Amir al-hajj (leader of the pilgrim caravan)

In 9/630, after non-Muslims were excluded from the pilgrimage, the Prophet nominated Abu Bakr to conduct the pilgrimage and keep pagans from it, and in 10/631 he presided over it himself. ¹

After that the office belonged to the caliphs, who either undertook it or appointed a governor of Mecca or Medina or another high official. When the caliphate was disputed there were sometimes several rival leaders; in 68/688 there were four. The president of the ceremonies had authority over all the pilgrims. After 660/1262 the Abbasid caliphs of Cairo were shadowy, the office became secular, and the Mamluk sultans made the appointments; the amir al-hajj al-misri, usually a commander of a thousand, claimed precedence at the holy places. ²