As hundreds of thousands of Muslims embark upon a pilgrimage to the Holy Kaaba in Mecca, they must enter a particular state of purification and sanctity, known as the Ihram.

The Baghi Cemetery is located near the Prophet's Mosque in the city of Medina, Saudi Arabia.

As part of my visit program to Medina, I visited the first mosque in the world that dates to the lifetime of the Islamic prophet Mohammed PBUH in the 7th century CE.

Thousands of Iranian pilgrims have arrived in the Saudi city of Medina after years of longing for a trip to the land of revelation.

The lead-up to the annual Hajj rituals is currently underway in Saudi Arabia, with a large number of Muslims from around the world getting together for the mass pilgrimage.

Hajj pilgrims streamed out of the holy city of Mecca and into the Mina valley on Sunday, launching the rituals of the great pilgrimage which Saudi Arabia is holding in a scaled-down form for a second year.

Thousands of pilgrims head to Namirah mosque in Arafat for noon prayers after flocking to Mount Arafat.

Muslim pilgrims have launched the second scaled-down Hajj rituals in Saudi Arabia amid the coronavirus pandemic and strict health and safety regulations.

Iran voices its protest against Saudi Arabia’s decision to bar pilgrims from this year’s Hajj ceremony.

Saudi Arabia has for a second consecutive year barred Muslims from other countries to perform their rituals in the annual Hajj pilgrimage due to the deadly coronavirus pandemic.