Hajj is most often represented at scale with photographs from the air of millions of people, as something so large that the true size of it is unimaginable to most people at home. This year Hajj was also bookended by two tragedies, but every year there are millions and millions of people each with their own stories, of a lifetime of prayers and work that led them to Mecca. Humans of Hajj is a new Facebook page that launched with Hajj this year that did a beautiful job in capturing some of the human stories at the ground level of Hajj.

“I am originally from Algeria but I’ve been living in France for almost 30 years. I work at a senior citizen home. This is my first Hajj, I am scared as I don’t want to get lost.” — Haji
“Do you have family or relatives who you live with in Paris?” Admin

“All my family is in Paris.” — Haji

“So you are alone, huh” — Admin

“No, I am not. My Allah is with me.” Samia from Paris

“30 years ago at the age of 25 I fought the Soviets. Their planes were dropping bombs so all 260 of us hid in the underground tunnels. The explosions were devastating, and the tunnels collapsed, I was stuck underground without any water or food. After three days they dug me out, 240 of my friends were dead, only 20 survived. I lost my legs, my skull was cracked, my shoulders broken, my ribs damaged and I can not eat from my mouth any longer, I am fed through my nose but Alhumdhulillah (All praises are due to Allah). Since then I have spent years at hospitals in Egypt, Germany, Pakistan and finally for the past 9 years I am here in Saudi Arabia. I have 11 children back at home but I am alone here. If I have the option of getting driven to the Masjid and there is some sort of pathway I can use alternatively, I opt for the other pathway, because there is more reward in there for me. I rather push myself then be taken in the bus just so I may get some rewards from Allah. You see under my wheelchair? That's my Ihraam. I have done 13 Hajj so far, inshAllah this year will be my 14th Hajj.” Marjaan from Afghanistan

“This is my first Hajj, I have been here for 8 months because my wife is employed as a doctor here. I was looking at the Ka’bah and I was praying that Allah creates equality amongst all people. Irrespective of race, color, wealth, religon or anything, I want everyone to be equal like the teeth of a comb.”

— Yousuf Hammadi from Sudan

“I’m 48, my father is 83. This is both of ours first Hajj. I am happy I could bring him here and serve him during Hajj. Put your cellphone away, read Tasbeeh after salah” Nuh from Istanbul, Turkey

“There are hundreds and thousands of Muslims in Linxia, we have over 30 major mosques in that area. 2 of our Masjids are over 500 years old. I live between Linxia and Lanzhou and have come to offer the pilgrimage with 17 of my friends. I know a little bit of Arabic so I am their Imam.” Yousuf from Linxia, China

“I am from Algeria and she is from Afghanistan” — Haji
“How do you two communicate? She doesn’t speak Arabic and you can not speak Pashto?”- Admin
“We communicate with our hearts. We don’t need a language. Our hands are enough, our love is enough. We are all one. It doesn’t matter what race or background you have. Everyone here shares the same Kalimah (Muslim testimony of faith). That’s all that matters.”- Afeef from Algeria (right) and Zainab from Afghanistan (left)

“Today is my first day in Madinah, we just moved here from Turkey. Even though I was born in Turkey, I love this city more than my old home. Yeah, I miss my friends, but I love praying in this Masjid (mosque) more.” Saleem from Turkey

“Tae Kwon Do was my favorite hobby, so much that I became a second degree black belt. Opponents challenged me, I entered competitions until I was the champion of Germany and ranked 3rd place in all of Europe. These fights were all about money, about just receiving and I was missing contentment. All praises are due to Allah who had allowed me to come for Umrah many times, it was there that I would meet students from the Jaamiah. They had this unique sense of strong islamic spirituality that I was drawn to just by being in their company. I told myself that I want to leave behind my life of fame and championships and become the conquer this spirituality. Seeking knowledge and being in the proximity of the Prophet PBUH is a combination that can not be found anywhere else in the world. I happily gave up my previous life for this new sacred journey.” Ahmed from Germany

“Tell the world that we are muslims and we aren’t terrorists. Religions do not advocate terror, humans advocate terror. We are Iraqi, we love everyone and everyone is our family, tell the world!” Abdur Rasheed, Jaasim and Hussain from Iraq

“My son my son! How do I get to this hotel?”
“No worries let’s take a look, but before I tell you give me some advice.”
“Do you want eternal life?”
“Hows that possible?”
“Sadaqa jareeya. You know what that is right?”
“Na’am.”
“Ok so give some sadaqa and show me where my hotel is. May it be a means to remove a difficulty for you.” Qasim Muhammed, Algeria

“This plastic bag keeps me dry from the rain. I waited along time to do Hajj and now I am here with my wife. My entire life I spent money on my children to build their education and careers, now they are settled and I saved up for Hajj. I wish my children were here with me, but I can’t afford that right now. I pray everyday and everytime that my children will be able to come and perform Tawaaf” Mohammed Rashidul Islam from Bangladesh

Sheikh Omar Suleiman after maghrib prayer with an impromptu meeting of several ulema from North America:

“It (atmosphere after prayer) feels like the Souk of Al-Jannah. Where the people of Jannah will meet with those who they have known. SubahanAllah it’s beautiful to meet people you have known or not known in America to bump into them here in front of the masjid of the Prophet ﷺ. Where you have the most serenity than any place in the world. So it’s personally what I love about walking out of the Salah.”

Mohamed (father) and Mustafa Nur from Nigeria

Admin: Is this your first time on Hajj?

Mohamed: No but 1st time with my family.

Admin: How’s mustafa liking it?

Mohamed: He loves it. We carry him everywhere! He’s a happy baby.

“I push my little brother Muntasir Billah because I’ll get reward! Do I get tired? Yeah! But I also get reward! I’m telling Muntasir to look at the camera but he is too busy eating his chocolate.” Mutasim Billah (10 years old) and Muntasir Billah (6 years old) from Egypt

Tawaf e Wida (Farewell Tawaf) last night