January 31, 2003. Copyright 2002. Graphic News. All rights reserved.

Haj Pilgrimage

LONDON, January 31, Graphic News: As Muslim pilgrims from all corners of the world continue to pour into the holy city of Mecca in preparation for the Haj, their Saudi hosts will be hoping that this year's event remains as free as possible from incident.

Around two million Muslims are expected to travel to Mecca to perform Haj, which retraces the steps of the Prophet Muhammad 14 centuries ago. Officially, Haj begins on the eighth day of the Dhul-Hijah month of the Muslim lunar calendar, which this year falls on February 9.

Haj constitutes the fifth and final pillar of Islam, and all Muslims must undertake the journey to Mecca at least once in their lifetime - health and finances permitting. The other four pillars or central duties are: declaring a belief in God and his Prophet Muhammad, praying to Allah five times a day, fasting until sunset during the month of Ramadan, and giving to the poor.

Despite their best efforts, the Saudis have not always been able to keep Haj free from either politics or tragedy. This year Palestinians in Gaza City and the West Bank have complained that Israeli travel restrictions on men under 35 are being used to prevent many from attending.

This week two Indian pilgrims and their Egyptian bus driver died when their vehicle collided with a truck near the holy city of Medinah. Tragically, such incidents are not uncommon in the run-up to Haj as Mecca and the surrounding area fill to bursting point almost overnight.

To cope with the sheer volume of visitors, Saudi authorities regularly upgrade safety procedures and improve facilities. These days thousands of staff, or moallims, are on hand to assist pilgrims who have access to 87 clinics and several communal kitchens, introduced after 343 people were killed in 1997 by a blaze started by pilgrim cooking on a gas fire.

Once in Mecca, pilgrims first perform ihram, the donning of simple white clothes to symbolise their purity and equality before God. Five days of rituals precede their return to the Grand Mosque and the Ka'aba, the focal point of Muslim worship and the highlight of the Haj. After circling the cube-shaped, black stone construction seven times, pilgrims may start for home in the belief that they are now as pure as the day they were born. 

/ENDS

Sources: Saudi Press Agency, Reuters, Associated Press