RIYADH: While millions of pilgrims converge on Makkah each year for the pilgrimage which makes up the fifth pillar of Islam, many Saudis are connecting with the spirit of Hajj without ever leaving their homes.
Whether they are not yet eligible, unable to travel, or simply waiting for their turn, these individuals have found meaningful ways to experience the journey spiritually — through screens, rituals, reflections and community.
This evolving form of spiritual connection highlights a growing culture of intentional observance from afar, especially among young Saudis who see Hajj not as a spectator event, but as a season for personal transformation, wherever they are.
For 25-year-old Shatha Al-Jadaan, who has already completed Hajj, the way she engages with the pilgrimage now is more intimate than ever, even when she is not physically there.
“Now that I’ve experienced Hajj, I follow it in a more personal way,” she said. “I keep the Makkah live stream running 24/7 at home. It’s not background noise — it’s a reminder of a moment I lived.”
She adds that her digital engagement with the pilgrimage is deeply structured. “I fast all 10 days of Dul Hijjah (the month of the pilgrimage), and I start my day earlier. I make sure the atmosphere in the house is different — calmer, more reflective.
“My acts of worship are done with full presence. It’s a way to relive the rhythm of Hajj, even if I’m not there.
“Screens can’t replace the feeling — but they do carry the spirit.”
Noor Ahmad, 21, echoed a similar sentiment. She said that seeing Hajj online helped prepare her for the moment she finally went — and now, when she watches others go, it deepens her gratitude.
“I had always seen Hajj on TV, social media, or through others’ stories,” she said. “Those images gave me a glimpse and stirred a longing to go. And when I finally did, I found myself connecting the visual memories with what I was living in real time.”
After her return, the act of watching became a kind of remembrance. “It’s not just nostalgia. It’s a form of spiritual presence,” she said.
Omar Al-Shehri, 33, uses the Hajj season to teach his children about the rituals.
“Every day during Dul Hijjah, we sit as a family, watch the scenes from Mina and Arafat, and I explain each step to my kids. Even though we’re not there, they’re growing up understanding the weight and meaning of it.”
He adds: “They’ll perform Hajj one day, insha’Allah — but until then, they’re growing in awareness.”
Digital platforms have played a huge role in how people spiritually engage with Hajj. Official channels like Saudi Press Agency, Al-Ekhbariya, and digital apps like Haramain Watch allow viewers to follow crowd sizes, ritual timing, and even live fatwas in real time.
Layla Al-Fahad, 29, uses X with mutuals and WhatsApp groups with close friends to share spiritual prompts. “We share reminders, dhikr, and short prayers every day during the ten days. It’s like a mini spiritual retreat — just in group chat form.”
Other Saudis have turned to digital booklets, daily phone reminders, or interactive timelines of the Hajj rituals to stay aligned with the pilgrims’ journey.
The most compelling insight from many of these remote observers is that distance doesn’t diminish intention. In fact, for some, it heightens it.
“There’s something humbling about knowing you’re not there, but still feeling connected,” said Al-Fahad. “You start praying differently, reading differently, even walking differently during those 10 days. Everything becomes softer, more deliberate.”
For many Saudis, participating in the spiritual season does not require boarding a bus, plane, or train. It requires presence of heart, clarity of mind, and intention of soul.
