World Amazing photos show millions of pilgrimages arriving in Mecca for Hajj
Millions of Muslims are converging on Saudi Arabia to prepare for the annual Hajj pilgrimage – one of the largest gatherings of people in the world.
Scores of pilgrims gathered inside the Grand Mosque after nightfall in anticipation of a religious journey that is considered one of the Muslim faith’s greatest acts of worship.
Every adult Muslim is required to complete the Hajj pilgrimage at least once in their lifetime as long as they are physically and financially capable of making the expensive and difficult journey.
Pilgrims wear unstitched folds of white cloth as they make the trek to Mecca’s Grand Mosque, Islam’s most sacred mosque.
Every year, Muslim faithful from about 160 countries converge on the Islamic city of Mecca and other locations in western Saudi Arabia to complete the holy journey.
The week of Hajj occurs during the last month of the Islamic calendar and it requires pilgrims to perform a number of services or rituals before arriving in Mecca. This year’s pilgrimage is expected to begin on 3 October.
When the faithful reach the Grand Mosque, they walk counter-clockwise seven times around the cube-shaped Kaaba – the holiest site in Islam.
Hajj, the fifth of the pillars of Islam, coincides with the Eid al-Adha festival, known as the Feast of the Sacrifice and is meant to commemorate the trials of Prophet Abraham and his family.
Millions of Muslims are converging on Saudi Arabia to prepare for the annual Hajj pilgrimage – one of the largest gatherings of people in the world
Scores of pilgrims gathered inside the Grand Mosque after nightfall in anticipation of the religious journey
Every adult Muslim is required to complete the Hajj pilgrimage at least once in their lifetime as long as they are physically and financially capable
Pilgrims wear unstitched folds of white cloth as they make the trek to Mecca’s Grand Mosque, Islam’s most sacred mosque
Hajj, the fifth of the pillars of Islam, is meant to commemorate the trials of Prophet Abraham and his family
The week of Hajj occurs during the last month of the Islamic calendar and it requires pilgrims to perform a number of services or rituals before arriving in Mecca
When the faithful reach the Grand Mosque, they walk counter-clockwise seven times around the cube-shaped Kaaba – the holiest site in Islam
Officials in Saudi Arabia are taking extra precautions to prevent the spread of Ebola and the deadly MERS coronavirus as pilgrims arrive for Hajj
Article source Daily Mail