Pilgrims Take Photos to Document Their Spiritual Journey

 Pilgrims document their journey of faith with a mobile camera (Photo: Adnan Mahdali)
 Pilgrims document their journey of faith with a mobile camera (Photo: Adnan Mahdali)
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Pilgrims Take Photos to Document Their Spiritual Journey

 Pilgrims document their journey of faith with a mobile camera (Photo: Adnan Mahdali)
 Pilgrims document their journey of faith with a mobile camera (Photo: Adnan Mahdali)

The pilgrims are immersed in a spiritual and ethereal atmosphere as they perform the fifth pillar of Islam in the sacred sites of Makkah. A profound experience that will forever be etched in their minds as they eagerly recount every detail to their loved ones, longing to come back again the years to come.

The pilgrims talk about the place, the people, the services, the huge facilities, and the civilized structures of the sacred sites, which they convey through their phones in photos and video clips.

Bassam Muadi, who comes from Jordan to perform the religious rituals, says that the image and the video clip inside the sacred sites have a great impact, because they document his visit to the purest parts of the earth.

Muadi, 54, said that he was in constant contact with his family, to convey the spirituality of the place, the hospitality of the people, and the services provided to the guests of Rahman, which he said were a source of pride for every Arab and Muslim.

For his part, Bassam Abdullah, from Syria, said that words cannot describe the extent of the love and magnificence of the place, pointing out, after taking the picture with his family in the holy sites: “The sacred sites are truly indescribable. It is a journey that I have waited for many years... I will tell my family and friends about the beauty of the place and human generosity, about the splendor of the facilities and the great efforts devoted to serving everyone.”

In turn, Ahmed Ali al-Hajj, from Somalia, said: “The photo may be natural, but years later it will have a special impact on the soul. So preserving all the images and clips is absolutely necessary and at the forefront of priorities...”

Hajj Ahmed continued, "Here lies a spirituality unmatched, and an Islamic gathering like no other... We have come from the far corners of the Earth, with sincere prayers and eyes brimming with tears, seeking forgiveness from the Almighty."



Saudi Arabia Calls for Arab-Islamic Follow-up Summit on Gaza, Lebanon

The first summit assigned a joint ministerial committee to act internationally to stop the war on Gaza. (SPA)
The first summit assigned a joint ministerial committee to act internationally to stop the war on Gaza. (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia Calls for Arab-Islamic Follow-up Summit on Gaza, Lebanon

The first summit assigned a joint ministerial committee to act internationally to stop the war on Gaza. (SPA)
The first summit assigned a joint ministerial committee to act internationally to stop the war on Gaza. (SPA)

Saudi Arabia called on Wednesday for a Joint Arab-Islamic Follow-up Summit to be held on Nov. 11 to address the ongoing Israeli aggression against Palestinian territories and Lebanon, as well as the latest developments in the region.
This invitation follows the previous summit hosted by Riyadh on the same date last year, under the guidance of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz, and continues the efforts led by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in coordination with Arab and Islamic leaders.
Saudi Arabia emphasized its commitment to “monitoring regional developments, condemning the continued unjust Israeli aggression on Palestinian territories, and its expansion into Lebanon, which threatens Lebanon’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, with serious implications for the security and stability of the Middle East.” The Kingdom reiterated its condemnation of the ongoing crimes and violations against both the Palestinian and Lebanese people.
Dr. Khalid Al-Habas, a Saudi political analyst, believes the anticipated summit will call on the international community to assume its responsibilities “to stop Israeli aggression and activate the two-state solution, urging countries that have not yet recognized the Palestinian state to expedite this process.”
He added: “The summit will also support Riyadh-led initiatives to advance the Palestinian cause, including the global coalition currently meeting in Riyadh to implement the two-state solution, as well as address humanitarian aid amidst the destruction and suffering caused by the war.”
The previous summit in Riyadh, attended by Arab and Islamic leaders, decided to “assign the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia—as the chair of the Arab and Islamic summit—as well as those of Jordan, Egypt, Qatar, Türkiye, Indonesia, Nigeria, and Palestine, along with the Secretaries-General of both the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, to initiate an immediate international mobilization on behalf of all member states to coordinate a global effort to stop the war on Gaza and push for a serious and genuine political process to achieve comprehensive and lasting peace based on established international frameworks.”
The “Riyadh Summit 2023” resolution also called for “tasking both the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation with establishing media monitoring units to document all crimes committed by the occupying forces against the Palestinian people.”
Additionally, it called for “the creation of specialized legal monitoring units to document Israeli crimes committed in the Gaza Strip since October 7, with the goal of preparing legal submissions on all violations of international law and international humanitarian law for presentation to the International Criminal Court.”
The resolutions called for “ending the blockade on Gaza and ensuring the entry of Arab, Islamic, and international humanitarian aid convoys.” The summit also affirmed “absolute rejection, and collective resistance, to any attempts of forced individual or collective displacement, forced migration, exile, or deportation of the Palestinian people—whether within Gaza, the West Bank, or beyond their homeland—considering such actions a red line and a war crime.”