The Hajj

The Hajj

The Gist:

Millions of Muslims are converging on the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia for the five day Hajj. Mecca is holy to Muslims because it is both the birthplace of the Prophet Mohammad and where he is said to have received his first revelations from God. Hajj is the generic term for the pilgrimage to Mecca that every able Muslim must make in their lifetime. Along with 1) professing there is no god except God, and Muhammad is God's Messenger, 2) praying five times a day 3) giving 2.5% of one’s income to the poor and 4) fasting and during the holy month of Ramadan, it is one of the “five pillars” of Islam. This year, over 2 million people will take part in the Hajj. The number would be higher, but Saudi officials refused to issue visas to various Ebola-hit countries. The large numbers of pilgrims has seen a reshaping of the city, including the construction of one the tallest buildings (pictured) in the world. It has also seen the destruction of historical locales for the sake of modernization….and now you know the gist.