London Mayor Sadiq Khan has spoken about the emotional and spiritual impact of performing Hajj in Makkah, describing the pilgrimage as a “profoundly life changing” experience.
The mayor, who became London’s first Muslim mayor in 2016, shared reflections from his spiritual journey to the holy city of Makkah, where millions of Muslims gather each year to perform the annual pilgrimage.
Sadiq Khan said the experience of standing alongside Muslims from different races nationalities and backgrounds was both humbling and deeply moving. He highlighted the themes of unity, equality and faith that define Hajj, calling it one of the most important moments of his life.
The pilgrimage comes during a period of growing discussion around representation and diversity in British politics with Khan often speaking openly about his Muslim identity and the importance of community cohesion in the UK.
Many British Muslims welcomed the mayor’s comments on social media, praising his openness about faith and spirituality while representing one of the world’s most diverse cities.
Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam and is obligatory for Muslims who are physically and financially able to undertake the journey at least once in their lifetime
