Why are so many people gathering in Saudi Arabia today?
The annual Hajj pilgrimage begins today in the Islamic holy city of Makkah (Mecca) and is to be attended by around two million Muslims, including approximately 20,000 from Britain. What is the Hajj, and who takes part? One of the five sacred pillars of Islam, the Hajj denotes that every adult Muslim who is physically able and has the means to do so, make the five-day pilgrimage to the birthplace of the prophet Mohammed in western Saudi Arabia. Hajj is required of men and women at least once in their lives and takes place during the 12th month of the Islamic calendar. What exactly does it entail? Beginning in Mecca, pilgrims assume the state of Ihram, donning white garments and purifying their behaviour by outlawing anger, killing (including insects), scratching, (in case an insect be killed) and any sexual relations. Ihram means forgetting personal ego to the extent that mirrors and any form of perfume are not permitted. In Mecca pilgrims visit the Kaaba, a stone cube-shaped structure
