𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Sir Sadiq Khan has travelled to Mecca for a “life-changing” Islamic pilgrimage. The London Mayor shared videos and photos from the Middle East on his Instagram account where he told his 212K followers he was “truly honoured and blessed to have performed Hajj”. The annual Islamic pilgrimage sees as many as 1.7 million Muslims travel to Saudi Arabia from all over the world to visit the holiest city in the religion. Making Hajj is one of the Five Pillars of the Islamic faith which requires all adult Muslims who are physically and financially able to make the journey to Mecca at least once in their lifetime.

Sir Sadiq, who earns around £170,000-a-year as London Mayor, was profuse in his praise for the trip after sharing videos and photographs of his experience online. Posing for a picture, Sir Sadiq beamed as he stood with the sacred Kaaba, or House of God, in the background. The black cuboid structure is the point to which all Muslims pray towards wherever they are in the world.

The Mayor’s journey also coincided with the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha, or the “Feast of Sacrifice”.

Describing his trip on Instagram, Sir Sadiq said: “As-salamu alaykum (peace be upon you) and Eid Muburak to all those in London and around the world celebrating Eid.

“Hajj at its essence symbolises humility, self-improvement and our collective humanity.

“Alhamdulillah (praise be to God), I feel truly honoured and blessed to have performed Hajj with more than 1.5 million Muslims from across the globe.”

Sir Sadiq saluted performing the “life-changing” and “fulfilling” pilgrimage. He added: “May Allah (God) accept it from all of us. From my family to yours, Eid Mubaruk (Happy Eid).”

More than 1.5 million pilgrims arrived in Saudi Arabia from outside the country, Saleh bin Saad Al-Murabba, commander of the Hajj passport forces, said last week.

The faithful have been poured into the country for the Hajj against the backdrop of a tenuous ceasefire in the Iran war and related regional tensions and uncertainty.

Typically on the first day, many pilgrims in Mecca converge on a vast tent camp in the nearby desert.

Ahead of that, pilgrims have been circling the cube-shaped Kaaba in the Grand Mosque in sweltering temperatures.

For pilgrims, Hajj can be a deeply moving spiritual experience and a chance to seek God’s forgiveness and the erasure of past sins. Pilgrims perform the Hajj rituals over several days.