December 27, 2006

Mecca, Saudi Arabia

Muslims pray at the Grand Mosque in the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, on December 27. About two million Muslims flooded into the city this week to begin the hajj, a ritual pilgrimage to Mecca.

According to Islamic law, every able-bodied Muslim who can afford to go is obliged to perform the hajj at least once in his or her lifetime. The five-day visit must be carried out during the last month of the Islamic calendar. This year the hajj begins on December 28.

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