The politics of Hajj: Why this year's pilgrimage will be more muted

"For he who is able to journey to it" -- Prophet Mohammed

Among the holiest of Islamic obligations, Hajj, which this year begins on September 9, is a coming together of the "Umma" -- the peoples of the Prophet Mohammed.

An annual pilgrimage of people, united in spite of sectarian beliefs, regional divisions and rivalries. A time when Muslims come together for spiritual rebirth, a time of contemplation. A time to return wandering steps to the path of righteousness.

But this year that chorus will be diminished.

Year on year the rivalry between Saudi Arabia and Iran -- and by extension Sunni and Shia Islam -- has increasingly polarized the devotions of their congregations.

Traditionally, the sheer number of pilgrims has also always been, since the rise of Islam, incredible. Never more so than for the host nation -- the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia -- whose custodianship of the Holy Mosques in Mecca and Medina have bestowed upon it a de facto right to the seat at the head of the table.

In the Sunni Muslim world, at least. While for Iran's clerical class that sense of entitlement is a point of bitter contention.

Photos: The Hajj: Muslims gather for annual pilgrimage

Muslim pilgrims pray on the Mountain of Mercy, on the plain of Arafat. Islam requires every Muslim who is physically and financially able to make the journey to Mecca at least once in his or her lifetime.

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Photos: The Hajj: Muslims gather for annual pilgrimage

Muslim pilgrims pray on the Mountain of Mercy on Tuesday, September 22.

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Photos: The Hajj: Muslims gather for annual pilgrimage

Muslim pilgrims touch Islam's holiest shrine, the Kaaba, at the Grand Mosque in Mecca on Monday, September 21. Performing the Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam.

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Photos: The Hajj: Muslims gather for annual pilgrimage

Muslim pilgrims circle counterclockwise the Kaaba at the Grand Mosque in Mecca on Monday. The pilgrimage, conducted over five days, includes detailed rituals including wearing a special garment that symbolizes human equality and unity before God, a procession around the Kaaba and the symbolic stoning of evil.

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Photos: The Hajj: Muslims gather for annual pilgrimage

Muslim pilgrims make their way to cast stones at a pillar in the "stoning the devil" ritual Thursday, September 24, in Mina near Mecca, Saudi Arabia. At some point during this last rite of the annual Hajj, a stampede occurred, killing and injuring hundreds. More than 2 million Muslims have been making the pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca. The Hajj is one of the most celebrated events in the Islamic calendar. 

But that rising friction bubbled over this year when Iran announced back in May that it would be banning its pilgrims from performing Hajj.

The source of the enmity can -- at least for this particular incident -- be traced back to 2015, when a deadly stampede produced the highest death toll at Hajj in almost two decades. The crush left 769 dead, according to Saudi authorities, who maintain the pilgrims ignored crowd control regulations. But this death toll is at odds with claims from repatriating nations that the number of the dead is closer to 2000 devotees -- more than 400 of whom where Iranians.

More recently, tensions escalated once again in the lead up to this year's Hajj. Iran's Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei reignited a war of words during a speech on Monday blasting Al Saud, the ruling royal family of Saudi Arabia. "The heartless and murderous Saudis locked up the injured with the dead in containers -- instead of providing medical treatment and helping them or at least quenching their thirst," he said. "The world of Islam must fundamentally reconsider the management of the two holy places and the issue of hajj."

Saudi Arabia's Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdulaziz Al al-Sheikh dismissed Iran's condemnations, telling Makkah, a local newspaper: "We have to understand that they are not Muslims ... their main enemies are the followers of Sunnah (Sunnis)."

Khamenei had previously criticized the ruling Saudi royals in the immediate aftermath of the stampede, calling for them to take responsibility for the disaster.

"Mismanagement and improper measures that caused this tragedy should not be overlooked," Khamenei said at the time. "The Saudi government is required to accept its heavy responsibility for this bitter incident and meet its obligations in compliance with the rule of righteousness and fairness."

Khameni's statement preceded the Saudi Arabia execution of a leading Shia cleric, Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr on charges of terrorism. With tensions escalating as subsequent demonstrations in Tehran led to the storming of the Saudi Embassy and a severing of diplomatic ties.

More recently, tensions escalated once again in the lead up to this year's Hajj. Iran's Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei reignited a war of words during a speech on Monday blasting Al Saud, the ruling royal family of Saudi Arabia. "The heartless and murderous Saudis locked up the injured with the dead in containers -- instead of providing medical treatment and helping them or at least quenching their thirst," he said. "The world of Islam must fundamentally reconsider the management of the two holy places and the issue of hajj."

Saudi Arabia's Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdulaziz Al al-Sheikh dismissed Iran's condemnations, telling Makkah, a local newspaper: "We have to understand that they are not Muslims ... their main enemies are the followers of Sunnah (Sunnis)."

Khamenei had previously criticized the ruling Saudi royals in the immediate aftermath of the stampede, calling for them to take responsibility for the disaster.

"Mismanagement and improper measures that caused this tragedy should not be overlooked," Khamenei said at the time. "The Saudi government is required to accept its heavy responsibility for this bitter incident and meet its obligations in compliance with the rule of righteousness and fairness."

Khameni's statement preceded the Saudi Arabia execution of a leading Shia cleric, Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr on charges of terrorism. With tensions escalating as subsequent demonstrations in Tehran led to the storming of the Saudi Embassy and a severing of diplomatic ties.