Muslims from around the globe are making the pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia this week and one man has been watching it from space.

Astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is the first Emirati working aboard the International Space Station (ISS), where he will be staying for the next few months.

‘Today is Arafat Day, a pivotal day during Hajj, that reminds us that faith is not just about belief, but also action and reflection. May it inspire us all to strive for compassion, humility, and unity. Here’s a view of the holy site of Mecca that I captured yesterday,’ tweeted Al Neyadi on Tuesday, along with a picture of Mecca from the ISS.

The tradition of Hajj sees millions travel to the holy city each year as part of the sacred pilgrimage that Muslims are required to do at least once in their lifetimes.

Al Neyadi had previously shared a video of him wishing people ahead of Ramadan from space, along with spectacular views of the Earth, Moon and Venus from the ISS.

As an astronaut Al Neyadi fit the definition of a ‘traveller’, excusing him from attempting to observe fasting for Ramadan at the same time as Earth-bound Muslims.

What is Arafat Day?

The Day of Arafah is an Islamic holiday that falls on the second day of the Hajj pilgrimage and is followed by the holiday of Eid al-Adha.

During this time, Muslim pilgrims in Mecca, circle the Kaaba, Islam’s holiest site, and then converge on a vast tent camp in the nearby desert, officially opening the annual Hajj pilgrimage.

So far, more than 1.8million pilgrims from all over the world have gathered in and around Mecca for the Hajj. Authorities have said they expect this year to reach pre-Covid levels of more than two million.

Al Neyadi is only the 11th Muslim astronaut to go to space. He was part of SpaceX’s Crew 6 and is currently on the first-ever long-duration mission flown by a UAE astronaut.

In 2007, Malaysian astronaut Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor became the first practising Muslim aboard the ISS.

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