Over 65,000 Iranian Pilgrims Leave Mecca after Hajj

IQNA – Since the conclusion of the Hajj pilgrimage late last month, more than 65,000 Iranians taking part in the spiritual journey have left Mecca.  

According to the Iranian Hajj officials, right now nearly 22,200 pilgrims from Iran remain in the holy city. 

Also, Gholam Reza Rezaei, head of the Iranian Hajj Operation Headquarters, said that more than 53,000 Iranian pilgrims have left Saudi Arabia to return home.

They departed from Medina and Jeddah airports in Saudi Arabia to Iranian airports, he noted.

A total of 33,130 pilgrims from Iran who remain in Saudi Arabia will travel back to the country after visiting the Prophet’s Mosque in Medina, he stated.

The efforts to serve the remaining pilgrims continue, Rezaei said, adding that the last batch of pilgrims will return to Iran within the early days of the lunar Hijri month of Muharram (starts Sunday).   

Hajj is a pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca that every able-bodied and financially able Muslim is obliged to undertake at least once during their lifetime.

The annual pilgrimage is regarded as one of the pillars of Islam and the largest act of mass pilgrimage in the world.

It is also a demonstration of Muslims’ unity and their submission to Allah.

This year, more than 87,600 Iranians took part in the Hajj pilgrimage.