SHOTLIST MECCA, SAUDI ARABIA (MAY 30, 2025) (ANADOLU-ACCESS ALL) 1. DRONE SHOT OF MASJID AL-HARAM 2. VARIOUS OF PILGRIMS WALKING IN INNER AND OUTER COURTYARD OF MASCID AL-HARAM 3. VARIOUS OF PILGRIMS SITTING, PRAYING AND READING HOLY QUR'AN 4. VARIOUS OF PILGRIMS PERFORMING TAWAF / DETAIL FROM MASCID AL-H 5. VARIOUS OF PILGRIMS SITTING, PRAYING AND READING HOLY QUR'AN / MAN DISTRIBUTING DATES 6. VARIOUS OF PILGRIMS PERFORMING TAWAFMECCA, SAUDI ARABIA - MAY 30: As the Hajj pilgrimage nears its climax, Masjid al-Haram in Mecca is experiencing severe overcrowding. Millions of Muslims from around the world filled the Grand Mosque (Masjid al-Haram) in Mecca on Friday, May 30, to perform the last Friday prayer (Jumu'ah) before the start of this year’s Hajj pilgrimage. Pilgrims, who have been arriving in the holy city for days, engaged in worship after completing Umrah rituals, including tawaf (circumambulation of the Kaaba) and sa’y (walking between Safa and Marwah). Many spent time in prayer and Quran recitation within the mosque’s vast courtyards. While pilgrims must wear ihram (ritual attire) to enter the inner courtyard (sahan) near the Kaaba, those who have completed Umrah can perform tawaf without ihram on the mosque’s first floor and rooftop. Others, dressed in everyday or traditional clothing, prayed in the outer courtyards, some feeding pigeons that gather around the sacred site. As evening fell, many pilgrims returned to their accommodations via buses from the Gaza Garage transport hub. Hajj, the fifth pillar of Islam, is a mandatory religious duty for Muslims who are physically and financially capable. This year, over two million worshippers from diverse backgrounds have gathered in Mecca, united in their simple white ihram garments—a symbol of equality and piety in Islam. The pilgrimage reenacts the trials of Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham), his wife Hajar (Hagar), and their son Ismail (Ishmael). Key rituals include standing at the plains of Arafat, where the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) delivered his final sermon, and the symbolic stoning of the devil at Jamarat, representing Ibrahim’s rejection of Satan’s temptations. The Hajj culminates with Eid al-Adha, the Festival of Sacrifice, where Muslims worldwide perform Qurbani (animal sacrifice) in remembrance of Ibrahim’s devotion to Allah. Authorities are managing the dense crowds with increased security and logistical support to ensure pilgrims’ safety. Writing by Sibel Uygun