Makkah, June 6 -- Two deeply moving stories of faith and perseverance have emerged as Haj 2025 began in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, highlighting the spiritual diversity of this year's pilgrims, a Muslim convert from Uruguay, and the other a blind Yemeni Imam. Both are performing Haj as guests of the Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud under the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques' Guests Programme for Haj, Umrah and Visit, overseen by Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance.

This year the Haj takes place between June 4 and June 9, withEid Al Adhacelebrated on June 6.

Luis Abi Rachid, a 70-year-old from Uruguay, embraced Islam 20 years ago. This year, he is fulfilling his dream of performing Haj for the first time, and...