More than 2 million Muslims are taking part in this year's Hajj pilgrimage.
![Pilgrims walk towards the Nimrah mosque near Mt Arafat during the annual Hajj pilgrimage outside the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia. [Dar Yasin/AP Photo]](https://www.aljazeera.com/mritems/Images/2018/8/20/e7b0373751974224866324015de90c34_8.jpg)
Pilgrims walk towards the Nimrah mosque near Mt Arafat during the annual Hajj pilgrimage outside the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia
![Visually impaired Muslim pilgrims walk towards Mt Arafat accompanied by relatives. [Dar Yasin/AP Photo]](https://www.aljazeera.com/mritems/Images/2018/8/20/11483eab82c74442a59a9b2376b96a24_8.jpg)
Visually impaired Muslim pilgrims walk towards Mountain Arafat accompanied by relatives.
![Pilgrims from Indonesia arrive at the plains of Arafat on the eve of the annual Hajj pilgrimage. [Zohra Bensemra/Reuters]](https://www.aljazeera.com/mritems/Images/2018/8/20/60337c067a9c481a82311621b1b9a209_8.jpg)
Pilgrims from Indonesia arrive at the plains of Arafat on the eve of the annual Hajj pilgrimage
![Pilgrims take photos at Jabal al-Rahma, or the Mountain of Mercy. [Dar Yasin/AP Photo]](https://www.aljazeera.com/mritems/Images/2018/8/20/82bd8ccd61d14ebeac158b5ee832b976_8.jpg)
Pilgrims take photos at Jabal al-Rahma, or the Mountain of Mercy.
![The five-day pilgrimage is required of all financially and physically able Muslims at least once in their lifetimes. [Dar Yasin/AP Photo]](https://www.aljazeera.com/mritems/Images/2018/8/20/f53b480bfd464deab129e74b95c013bf_8.jpg)
The five-day pilgrimage is required of all financially and physically able Muslims at least once in their lifetimes.
![Pilgrims gather on Jabal al-Rahma, on the plains of Arafat. Around 54 million pilgrims have attended the Hajj over the past 25 years, according to official figures. [Zohra Bensemra/Reuters]](https://www.aljazeera.com/mritems/Images/2018/8/20/99b44252be10497c870938f0addd24eb_8.jpg)
Pilgrims gather on Jabal al-Rahma, on the plains of Arafat. Around 54 million pilgrims have attended the Hajj over the past 25 years, according to official figures
![During Hajj, male pilgrims wear two unstitched pieces of white cloth that cover their body, known as the ihram. Women wear loose-fitting clothing. [Dar Yasin/AP Photo]](https://www.aljazeera.com/mritems/Images/2018/8/20/da0f3b38639e44c898e231c1522eeb28_8.jpg)
During Hajj, male pilgrims wear two unstitched pieces of white cloth that cover their body, known as the ihram. Women wear loose-fitting clothing.
![A pilgrim prays on Jabal al-Rahma, or the Mountain of Mercy. [Zohra Bensemra/Reuters]](https://www.aljazeera.com/mritems/Images/2018/8/20/754560ae6a704c41ba9bae4212eceef4_8.jpg)
A pilgrim prays on Jabal al-Rahma, or the Mountain of Mercy
![For Muslims, the Hajj re-enacts the farewell pilgrimage of the Prophet Muhammad in the year 632. It is a central pillar of the Islamic faith meant to cleanse followers of sin and bring them closer to God. [Zohra Bensemra/Reuters]](https://www.aljazeera.com/mritems/Images/2018/8/20/20f0f49e3e0f41c09ba759ab6669b2c2_8.jpg)
For Muslims, the Hajj re-enacts the farewell pilgrimage of the Prophet Muhammad in the year 632. It is a central pillar of the Islamic faith meant to cleanse followers of sin and bring them closer to God.
