Although lasting just about 15 minutes, a brief spell of heavy rain over this holy city today brought much joy to pilgrims performing the fifth pillar of Islam and Makkah residents.

It was the first time it rained in Makkah after the last time sometime in the month of Ramadan.

The short spell started at 4.30pm local time.

"Alhamdulillah (thank God) it is less hot," said Abdullah Ahmad, 52, a Malaysian pilgrim.

It is the hot season in the Holy Land and peak temperatures as high as 43 degrees Celcius is nothing unusual.

A local, Abu Razif, in his 40s, said the rain brought a brief respite as the last time there was a downpour was during Ramadan.

There are currently 15,685 Malaysian pilgrims in the Holy Land.