What leads around two million Muslims from around the world to the same spot in Saudi Arabia for at least five days every year? It’s the annual Hajj—a pilgrimage to Islam’s holy city of Mecca.
The Hajj is one of the largest religious gatherings in the world, and that’s partly because it isn’t optional for Muslims. One of the five pillars of Islam requires every adult Muslim to make the journey at least once in his or her lifetime, if physically and financially able.
The five-day pilgrimage involves a series of rites and rituals, including prayers, lengthy treks by foot, men wearing white shrouds and shaved heads, and animal sacrifices (with most of the meat given to the poor).
On the first day of the Hajj in Mecca, pilgrims walk counter-clockwise seven times around a stone structure called the Kaaba, located in the Grand Mosque on the site Muslims consider the holiest spot on earth. (Each day, Muslims around the world say prayers as they bow in the direction of Mecca.)
The ancient pilgrimage is considered one of the highest acts of devotion by Muslims who believe they are seeking favor with Allah through the teachings of Islam’s prophet Muhammad.
How can Christians pray for the 1.8 million Muslims around the world during the Hajj this week?
- Pray for the travelers’ safety: The journey involves extensive travel for many, and a crowd of two million people gathering in a single site can create complicated conditions. (A stampede in 2015 killed +2,000 people.)
- Pray for Christian satellite programming, internet sites, and other gospel-based information to find its way to those seeking truth in the strict Islamic state of Saudi Arabia and other Middle Eastern nations.
- Pray for the small number of Christians in Saudi Arabia to have a witness to Muslim neighbors, despite the significant dangers of sharing their Christian faith with others.
- Pray that God would protect Muslims who come to faith in Christ while living in Saudi Arabia and other countries where conversions are illegal and can carry severe punishments.
- During the Hajj, pray that God will work to draw searching pilgrims to himself through Christ and his atoning sacrifice, and for many to hear and embrace the good news: That Jesus alone saves sinners by his grace.
In his book Reaching Your Muslim Neighbor with the Gospel, author A.S. Ibrahim writes about the importance of intercessory prayer, and he urges Christians: “Dedicate part of your prayer life to intercession for Muslims with whom you are in conversation.” He also reminds us to persevere: “Christians should not assume that Muslims will always resist the gospel.”
Jamie Dean is the Lead Writer for Radical. She has 20 years of experience in journalism and on-the-ground reporting.
