Incidents during the Hajj
Accidents during the annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca
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Key Takeaways
- There have been numerous incidents during the Hajj, the Muslim pilgrimage to the cities of Mecca and Medina, that have caused loss of life.
- During the month of the Hajj, Mecca must cope with as many as three million pilgrims.
- As a consequence, the Hajj has become increasingly crowded.
- Despite these efforts, incidents have still occurred.
- At densities above six to seven persons per square meter, individuals cannot move, groups are swept along in waves, individuals jostle to find breath and to avoid falling and being trampled, and hundreds of deaths can occur as a result.
There have been numerous incidents during the Hajj, the Muslim pilgrimage to the cities of Mecca and Medina, that have caused loss of life. Every follower of Islam is required to perform the Hajj in Mecca at least once in their lifetime, if able to do so; according to Islam, the pilgrimage is one of the Five Pillars of Islam. During the month of the Hajj, Mecca must cope with as many as three million pilgrims.
Plane travel makes Mecca and the Hajj more accessible to pilgrims from all over the world. As a consequence, the Hajj has become increasingly crowded. City officials are required to control large crowds and provide food, shelter, sanitation, and emergency services for millions. Despite these efforts, incidents have still occurred.
Crushes and failures of crowd control
The dense, surging crowds, trekking from one station of the pilgrimage to the next, can cause a progressive crowd collapse. At densities above six to seven persons per square meter, individuals cannot move, groups are swept along in waves, individuals jostle to find breath and to avoid falling and being trampled, and hundreds of deaths can occur as a result. The Stoning of the Devil (ramī aj-jamarāt) ceremony is particularly crowded and can be dangerous. Pilgrims ritualistically throw pebbles at three walls (formerly pillars before 2004) which represent the three places where the Hadiths describes how the devil tempted Abraham. It is one of a series of ritual acts that is performed during the Hajj.
Some notable incidents include:
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