Muslim
pilgrims circle the Holy Kaaba and pray at the Grand mosque during the
annual Hajj in the holy city of Mecca. (Info-graphic design by Farwa
Rizwan)
By AL ARABIYA WITH AGENCIES
Millions of pilgrims arrived this week in Mecca for Islam’s annual Hajj
(pilgrimage), which officially starts on Wednesday. Around four million
pilgrims were heading to Mina, where they will spend their night before
heading to the Mount of Arafat in the early hours of Thursday.
Many pilgrims began leaving for Mina on Tuesday night after
circumambulating the Holy Kaaba, the first house of worship on Earth,
built by Adam. Prophet Ibrahim and his son Ismail rebuilt it some 5,000
years ago. Most Hajj rituals are related to Prophet Ibrahim, his wife
Hager and his son Prophet Ismail, and thus reflect the unity of
humanity.
The Saudi government has given top priority to the security and safety
of pilgrims and has deployed thousands of security forces in Mecca,
Mina, Arafat and Muzdalifah, all cities within a radius of 10
kilometers, to ensure a safe and secure Hajj.
A statement by the Saudi Interior Ministry on Tuesday said that pilgrims
were being transported to Mina smoothly without any obstacles, the
official Saudi Press Agency reported.
Millions of pilgrims will spend their night at Mina before heading to the Mount of Arafat in the early hours of Thursday. (SPA)
The Grand Mosque, the focal point of the Islamic faith, was already
teeming with joyful pilgrims at dawn on Monday, wearing the simple white
folds of cloth prescribed for Hajj, many of them having slept on the
white marble paving outside.
“I feel proud to be here because it’s a visual message that Muslims are
united. People speaking in all kind of languages pray to the one God,”
said Fahmi Mohammed al-Nemr, 52, from Egypt.
Hajj must be performed at least once in their lifetime by all Muslims
capable of making the expensive, difficult journey, a duty that applies
equally to Sunni and Shiite Muslims.
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