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Previous Next. Middle East. August 18, PM. Associated Press. More Middle East News. State Department Recap: November , The Day in Photos. November 11, You may also like. Back to top. It takes place during Dhu'al-Hijjah, which is the final month of the Islamic calendar. In Hajj started from the evening of 17 July and will continue until 22 July. Every year, millions of Muslims from across the world make the journey to Mecca from wherever they live.
However, this year there are special rules as part of Saudi Arabia's attempts to control the spread of the coronavirus. Read on to find out more about why this pilgrimage is so important in the Islamic faith.
Usually more than two million Muslims from around the world will make the special journey to Mecca for Hajj. However since the coronavirus pandemic started only a limited number of people have been allowed to travel to Mecca.
This year only 60, fully vaccinated Saudi Arabia residents have been allowed to take part. This is larger than in , but is still far smaller than usual years. Pilgrims had to have received both doses of a Covid vaccine, be aged between 18 and 65 and meet health requirements, to be allowed to take part. They are expected to socially distance and wear face masks too. Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam. These are the five key acts which every Muslim is expected to do in their lifetime.
Muslims are required to make the journey to Mecca for Hajj at least once in their life if they are physically able and can afford to do so. In addition to Hajj, the other important acts are:. Mecca is the place where the Islamic religion started.
It is where the Prophet Muhammad was born and received the first revelations from Allah Allah is the Arabic word for God that went on to become the Koran - the holy book read by Muslims. The city is home to the Ka'bah, built by prophet Abraham and his son prophet Ishmael. Muslims pray in the direction of this sacred building, which is found within the Great Mosque of Mecca. The Ka'bah is the holiest site in Islam and symbolises the oneness of God.
Over the years, the Kaaba was reconstructed and attracted different kinds of pilgrims who once lived in the Arabian Peninsula.
In pre-Islamic times, the Kaaba was used to house pagan idols worshipped by local tribes. Observant Muslims around the world face toward the Kaaba during their five daily prayers. Women forgo makeup and perfume and wear loose-fitting clothing and a head covering, while men dress in seamless, white terrycloth garments.
The white garments are forbidden to contain any stitching — a restriction meant to emphasize the equality of all Muslims and prevent wealthier pilgrims from differentiating themselves with more elaborate garments.
Muslims are forbidden from engaging in sexual intercourse, cutting their hair or trimming nails while in the state of ihram. It is also forbidden for pilgrims to argue, fight or lose their tempers during the hajj. To perform the umrah, Muslims circle the Kaaba counter-clockwise seven times while reciting supplications to God, then walk between the two hills traveled by Hagar.
Before heading to Mecca, many pilgrims also visit the Saudi city of Medina, where the Prophet Muhammad is buried and where he built the first mosque. After spending the night in the massive valley of Mina, the pilgrims head to Mount Arafat, some 20 kilometers 12 miles east of Mecca, for the pinnacle of the pilgrimage.
Thousands will also scale a hill called Jabal al-Rahma, or Mountain of Mercy.
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