The Hajj is an annual pilgrimage for Muslims to the Holy City called Mecca in Saudi Arabia. This important event takes place during the last month of the Islamic calendar, Dhu al-Hijjah. Mecca is the place, where two paramount events took place for Islam. On the one hand, the prophet Muhammad was born in Mecca, and on the other hand, Allah had sent some revelations for the first time to the prophet Muhammed there. These revelations became later the Holy Book of the Muslims, the Koran.

This year the Hajj will take place from the 17th to the 22nd of July. During the preceding years, this event happened with the presence of millions of Muslims, but last year and this year this event had to be adjusted due to the COVID-19 global pandemic. In 2021, the Saudi authorities decided to limit the number of pilgrims to 60'000 Saudi citizens and residents instead of the usual 2 million pilgrims from all over the world due to the pandemic. Saudi Arabia has announced a series of special rules to fight the spread of the pandemic. Moreover, the representative of the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah stated that every group of 20 pilgrims will receive an escort to guide and respect the precautionary sanitary measures during the Hajj. Every pilgrim has to meet the following criteria; being vaccinated against COVID-19, not suffering any chronic diseases, aged between 18 to 65 years. Furthermore, the people who have been granted the Hajj permit, are allowed to visit within 48 hours the closest center for vaccination to receive the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccination.

CD4Peace welcomes the sanitary measures taken by the authorities to continue this meaningful event for all Muslims worldwide despite the restrictions of the global pandemic.