Thousands of Muslim pilgrims performed the Tawaf al-Qudum rite at the Masjid al-Haram in Mecca on June 4, 2025 [1].
This arrival circumambulation is a critical early step in the Hajj pilgrimage. It serves as a required rite that pilgrims must complete after entering the holy city and before they move toward Mina to continue their religious duties [1].
The activity began on the morning of the eighth day of Dhu al-Hijjah 1446 AH and continued through the evening [1]. The rite involves circling the Kaaba, the central focal point of the Grand Mosque, as an act of devotion and submission.
Following the completion of the Tawaf al-Qudum, the pilgrims began their procession toward Mina [1]. This transition marks the shift from the initial arrival phase to the more intensive stages of the pilgrimage, where worshippers spend time in prayer and reflection.
While the eighth of Dhu al-Hijjah focused on the arrival rite, subsequent stages of the pilgrimage saw larger concentrations of people. For example, approximately 1.7 million pilgrims performed the Tawaf al-Ifadah on the 10th of Dhu al-Hijjah 1446 AH [2].
Authorities in Saudi Arabia manage the flow of these millions of worshippers to ensure safety and order within the mosque and the surrounding transit corridors. The transition from the Grand Mosque to the tents of Mina is one of the most logistically challenging movements of the Hajj season, requiring precise coordination to prevent overcrowding.
“Tawaf al-Qudum is a required rite of Hajj performed after entering Mecca and before moving to Mina”
The sequence of rites from Tawaf al-Qudum to the later Tawaf al-Ifadah illustrates the structured nature of the Hajj pilgrimage. By staggering these movements—starting with the arrival rite on the 8th and peaking with the Ifadah on the 10th—Saudi authorities attempt to manage the massive surge of millions of people through a limited geographic area to maintain public safety.
