The Hajj

Thousands upon thousands of pilgrims pack into the arena outside the Grand Mosque in Mecca for noon prayers Photograph: Hasan Sarbakhshian/AP

Pilgrims struggle to touch the wall of the Holy Ka'bah at the Grand Mosque Photograph: Altaf Qadri/EPA

Iranian pilgrims greet each other after circling the Ka'bah Photograph: Altaf Qadri/EPA

A pilgrim reads the Qu'ran Photograph: Hasan Sarbakhshian/AP

Sheep and goats peer out from the deck of a freighter waiting to be unloaded at Jeddah. Each year pilgrims sacrifice an animal, usually a sheep or goat, for Eid al-Adha, the Muslim feast of the sacrifice Photograph: Roslan Rahman/AFP

Pilgrims filter into the arena at the holy Ka'bah for prayers Photograph: Hasan Sarbakhshian/AP

Pilgrims run seven times between the hills of al-Safa and al-Marwah along a passageway in the Grand Mosque, commemorating a search for water by Hajar, wife of the prophet Abraham Photograph: Altaf Qadri/EPA

Pilgrims cry as they pray at the Grand Mosque Photograph: Altaf Qadri/EPA

Thousands of pilgrims pray at the Grand Mosque Photograph: Altaf Qadri/EPA