PHOTOS: Pilgrims Arrive in Mecca for Hajj
October 9, 2013
Muslim pilgrims arrive to perform the afternoon prayer in Mecca's Grand Mosque on October 10, 2013, as more than 2 million Muslims have arrived in Saudi Arabia for the hajj pilgrimage to the shrine city, the world's largest annual human assembly which peaks on October 13, according to local state media. FAYEZ NURELDINE/AFP/Getty Images ( 523673782 )
Muslim pilgrims circle the Kaaba as they pray inside the Grand Mosque in the Muslim holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Thursday, Oct. 10, 2013. Every Muslim is required to perform the hajj, or pilgrimage, to Mecca at least once in his or her lifetime if able to do so. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil) ( Mideast Saudi Arabia Hajj )
Cranes rise at the site of an expansion to the Grand Mosque, right, as Muslims attend prayers at sunset at the mosque in the Muslim holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Thursday, Oct. 10, 2013. Every Muslim is required to perform the hajj, or pilgrimage, to Mecca at least once in his or her lifetime if able to do so. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil) ( Mideast Saudi Arabia Hajj )
Muslim pilgrims pray on a street near the Grand Mosque in the Muslim holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Thursday, Oct. 10, 2013. The Muslim annual hajj, or pilgrimage, is expected to draw millions. Every Muslim is required to perform the hajj to Mecca at least once in his or her lifetime if able to do so. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil) ( Mideast Saudi Arabia Hajj )
Saudi workers embroider Islamic calligraphy, using either pure silver threads or silver threads covered with gold, on the final stages in the preparation of a drape, or Kiswa, that covers the Kaaba, a cube-shaped structure at the heart the Grand Mosque, at the Kiswa factory in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Sunday, Oct.6, 2013. The Kiswa covering the Kaaba, is changed every year marking Muslims annual Hajj or pilgrimage which will fall this year on Oct.14. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil) ( Mideast Saudi Arabia Hajj )
A Palestinian child, pretends to slaughter a sheep as part of the Hajj pilgrimage ritual, as he and others learn about Islam and how to perform the rituals carried out during the annual Hajj, at their Kindergarten in Rafah town in the southern Gaza Strip, on October 9, 2013. Muslims from around the world will flood the holy city of Mecca this week to perform the annual Hajj pilgrimage, which is one of the five pillars of Islam. SAID KHATIB/AFP/Getty Images ( 523639119 )
Palestinian children, boys dressed in Ihram, specials outfits worn during the Hajj pilgrimage, stand in line in the yard of their school as they learn about Islam and how to perform the rituals carried out during the annual Hajj pilgrimage, at their Kindergarten in Rafah town in the southern Gaza Strip, on October 9, 2013. Muslims from around the world will flood the holy city of Mecca this week to perform the annual Hajj pilgrimage, which is one of the five pillars of Islam. SAID KHATIB/AFP/Getty Images ( 523639122 )
Saudi soldiers exercise before a military parade during preparations for the annual Hajj pilgrimage, at a military camp in Arafat, Saudi Arabia, Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2013. The Saudi military will help with security during the annual Hajj pilgrimage which starts upcoming Sunday and is expected to draw some three million Muslim faithful visitors, making it the largest yearly gathering of people in the world. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil) ( Mideast Saudi Arabia Hajj )
An elderly Muslim pilgrim poses for a picture in front of the Grand Mosque in the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, late Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2013. The Muslim annual Hajj, or pilgrimage, that will begin on Oct. 14 this year, draws three million visitors each year, making it the largest yearly gathering of people in the world. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil) ( Mideast Saudi Arabia Hajj )
An Muslim pilgrim carries her luggage in front of the Grand Mosque in the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, late Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2013. The Muslim annual Hajj, or pilgrimage, that will begin on Oct. 14 this year, draws three million visitors each year, making it the largest yearly gathering of people in the world. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil) ( APTOPIX Mideast Saudi Arabia Hajj )
Palestinian Muslim pilgrims wait inside a bus en route to Rafah border between Gaza Strip and Egypt before leaving for the annual hajj pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca, in Gaza City, early Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2013. Hundreds of Palestinian pilgrims are leaving Gaza through the Rafah border crossing with Egypt on their way to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, for hajj. Egypt has agreed to keep the crossing open for three days to allow thousands of people to cross, heading to the Cairo International Airport. (AP Photo/Adel Hana) ( Mideast Palestinians Pilgrims )
Saudi soldiers exercise before a military parade drill in preparation for hajj, or pilgrimage, at a military camp in Arafat, outside Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2013. Security is a major concern during the annual hajj, or the pilgrimage to Mecca required of every Muslim who can afford it. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil) ( APTOPIX Mideast Saudi Arabia Hajj )
Saudi special forces take part in military parade in preparation for the annual Hajj pilgrimage, at a military camp in Arafat, just outside Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2013. The Saudi military will help with security during the annual Hajj pilgrimage which starts upcoming Sunday and is expected to draw some three million Muslim faithful visitors, making it the largest yearly gathering of people in the world. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil) ( Mideast Saudi Arabia Hajj )
Muslim pilgrims shop following evening prayers at Mecca's Grand Mosque on October 8, 2013, as more than two million Muslims arrive in the holy city for the annual hajj pilgrimage. The hajj, which is one of the world's largest human assembly, begins on October 13 amid concerns over the deadly MERS coronavirus. (FAYEZ NURELDINE/AFP/Getty Images) ( Nic6253691 )
A general view shows the new raised walkway installed around the Kaaba allowing people with disabilities to perform the mandatory Tawaf, or circumambulation, seven times counter-clockwise around the Kaaba, in Mecca's Grand Mosque on October 8, 2013. More than two million Muslims have arrived in the holy city for the annual hajj pilgrimage which begins on October 13 amid concerns over the deadly MERS coronavirus. (FAYEZ NURELDINE/AFP/Getty Images) ( Nic6253689 )
A general view shows pilgrims performing evening prayers in Mecca's Grand Mosque on October 8, 2013, as more than two million Muslims arrive in the holy city for the annual hajj pilgrimage. The hajj, which is one of the world's largest human assembly, begins on October 13 amid concerns over the deadly MERS coronavirus. (FAYEZ NURELDINE/AFP/Getty Images) ( Nic6253690 )
Muslim pilgrims walk in a group to perform evening prayers in Mecca's Grand Mosque on October 8, 2013, as more than two million Muslims have arrived in the holy city for the annual hajj pilgrimage. The hajj, which is one of the world's largest human assembly, begins on October 13 amid concerns over the deadly MERS coronavirus. (FAYEZ NURELDINE/AFP/Getty Images) ( Nic6253618 )
A Muslim pilgrim reads a copy of the Koran as he waits to perform evening prayers in Mecca's Grand Mosque on October 8, 2013, as more than two million Muslims have arrived in the holy city for the annual hajj pilgrimage. The hajj, which is one of the world's largest human assembly, begins on October 13 amid concerns over the deadly MERS coronavirus. (FAYEZ NURELDINE/AFP/Getty Images) ( Nic6253623 )
Muslim pilgrims wait to perform evening prayers in Mecca's Grand Mosque on October 8, 2013, as more than two million Muslims have arrived in the holy city for the annual hajj pilgrimage. The hajj, which is one of the world's largest human assembly, begins on October 13 amid concerns over the deadly MERS coronavirus. (FAYEZ NURELDINE/AFP/Getty Images) ( Nic6253616 )
A general view shows pilgrims performing evening prayers in Mecca's Grand Mosque on October 8, 2013, as more than two million Muslims have arrived in the holy city for the annual hajj pilgrimage. The hajj, which is one of the world's largest human assembly, begins on October 13 amid concerns over the deadly MERS coronavirus. (FAYEZ NURELDINE/AFP/Getty Images) ( Nic6253611 )
A Muslim pilgrim wears a mask as she walks to Mecca's Grand Mosque to perform evening prayers on October 8, 2013 prior to the start of the annual hajj pilgrimage which begins on October 13. More than two million Muslims have arrived in Saudi Arabia's holy city for the hajj, one of the world's largest human assemblies, amid concerns over the deadly MERS coronavirus. (FAYEZ NURELDINE/AFP/Getty Images) ( Nic6253599 )
A general view shows pilgrims performing evening prayers in Mecca's Grand Mosque on October 8, 2013, as more than two million Muslims have arrived in the holy city for the annual hajj pilgrimage. The hajj, which is one of the world's largest human assembly, begins on October 13 amid concerns over the deadly MERS coronavirus. (FAYEZ NURELDINE/AFP/Getty Images) ( Nic6253585 )
A general view shows pilgrims performing evening prayers in Mecca's Grand Mosque on October 8, 2013, as more than two million Muslims have arrived in the holy city for the annual hajj pilgrimage. The hajj, which is one of the world's largest human assembly, begins on October 13 amid concerns over the deadly MERS coronavirus. (FAYEZ NURELDINE/AFP/Getty Images) ( Nic6253573 )
A general view shows pilgrims performing evening prayers in Mecca's Grand Mosque on October 8, 2013. More than two million Muslims have arrived in the holy city for the annual hajj pilgrimage, one of the world's largest human assembly, which begins on October 13 amid concerns over the deadly MERS coronavirus. (FAYEZ NURELDINE/AFP/Getty Images) ( Nic6253570 )
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