaaba, the cubic building at the Grand Mosque, during the annual Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Sunday, June 25, 2023.

Muslim pilgrims pray at the Grand Mosque in the holy city of Mecca on June 22, 2023, as they arrive for the annual Hajj pilgrimage.

Muslim pilgrims circumambulate around the Kaaba, the cubic building at the Grand Mosque, during the annual hajj pilgrimage in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Monday, June 26, 2023.

Somalian pilgrims prepare for a selfie in front of the Kaaba, the cubic building at the Grand Mosque, during the annual hajj pilgrimage in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Monday, June 26, 2023.

In this elevated view from a hotel overlooking the Grand Mosque, Muslim worshippers and pilgrims gather around the Kaaba, Islam's holiest shrine, in the holy city of Mecca on June 22, 2023, as they arrive for the annual Hajj pilgrimage.

Muslim pilgrims circumambulate around the Kaaba, the cubic building at the Grand Mosque, during the annual hajj pilgrimage in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Monday, June 26, 2023.

Muslim pilgrims circumambulate around the Kaaba, the cubic building at the Grand Mosque, during the annual hajj pilgrimage in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Monday, June 26, 2023.

Muslim pilgrims pray in front of the Kaaba, the cubic building at the Grand Mosque, during the annual hajj pilgrimage, in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Sunday, June 25, 2023.

Muslim pilgrims pray upon their arrival in Mina, near Islam's holy city of Mecca on June 26, 2023, during the annual Hajj pilgrimage.

A Muslim pilgrim uses a prayer mat to protect himself from the sun as he walks in the holy city of Mecca on June 23, 2023, as Muslims from around the world arrive for the annual Hajj pilgrimage.

Muslim pilgrims pray upon their arrival in Mina, near Islam's holy city of Mecca on June 26, 2023, for the annual Hajj pilgrimage.

Muslim pilgrims pray around the Kaaba, Islam's holiest shrine, at the Grand Mosque in the holy city of Mecca on June 22, 2023, as they arrive for the annual Hajj pilgrimage.

A police officer sprays cold water on a Muslim pilgrim at the Mina tent camp in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, during the annual Hajj pilgrimage, Monday, June 26, 2023.

Muslim pilgrims rest at the Mina tent camp during the Hajj, in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, during the annual hajj pilgrimage, Monday, June 26, 2023.