Key facts
- Photojournalist Altaf Qadri captured a moment of synchronized prayer around the Kaaba during the Hajj pilgrimage.
- The image was taken from an elevated vantage point in the Mecca Clock Tower.
- Pilgrims were dressed in ihram, the simple white garments worn by men during Hajj.
- The photograph aims to convey a sense of unity and devotion.
Award-winning photojournalist Altaf Qadri captured a striking image of Muslim pilgrims engaged in synchronized prayer around the Kaaba in Mecca during the annual Hajj pilgrimage. The photograph, taken from the Mecca Clock Tower, aims to visually represent the profound sense of unity and devotion experienced by millions of participants.
Qadri, a Kashmiri photojournalist based in Dubai with over 16 years of experience and accolades including a World Press Photo award, utilized a Sony A1 camera with a 70-200 mm lens for the shot. Access to the Grand Mosque's vicinity for photography is typically restricted, but Qadri was part of a group granted special permission through the Saudi Ministry of Media.
The image focuses on male pilgrims dressed in ihram, the simple white garments signifying purity and equality, as they prostrate around Islam's holiest shrine. The photographer intentionally waited for this synchronized movement to emphasize the collective spiritual intensity of the Hajj rites, which draw millions to Mecca and surrounding holy sites.