The Hajj, one of the Five Pillars of Islam, is required at least once in a lifetime for all Muslims who are physically and financially able. This year’s pilgrimage, attended by more than 1.8 million people,

This year’s pilgrimage, attended by more than 1.8 million people, was under tight logistical planning and safety precautions designed to manage the intense heat and large crowds

Pilgrims were set to perform the last major ritual of the hajj -- the "stoning of the devil" -- on Friday, as Muslims around the globe celebrated the beginning of the Eid al-Adha holiday.