Muslim pilgrims pray around the holy Kaaba at the Grand Mosque, during the annual hajj pilgrimage in Mecca September 27, 2014. REUTERS/Muhammad Hamed (SAUDI ARABIA - Tags: RELIGION TRAVEL)
13:00, 03/10/2014, Friday
Hajj: The holy journey of Islam
Each Muslim is to undertake pilgrimage to Mecca, where Islam was born, at least once in his/her life. This holy voyage is called "Hajj" in Arabic and must take place during the last month of the Islamic calender, which is called Dhu al-Hijja. Performing Hajj is an obligatory for those who are physically or financially able to fulfill this duty of the religion. Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam. The ones who are unable to fullfill this requirement due to health of financial reasons are free to send someone in their instead. The hajj is commanded in the Qur'an as "And pilgrimage to the House is a duty unto God for mankind, for him who can find the way thither." (3:97)
SAUDI ARABIA, MECCA - OCTOBER 2: A Muslim prospective pilgrim rests at the Jabal Thawr (The Mount Bull) housing a cave known as Ghar al-Thawr (Cave of the Bull) where the Islamic Prophet Muhammad and his companion Abu Bakr hid while they migrate from Mecca to Medina, during the Hajj in Mecca, Saudi Arabia on on October 2, 2014. The Hajj is an Islamic pilgrimage to Muslim's holy city Mecca and the largest gathering of people in the world every year. (Dilek Mermer - Anadolu Agency)
SAUDI ARABIA, MECCA - OCTOBER 2: Two Muslim prospective pilgrim pray at the top of Jabal Thawr (The Mount Bull) housing a cave known as Ghar al-Thawr (Cave of the Bull) where the Islamic Prophet Muhammad and his companion Abu Bakr hid while they migrate from Mecca to Medina, during the Hajj in Mecca, Saudi Arabia on on October 2, 2014. The Hajj is an Islamic pilgrimage to Muslim's holy city Mecca and the largest gathering of people in the world every year. (Dilek Mermer - Anadolu Agency)
SAUDI ARABIA, MECCA - OCTOBER 2: A Muslim prospective pilgrim sits at the top of Jabal Thawr (The Mount Bull) housing a cave known as Ghar al-Thawr (Cave of the Bull) where the Islamic Prophet Muhammad and his companion Abu Bakr hid while they migrate from Mecca to Medina, during the Hajj in Mecca, Saudi Arabia on on October 2, 2014. The Hajj is an Islamic pilgrimage to Muslim's holy city Mecca and the largest gathering of people in the world every year. (Dilek Mermer - Anadolu Agency)
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SAUDI ARABIA, MECCA - SEPTEMBER 28 : Muslim pilgrims visit the Hira cave where Prophet Muhammad received the first revelation of the Quran, at the top of al Nour mountain (Jabal al-Nour) on September 28, 2014 in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. The Hajj is an Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca and the largest gathering of Muslim people in the world every year. One of the five pillars of Islam requires every able bodied Muslim to perform the Hajj pilgrimage at least once in his or her lifetime if he or she can afford to do so. (Dilek Mermer - Anadolu Agency)
SAUDI ARABIA, MECCA - SEPTEMBER 28 : Muslim pilgrims climb al Nour mountain (Jabal al-Nour) to visit the Hira cave where Prophet Muhammad received the first revelation of the Quran, on September 28, 2014 in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. The Hajj is an Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca and the largest gathering of Muslim people in the world every year. One of the five pillars of Islam requires every able bodied Muslim to perform the Hajj pilgrimage at least once in his or her lifetime if he or she can afford to do so. (Dilek Mermer - Anadolu Agency)
SAUDI ARABIA, MECCA - SEPTEMBER 28 : Muslim female pilgrims having rest as they climb al Nour mountain (Jabal al-Nour) to visit the Hira cave where Prophet Muhammad received the first revelation of the Quran, on September 28, 2014 in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. The Hajj is an Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca and the largest gathering of Muslim people in the world every year. One of the five pillars of Islam requires every able bodied Muslim to perform the Hajj pilgrimage at least once in his or her lifetime if he or she can afford to do so. (Dilek Mermer - Anadolu Agency)
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SAUDI ARABIA, MECCA - SEPTEMBER 28 : Muslim pilgrims climb al Nour mountain (Jabal al-Nour) to visit the Hira cave where Prophet Muhammad received the first revelation of the Quran, on September 28, 2014 in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. The Hajj is an Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca and the largest gathering of Muslim people in the world every year. One of the five pillars of Islam requires every able bodied Muslim to perform the Hajj pilgrimage at least once in his or her lifetime if he or she can afford to do so. (Dilek Mermer - Anadolu Agency)
SAUDI ARABIA, MECCA - SEPTEMBER 28 : A Muslim pilgrim prays at the top of al Nour mountain (Jabal al-Nour) near Hira cave where Prophet Muhammad received the first revelation of the Quran, on September 28, 2013 in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. The Hajj is an Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca and the largest gathering of Muslim people in the world every year. One of the five pillars of Islam requires every able bodied Muslim to perform the Hajj pilgrimage at least once in his or her lifetime if he or she can afford to do so. (Dilek Mermer - Anadolu Agency)
SAUDI ARABIA, MECCA - SEPTEMBER 28 : Muslim pilgrims visit the Hira cave where Prophet Muhammad received the first revelation of the Quran, at the top of al Nour mountain (Jabal al-Nour) on September 28, 2014 in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. The Hajj is an Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca and the largest gathering of Muslim people in the world every year. One of the five pillars of Islam requires every able bodied Muslim to perform the Hajj pilgrimage at least once in his or her lifetime if he or she can afford to do so. (Dilek Mermer - Anadolu Agency)
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Muslim pilgrims pray around the Grand Mosque, during the annual hajj pilgrimage in Mecca September 27, 2014. REUTERS/Muhammad Hamed (SAUDI ARABIA - Tags: RELIGION TRAVEL SOCIETY)
Muslim pilgrims pray around the holy Kaaba at the Grand Mosque, during the annual hajj pilgrimage in Mecca September 27, 2014. REUTERS/Muhammad Hamed (SAUDI ARABIA - Tags: RELIGION TRAVEL)
Muslim pilgrims pray near the holy Kaaba (not seen) at the Grand Mosque, during the annual hajj pilgrimage in Mecca September 27, 2014. REUTERS/Muhammad Hamed (SAUDI ARABIA - Tags: RELIGION)
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Muslim pilgrims pray around the holy Kaaba at the Grand Mosque, during the annual hajj pilgrimage in Mecca September 27, 2014. REUTERS/Muhammad Hamed (SAUDI ARABIA - Tags: RELIGION TRAVEL)
MECCA, SAUDI ARABIA - SEPTEMBER 27: Muslim pilgrims gathering for the annual Hajj pilgrimage circle counterclockwise toward the Kaaba, Islam's holiest shrine, at Masjid al-Haram in the Muslim holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia on September 27, 2014 ahead of the upcoming Eid Al-Adha. The week of Hajj, the fifth of the pillars of Islam, occurs during the last month of the Islamic calendar which coincides with the Eid al-Adha festival this year. (Dilek Mermer - Anadolu Agency)
MECCA, SAUDI ARABIA - SEPTEMBER 27: Muslim pilgrims gather for the annual Hajj pilgrimage in the Muslim holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia on September 27, 2014 ahead of the upcoming Eid Al-Adha. The week of Hajj, the fifth of the pillars of Islam, occurs during the last month of the Islamic calendar which coincides with the Eid al-Adha festival this year. (Dilek Mermer - Anadolu Agency)
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MECCA, SAUDI ARABIA - SEPTEMBER 27: Muslim pilgrim children gathering for the annual Hajj pilgrimage read Quran at the prayer hall near Masjid al-Haram in the Muslim holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia on September 27, 2014 ahead of the upcoming Eid Al-Adha. The week of Hajj, the fifth of the pillars of Islam, occurs during the last month of the Islamic calendar which coincides with the Eid al-Adha festival this year. (Dilek Mermer - Anadolu Agency)
Muslim pilgrims climb Mount Mercy on the plains of Arafat to pray during the annual haj pilgrimage, outside the holy city of Mecca October 3, 2014. REUTERS/Muhammad Hamed (SAUDI ARABIA - Tags: RELIGION)
Muslim pilgrims pray on Arafat during the annual haj pilgrimage, outside the holy city of Mecca October 3, 2014. REUTERS/Muhammad Hamed (SAUDI ARABIA - Tags: RELIGION)
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A Muslim pilgrim reads the Koran on Mount Mercy on the plains of Arafat during the annual haj pilgrimage, outside the holy city of Mecca October 3, 2014. REUTERS/Muhammad Hamed (SAUDI ARABIA - Tags: RELIGION)
A Muslim pilgrim holding an umbrella reads the Koran on Arafat during the annual haj pilgrimage, outside the holy city of Mecca October 3, 2014. REUTERS/Muhammad Hamed (SAUDI ARABIA - Tags: RELIGION)
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