Pilgrims’ progress

Source:CFP Published: 2014-9-29 0:23:01

Muslim pilgrims climb Mount al-Nour, literally the Mountain of Light, to visit Hira cave where Prophet Muhammad received the first revelation of the Koran on Sunday in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. The Hajj is an Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca and the largest annual gathering of Muslim people in the world. One of the five pillars of Islam requires every able-bodied Muslim to perform the Hajj pilgrimage at least once in his or her lifetime if he or she can afford to do so.

Muslim female pilgrims rest while wearing unusual headgear as they climb Mount al-Nour. Lasting for five days until October 6, close to 2 million believers are expected to congregate to follow in the 1,400-year-old tradition of Prophet Muhammad.

Muslim pilgrims gathering for the Hajj circle counter-clockwise toward the Kaaba, Islam's holiest shrine, at Masjid al-Haram in the Muslim holy city of Mecca on Saturday ahead of the upcoming Eid Al-Adha. The week of the Hajj, the fifth of the pillars of Islam, occurs during the last month of the Islamic calendar which coincides with the Eid al-Adha festival this year.

A Muslim pilgrim prays at the top of Mount al-Nour near Hira cave on Sunday in Mecca. The Hajj is a demonstration of the solidarity of the Muslim people, and their submission to God. Saudi media said 85,000 security and civil defense officers will be on duty for the Hajj, which lasts five days. Photos: CFP



Posted in: Mid-East, World

blog comments powered by Disqus