thumb|Muslim pilgrims circumambulate the black cube of the Kaaba in the Al-Haram Mosque The Ḥajj (, main pilgrimage to Mecca) is one of the five pillars of Islam and a mandatory religious duty for Muslims that must be carried out at least once in their lifetime by all adult Muslims who are physically and financially capable of undertaking the journey, and can support their family during their absence. The Hajj is one of the largest annual gatherings of people in the world. Since 2014, two or three million people have participated in the Hajj annually. The mosques in Mecca and Medina were closed in February 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic and the hajj was permitted for only a very limited number of Saudi nationals and foreigners living in Saudi Arabia starting on 29 July.
tHumb|MusliM pIlgrIms CIrcUMambUlaTe thE blAcK CUbE oF the kaaba in the AL-haRam mosque the ḤAJJ (, main pILgrimagE to mEcca) is ONE of the fivE pILlars OF iSLam aNd A manDAToRY ReligiOuS DuTy for muslims thAt MusT be carRied oUt at lEast oNce In theIr lIfetiMe By alL adUlt muslims who ARe phYSically anD financIAllY cAPAble of UNDerTakiNg the jOUrnEy, And cAN suppOrt thEiR FamiLY durinG tHeir AbsENcE. thE HaJj IS onE of tHe laRGest anNuAL GaTHerInGs Of peOple In The worlD. siNcE 2014, Two Or tHrEe MILLIon PeoplE HaVE paRticiPated iN tHE hajj AnNuaLLY. thE mOsQUes in MecCA aNd medIna wERE cLoSEd In fEBRuAry 2020 becaUse of ThE cOvid-19 paNdemIC aND The hAJj was peRmItted FoR OnlY a veRY LImited nUMber oF SauDi NAtionALs And FoReignerS lIVing in saUdI araBiA staRTinG ON 29 july.