SAUDI ARABIA: Millions of pilgrims arrive in Mecca this week for Islam's annual haj pilgrimage

Record ID: 189030

  • Title: SAUDI ARABIA: Millions of pilgrims arrive in Mecca this week for Islam's annual haj pilgrimage
  • Date: 23rd October 2012
  • Summary: MECCA, SAUDI ARABIA (OCTOBER 23, 2012) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF PILGRIMS WALKING TO THE GRAND MOSQUE FOR THE NIGHT PRAYERS TWO OLDER PILGRIMS SITTING ON THE ROAD TO THE GRAND MOSQUE (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) EGYPTIAN PILGRIM DR.THARWAT ABBAS, SAYING: "Tomorrow is the most beautiful day in our life, we have been waiting for it, we have endured the hardship of travelling and we are joyous and wish all Muslims to receive this honour." STREET SIGN READING: JABAL AL KABBAH ST VARIOUS OF PILGRIMS WALKING TO THE GRAND MOSQUE PILGRIM PLAYING WITH A ROSARY WAITING FOR THE PRAYERS (SOUNDBITE) (English) UNIDENTIFIED BRITISH PILGRIM, SAYING: "I can't even talk because the whole experience is so, so, so amazing. To me, all the people from all different worlds to be right next to each other and praying to one God and being connected to each other. You know because we speak all different languages but there is one word which we all can understand 'salaam' (peace), peace be upon you (Prophet Mohammad). And it's just so amazing." MORE OF PILGRIMS ARRIVING AT GRAND MOSQUE HELICOPTER FLYING OVER MECCA VARIOUS OF MINARETS OF THE GRAND MOSQUE WITH SOUND OF THE ATHAN (CALL FOR THE PRAYERS) PILGRIMS TAKING THEIR PLACES FOR PRAYERS IN THE ROAD TO THE GRAND MOSQUE VARIOUS OF MECCA GIANT CLOCK AND CLOCK TOWER VARIOUS OF PILGRIMS PRAYING (SOUNDBITE) (English) BRITISH PILGRIM FAISAL ALI, SAYING: "You know it feels a bit surreal to actually be here. And obviously it's the eighth of thulhija (Islamic calender), tomorrow ninth, and the day after tomorrow is going to be the day of Arafat. So it is very important day in terms of the intensity of prayers and we are just hoping that God Allah accepts our prayers and answers our prayers." PILGRIMS LEAVING THE AREA AFTER PRAYERS
  • Embargoed: 7th November 2012 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Saudi Arabia
  • Country: Saudi Arabia
  • Topics: Religion
  • Reuters ID: LVA8YO2ORW64TYS79LQAPLGU4DI
  • Story Text: Millions of pilgrims arrive this week in Mecca for Islam's annual haj pilgrimage, which starts on Wednesday (October 24), with Saudi authorities warning they will stop any disruptive protests over the conflict in Syria.
    The Grand Mosque, the focal point of the Islamic faith, on Tuesday (October 23) was already teeming with joyful pilgrims, wearing the simple white folds of cloth prescribed for haj.
    Haj 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 Shi'ite Muslims at a time of tension between Islam's main sects.
    Last year nearly three million pilgrims performed the haj, with roughly a third from inside the conservative kingdom. The Saudi authorities said there have so far been 1.7 million arrivals from abroad and about 200,000 from inside Saudi Arabia.

    "I can't even talk because the whole experience is so, so, so amazing. To me, all the people from all different worlds to be right next to each other and praying to one God and being connected to each other. You know because we speak all different languages but there is one word which we all can understand 'salaam' (peace) peace be upon you (Prophet Mohammad). And it's just so amazing," said one pilgrim from the UK.
    Mecca's merchants, famed across the Arab world, are already doing a thriving trade as pilgrims stock up on souvenirs such as prayer beads and mats, Korans, dates, gold and zamzam water, pumped from a holy well.
    All Muslims must face towards the Kaaba, the huge black cube at the centre of the Grand Mosque, five times a day for prayer, making a visit to the sanctuary a powerful experience. Pilgrims must circle it seven times when they arrive in Mecca.
    Wednesday is the first official day of the pilgrimage, with Muslims following a set form of rites laid out by the Prophet and culminating on Friday with the Feast of the Sacrifice, Eid al-Adha, a holiday across the Islamic world.
    Saudi Arabia's king is formally titled Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and the ruling family has long based its claims to reign on its guardianship of Islam's birthplace.
    Over the past decade it has spent billions of dollars expanding the Grand Mosque and building new infrastructure to avert the stampedes and tent fires that marred past pilgrimages with hundreds of deaths.
    The last deadly stampede was in 2006, when 360 people were crushed to death.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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