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Pilgrims through the lens: How photographers document scenes of faith during Hajj

Pilgrims through the lens: How photographers document scenes of faith during Hajj
Photo by Faisal Al-Thaqafi.
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Updated 13 June 2025

Pilgrims through the lens: How photographers document scenes of faith during Hajj

Pilgrims through the lens: How photographers document scenes of faith during Hajj

MAKKAH: Every year, the holy lands transform into a unique visual spectacle pulsing with faith and human diversity, drawing the world’s eyes to Makkah, where millions of Muslims perform the pilgrimage of Hajj.

During this period of spiritual and human momentum, photographers stand as visual historians, conveying to the world unforgettable scenes through their lenses that capture moments of worship, tears, unity, mercy, and cultural diversity.

Photographer Anas Al-Harthi said: “When I carry my camera during Hajj season, I feel that I am not just documenting an event but painting a grand canvas of faith in human colors from every continent.”

He added: “A photographer during Hajj does not just take a picture — he moves with a deep sense that this shot may remain a witness to a moment that will never be repeated in the pilgrim’s life.”




Photo by Faisal Al-Thaqafi.

Al-Harthi pointed out that the greatest challenge is respecting the sanctity of the scene without interfering with it, which requires a high artistic sense and an appreciation of place, time and situation.

Photographer Anas Bakhsh said that the experience of photographing during Hajj places the photographer at the heart of human emotion.

“Thousands of faces pass before you, and each face carries a story, every tear bears a prayer, and every movement expresses longing and contentment. Sometimes I feel that the photo I took is an answered prayer for someone in a moment of complete submission to God.”

He said that the scene forever engraved in his memory is when crowds gather on the plain of Arafat at the same time, a majestic sight where differences between people dissolve and the sounds of Talbiyah and supplication rise.

Photographer Faisal Al-Thaqafi said that professional photography during Hajj is not only about technical skill, but also about cultural and religious awareness, and the ability to engage with the scene with the spirit of a believing photographer. “The photographer during Hajj is not just a professional holding a camera — he is an eye pulsing with faith, translating emotion into imagery.”

He added: “Sometimes you capture an image of an elderly pilgrim raising his hands to the sky, and you realize that this photo will remain in people’s hearts more than any commentary or report — because it is sincere, pure, and simple.”

The three photographers agree that the logistical challenges — crowds, heat, and problems involving mobility — do not stand in the way of their passion. Instead, they drive them to exert double the effort to document this unique event.

Bakhsh said: “Every season, I return home with thousands of photos, but I keep only one or two for myself — those images that I feel touched something inside me and perhaps touched the hearts of millions around the world.”




Photo by Faisal Al-Thaqafi.

Al-Thaqafi said that a successful photograph during Hajj is not only one of high visual quality, but one that conveys a genuine emotion. “The strongest images are those that do not need an explanation. You see a pilgrim smiling or crying, and you feel your heart tremble.”

Al-Harthi believes that a photograph can change the world’s perception of Hajj and bring this great ritual closer to non-Muslims as well, saying: “We are not working only for documentation — we are working to build a human bridge, where the spirit of Islam is shown through an honest and professional lens.”

With these sincere lenses, the Hajj season becomes an open exhibition of spirituality, where photos tell stories that words cannot express, and bear witness to the greatest annual human gathering, where everyone is equal in attire, and united in purpose: seeking mercy and forgiveness.

Amid this visual momentum created by photographers through their lenses, the impact of these images is also felt by the pilgrims themselves and by millions of followers on social media. Syrian pilgrim Omar Al-Kadeeb, from Deir Ezzor, said: “Photos of relatives who performed the pilgrimage in the holy sites and near the Kaaba reached my family and friends within minutes and spread widely. At that moment, we felt like we were part of their spiritual journey despite the distance.” He added: “I saw images taken of pilgrims from all nationalities, and I found myself moving emotionally through the scenes — from a father crying in prayer, to a child smiling in Arafat, to a woman raising her hands to the sky in a profoundly moving moment that cannot be described.”




Photos by Faisal Al-Thaqafi, center shot, and Anas Al-Harthi.

Al-Kadeeb said that the professional photos shared by photographers on platforms such as X, Instagram and TikTok enhance the status of Hajj in people’s hearts and make it feel more relatable and more meaningful to the viewer — even if they are not performing Hajj themselves.

“I believe every beautiful image from Hajj is an indirect invitation for people to dream of Hajj and to realize the greatness of this immense pillar,” Al-Kadeeb said.

He concluded with high praise for the photographers: “They are not just professionals — they are messengers of peace and beauty, delivering the message in today’s universal language: a photo.”


Saudi wildlife center reports record sightings of seabirds, large marine creatures in Kingdom's coasts

Saudi wildlife center reports record sightings of seabirds, large marine creatures in Kingdom's coasts
Updated 9 sec ago

Saudi wildlife center reports record sightings of seabirds, large marine creatures in Kingdom's coasts

Saudi wildlife center reports record sightings of seabirds, large marine creatures in Kingdom's coasts
  • Researchers documented 84,516 seabirds along the Red Sea and Arabian Gulf this year alone
  • Wildlife center also recorded exceptional sightings of 1,219 large marine creatures 

RIYADH: Wildlife researchers have documented record sightings of seabirds and large marine species along Ƶ's coasts this year alone, according to a report of the National Center for Wildlife (NCW) carried by the Saudi Press Agency.

The report said researchers have documented 84,516 seabirds, including 50,356 along the eastern coast on the Arabian Gulf, and more than 34,160, representing 63 species, along its western coast on the Red Sea.

NCW also identified 39 key sites for bird migration and breeding, five of which are officially recognized by BirdLife International as critical areas for birds and marine biodiversity.

Researchers have documented 84,516 seabirds in borth eastern and western coasts of Ƶ. (SPA)

The center also recorded exceptional sightings of 1,219 large marine creatures, 159 on the eastern coast and 1,060 on the western coast.

The findings are part of NCW field monitoring and exploration programs in the Kingdom’s marine and coastal environments.

"The results highlight Ƶ's ongoing commitment to protecting biodiversity and preserving marine and coastal ecosystems, in line with Saudi Vision 2030 and its goals for sustainable development," NCW said.

NCW said the findings reinforce the Kingdom's biodiversity database and strengthen efforts to develop a sustainable management of environmental resources, support the push for eco-tourism, and contribute to raising environmental awareness.


National emblem exhibition opens at Al-Masmak Palace

Al-Masmak Palace is hosting an exhibition that documents and celebrates the Kingdom’s national emblem. (Supplied)
Al-Masmak Palace is hosting an exhibition that documents and celebrates the Kingdom’s national emblem. (Supplied)
Updated 25 August 2025

National emblem exhibition opens at Al-Masmak Palace

Al-Masmak Palace is hosting an exhibition that documents and celebrates the Kingdom’s national emblem. (Supplied)
  • ‘Two Swords and a Palm’ presents an archive of Kingdom’s national symbol, bridging past and present

RIYADH: “Two Swords and a Palm: The Saudi Emblem Archive” exhibition opened to the public on Saturday and runs until Nov. 21, providing a visual guide to the emblem of Ƶ, archiving its historic significance and use over the years.

The exhibition was curated by Mohammed Alruways and Abdullah Kenani, a Saudi pair whose passion for heritage drove them to painstakingly build this archive.

“This whole project started four years ago,” Alruways told Arab News. “We started to become interested in the changes of the emblem and noticed that it doesn’t have a specific drawing. So, we started to investigate the changes throughout the years, since the unification of Saudi in the ’30s until now.”

Alruways and Kenani began the project together, collecting objects adorned with the emblem and digitizing them.

But their biggest challenge was not collecting pieces for the archive but tracing them back to specific dates and professionally digitizing and archiving them. 

“We were learning as we go … Some of them (the objects) are from the ’40s and ’50s and ’60s, but it was hard to connect them to a specific date or era at that time. So that’s why we mainly focused on documents and books,” Alruways said. 

The exhibition space is organized in three stages. The first room invites the viewer to look through the found objects; the second highlights the emblem in different sizes, including large paintings made for diplomats; and the third demonstrates the archival process, including video footage of the digitization procedure. 

The interactive experience includes visual presentations and animated films, allowing visitors to explore the emblem’s development and its evolving aesthetics, reflecting its ability to adapt to social and cultural changes while maintaining its presence as an icon that represents the Kingdom’s values and unity.

Al-Masmak Palace holds symbolic importance due to its link to the 1902 recapture of Riyadh by King Abdulaziz, a pivotal moment in the Kingdom’s unification. 

“I think it was the right place (for this exhibition) because it’s where Saudi unification started and also has links to the emblem,” Alruways said.

“When we decided to host the exhibition here in Al-Masmak, we noticed that one of the rooms featured the emblem in its original form, so we replicated that as an installation,” he added.

Nestled in the heart of the capital, Al-Masmak Palace bears witness to the early beginnings of the state, preserving features of that era within its walls.

Over recent decades, it has transformed into a national museum that welcomes visitors from within and outside the Kingdom, telling the story of the founding of modern Ƶ through its halls and exhibits.

For this exhibition, Alruways and Kenani connected the emblems by the era of the kings that ruled Ƶ ever since the unification by King Abdulaziz, finding that each era usually held a standard aesthetic. 

“We noticed that post-2009, most of the emblems look similar and we realized that’s because of the internet, basically, so that’s where everybody starts copying each other,” Alruways said. “But pre-2009, it’s usually hand drawn. You notice there are some similarities, but usually whenever someone draws it by hand … they add their own touch. That was one of our early findings.” 

Some of the rare finds include royal dining plates from the eras of King Abdulaziz and King Fahd, including a 1949 passport among the first to feature the emblem on its cover.

Ƶ’s Museums Commission emphasized that the exhibition is part of its efforts to preserve cultural heritage and raise public awareness of the importance of national identity. 

It noted that the national emblem, with its symbol of the two swords and the palm tree, is not merely a fixed visual form, but “a living record that reflects the state’s journey and aspirations across generations.”

The exhibition aligns with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030, which seeks to highlight national heritage and enhance its role in the present and the future by transforming major historical sites like Al-Masmak Palace into vibrant cultural spaces that attract visitors and enrich their knowledge.

The program includes workshops and activities for all age groups, to connect generations with the history of their homeland and introduce them to the value and significance of the national emblem in Ƶ’s collective memory.


King Salman receives letter from Egyptian president El-Sisi

King Salman receives letter from Egyptian president El-Sisi
Updated 24 August 2025

King Salman receives letter from Egyptian president El-Sisi

King Salman receives letter from Egyptian president El-Sisi
  • The message was delivered to Abdulrahman bin Ibrahim Al-Rassi by Egyptian ambassador Ehab Abu Srei

RIYADH: King Salman on Sunday received a written message from Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi on relations and ways to strengthen cooperation between the two countries, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

The message was delivered to Abdulrahman bin Ibrahim Al-Rassi, undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Multilateral International Affairs and the general supervisor of the ministry’s Agency for Public Diplomacy Affairs.

Al-Rassi received the letter during his meeting in Riyadh on Sunday with Egypt’s ambassador to the Kingdom, Ehab Abu Srei.

Talks during their meeting reviewed Saudi-Egyptian relations and ways of developing joint cooperation across various fields.


Saudi minister receives Chinese ambassador

Saudi minister receives Chinese ambassador
Updated 24 August 2025

Saudi minister receives Chinese ambassador

Saudi minister receives Chinese ambassador
  • They discussed bilateral relations and topics of mutual interest

RIYADH: Prince Abdulaziz bin Mohammed bin Ayyaf, the acting vice minister of interior, received Ambassador of China to the Kingdom Chang Hua in Riyadh on Sunday.

During the meeting, they discussed bilateral relations and topics of mutual interest, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Meanwhile, Saudi Minister of Hajj and Umrah Tawfiq Al-Rabiah began an official visit to Kazakhstan on Sunday as part of the Kingdom’s efforts to strengthen cooperation and ease the arrival of worshippers to the two holy mosques.

 


Saudi project clears 828 explosive devices in Yemen

Saudi project clears 828 explosive devices in Yemen
Updated 24 August 2025

Saudi project clears 828 explosive devices in Yemen

Saudi project clears 828 explosive devices in Yemen
  • Ousama Al-Gosaibi, the initiative’s managing director, said that 511,355 mines have been cleared since the project began in 2018

RIYADH: Members of Ƶ’s Project Masam removed 828 explosive devices from various regions of Yemen last week.

The total included 783 unexploded ordnances, 42 anti-tank mines, two anti-personnel mines and one improvised explosive device, according to a recent report.

Ousama Al-Gosaibi, the initiative’s managing director, said that 511,355 mines have been cleared since the project began in 2018.

The explosives were planted indiscriminately and posed a threat to civilians, including children, women and the elderly.

The demining operations took place in Marib, Aden, Jouf, Shabwa, Taiz, Hodeidah, Lahij, Sanaa, Al-Bayda, Al-Dhale and Saada.

The project trains local demining engineers and provides them with modern equipment. It also offers support to Yemenis injured by the devices.

Teams are tasked with clearing villages, roads and schools to facilitate the safe movement of civilians and delivery of humanitarian aid.