SAUDI ARABIA: The head of Saudi Arabia's civil defence says 1.5 million people have already arrived for the Muslim pilgrimage of Haj

Record ID: 188826

  • Title: SAUDI ARABIA: The head of Saudi Arabia's civil defence says 1.5 million people have already arrived for the Muslim pilgrimage of Haj
  • Date: 31st October 2011
  • Summary: MECCA, SAUDI ARABIA (OCTOBER 30, 2011) (REUTERS) ***AUDIO AS INCOMING*** SAUDI CIVIL DEFENCE LEADERS IN MECCA HOLDING NEWS CONFERENCE (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) COMMANDER OF THE CIVIL DEFENCE FORCE IN THE HAJ, MAJOR GENERAL MOHAMMAD AL QARNI, SAYING: "Up to today, 1.2 million pilgrims from abroad have arrived in the kingdom. Most of them are in Mecca. Approximately 174 000 other pilgrims are still in Medina and will arrive in Mecca in the next couple of days." VARIOUS OF CIVIL DEFENCE OFFICER TAKING NOTES MECCA, SAUDI ARABIA (OCTOBER 30, 2011) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF PILGRIMS WALKING TO GRAND MOSQUE. STREET SIGN READING ARABIC AND ENGLISH "AL MASJID AL HARAM" (GRAND MOSQUE) VARIOUS OF PILGRIMS BUYING RINGS ON THE ROAD TO THE GRAND MOSQUE EGYPTIAN COUPLE WALKING OUTSIDE GRAND MOSQUE (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) HUSBAND, NASSR MOHAMMAD ALI FROM EGYPT, SAYING: "It's a great happiness. I can't believe it myself, I can't believe that my God has honoured me and I came to this place. It is a great happiness." (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) NASSR MOHAMMAD ALI'S WIFE, SAYING: "By God, I can not describe my feelings, I cried a lot, great joy, I have not felt like this all my life." PILGRIMS WALKING TO THE GRAND MOSQUE FOR PRAYERS VARIOUS OF WOMAN PILGRIM READING THE KORAN VARIOUS MORE OF PILGRIMS WALKING TO PRAY AT THE GRAND MOSQUE PILGRIMS ENTERING GRAND MOSQUE GATES (SOUNDBITE) (English) BRITISH PILGRIM, YOUSEF FROM LONDON, SAYING: "I think the thing that strikes me the most about it is just the diversity of the people here. You know, one day I'm sitting between a Kurd and an Indonesian, the next day I'm sitting between someone else from the UK and someone from Iraq. It's just a beautiful feeling to be here with so many Muslims from everywhere." VARIOUS OF PILGRIMS WALKING TO THE GRAND MOSQUE
  • Embargoed: 15th November 2011 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Saudi Arabia, Saudi Arabia
  • Country: Saudi Arabia
  • Topics: Religion
  • Reuters ID: LVA3X97SO3L6TMKM0JXDW0X5DQBN
  • Story Text: Muslim pilgrims have started to arrive in the holy city of Mecca for the annual Haj pilgrimage.
    A commander of Saudi Arabia's civil defence force told a news conference on Sunday (October 30) that 1.2 million pilgrims from abroad have arrived so far.
    "Up to today, 1.2 million pilgrims from abroad have arrived in the Kingdom. Most of them are in Mecca. Approximately 174 000 other pilgrims are still in Medina and will arrive in Mecca in the next couple of days," said Major General Mohammad al Qarni.
    Pilgrims on the streets of Mecca said they were very happy to take part in the pilgrimage.
    "By God, I can not describe my feelings, I cried a lot, great joy, I have not felt like this all my life," said a woman from Egypt.
    "I think the thing that strikes me the most about it is just the diversity of the people here. You know, one day I'm sitting between a Kurd and an Indonesian, the next day I'm sitting between someone else from the UK and someone from Iraq. It's just a beautiful feeling to be here with so many Muslims from everywhere," said Yousef from London.
    The Haj is one of the five basic obligations of a Muslim, and every Muslim, who has the means and is physically able to do so, should perform the pilgrimage at least once in his or her lifetime.
    The pilgrimage itself takes at least six days. The Haj itinerary takes pilgrims out of Mecca to the plain of Arafat about 10 miles to the east, where they spend the afternoon of the second day. They then return to Mecca in stages, stopping on the way to throw pebbles at a wall, representing defiance of the devil.
    In Mecca they complete rituals required for Haj, including the circumambulation of the Kaaba, the cube-shaped stone shrine at the centre of the Grand Mosque.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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