2M MUSLIMS ARRIVE IN MECCA FOR ANNUAL HAJJ PILGRIMAGE
MECCA— More than two million Muslims began the annual hajj pilgrimage at first light on Sunday in Saudi Arabia, circling the cube-shaped Kaaba in Mecca that Islam’s faithful face five times each day during their prayers.
The five-day hajj pilgrimage represents one of the world’s biggest gatherings every year, and is required of all able-bodied Muslims once in their life.
“We are very blessed by Allah to be in this place, and we pray to Allah to make the Islamic nations from the West to the East in a better situation,” said Essam-Eddin Afifi, a pilgrim from Egypt.
Retracing steps
Muslims believe the hajj retraces the footsteps of the Prophet Muhammad, as well as those of the prophets Ibrahim and Ismail.
The Kaaba represents the metaphorical house of God and the oneness of God, and Muslims circle the Kaaba counterclockwise seven times while reciting supplications to God.
At the hajj’s end, male pilgrims will shave their hair and women will cut a lock of hair in a sign of renewal for completing the pilgrimage.
Around the world, Muslims will mark the end of hajj with a celebration called Eid al-Adha.
Maj. Gen. Mansour al-Turki of the Saudi interior ministry, said over two million Muslims would be taking part this year.
The kingdom has spent billions of dollars on safety measures, particularly in Mina, where a stampede and crush of pilgrims in Mina killed at least 2,426 people on Sept. 24, 2015.
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia also faces threats from al-Qaida militants and a local faction of the Islamic State group.—