[Today’s Prayer] Hajj Pilgrimage Begins Amid War… Thousands of Iranians Head to Mecca in Saudi Arabia Amid Tension

As this year’s Islamic pilgrimage, Hajj, begins, thousands of people from Iran — currently at war with the United States — have started making their way to Mecca in Saudi Arabia.

According to The Wall Street Journal on the 23rd (local time), the Middle East is facing the turmoil of war while also entering the season of Hajj, the largest annual religious event in Islam, with thousands of Iranians joining the pilgrimage.

Held every year from the 7th to the 12th day of the 12th month of the Islamic calendar, Hajj is one of the five obligatory duties (pillars) that Muslims must fulfill and is considered the holiest religious ritual in Islam. Every Muslim who is financially able is required to visit Mecca and Medina, the birthplace of Islam, at least once in their lifetime. This year, Hajj will take place between the 25th and the 30th.

Millions of pilgrims from around the world travel to Mecca and Medina during Hajj. This year especially, tens of thousands are expected to participate from Iran and Saudi Arabia despite ongoing war tensions and fears of retaliation.

However, although Mecca, located in the mountainous western region of Saudi Arabia, is within the range of Iranian missiles and drones, it is regarded as a prohibited target for attack, making the possibility of a direct strike very unlikely.

A more concerning scenario is the possibility of clashes breaking out in Mecca either among pilgrims themselves or between pilgrims and security authorities.

Kamran Bokhari, a researcher at the Middle East Institute in Washington D.C., expressed concern, saying, “This is the first time Saudi Arabia and Iran have effectively been in a real state of war. Therefore, problems could arise at any time.”

Saudi authorities emphasized that they have declared the highest level of alert and are fully prepared for any possible incidents.

According to the Saudi state-run media outlet Arab News, Interior Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Nayef met on the 21st in Jeddah with delegations leading Hajj pilgrims from Iran, Indonesia, and Egypt, and inspected the readiness of security forces for the pilgrimage season.

During the meetings, he stated, “King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman will do their utmost to ensure that pilgrims from around the world can perform Hajj safely and peacefully.”

Despite these concerns, Muslims across the Middle East continue their journey toward Mecca.

A merchant from Tehran stated that although Iranians could become targets and the decline in the value of the Iranian currency has greatly increased the cost, he would still go to Mecca.

He said, “I am willing to bear any burden in order to fulfill my religious duty.”

(remaining portion omitted)

Source: Yonhap News

“Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.” (1 John 4:15)

Father God, we hear that amid the severe tensions in the Middle East caused by war and the threat of retaliation, the Hajj pilgrimage season has begun, and millions of Muslims are traveling to Mecca in Saudi Arabia. Even as the value of the Iranian currency declines due to the state of war between Saudi Arabia and Iran, and despite the dangers to their personal safety, thousands of Iranians are still making the journey to Mecca.

Lord, please have mercy on the Muslims who are heading to Mecca bound by mistaken beliefs because they do not know Jesus, the true Savior, even amid fears of bombings and deadly stampedes. Help them realize that human actions cannot solve the problem of sin, and lead them not to false stone altars but to Jesus, the true source of life.

Even in the midst of war and danger, we pray that the souls from Iran who long for salvation and travel to Mecca would come to know Jesus, who is the Truth, and the Gospel. Grant the workers and underground churches sharing the Gospel there the boldness of the Holy Spirit, so that the spiritual chains of darkness binding Muslims would be broken and the light of the Gospel would shine powerfully.

Lord, may the global church pray with tears and go forth to the Middle East, where the door for the Gospel has opened, proclaiming the Good News so that suffering Muslims may meet Jesus, the true Truth, and receive salvation.

And may Iran confess Jesus Christ, the true sanctuary, as the Son of God, and become a holy nation of disciples that proclaims the Gospel to all peoples!