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HAJJ Holy sites
HOLY PASSAGE
A DEEPLY RELIGIOUS UNDERTAKING FOR THE MUSLIM WORLD, THE HAJJ BRINGS MILLIONS OF FOLLOWERS TO MAKKAH EACH YEAR. AND BEYOND THE HOLY CITY, PILGRIMS WILL FIND A HOST OF SACRED AND HISTORICAL SITES JUST WAITING TO BE EXPLORED.
Saudi Arabia is steeped in Islamic heritage and is home to Makkah (Mecca), which is Islam's holiest city. Although this revered place is closed to non-Muslims it is a huge tourist draw for millions every year Ð par- ticularly those from the Gulf region. Makkah, which lies inland 73 kilometres
east of Jeddah, is the place where Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) was born, the place where he received a message from God and the city to which he returned after his migration to Madinah in 622 AD. Today, Makkah is the holiest city on earth to Muslims around the world that turn towards this sacred site to pray five times a day. At least once in their lives, all Mus- lims, who are not prevented by personal
saudiarabia 2011
circumstance, must perform the 'Hajj' or pilgrimage to Makkah. Every year, the city of Makkah plays host to some two million hajjis (pilgrims) from all over the world. The Hajj pilgrimage occurs from the 8th to 12th day of Dhu al-Hijjah, the twelfth month of the Islamic calendar. (In 2011, Hajj is expected to fall between November 4-7, based on the sighting of the moon). While the Hajj is associated with the
life of Prophet Muhammad, the ritual of pilgrimage to Makkah is considered by Muslims to stretch back to the time of Ibra- him and Isma'il, prominent figures in both Islam and Judaism. During Hajj, pilgrims join processions of hundreds of thousands of people, who
simultaneously converge on Makkah for the week of the Hajj, and perform a series of religious rituals. During this religious celebration, each worshipper runs back and forth between the hills of Al-Safa and Al-Marwah, drinks from the Zamzam Well, goes to the plains of Mount Arafat to stand in vigil, throws stones in a ritual 'stoning of the devil', and walks counter-clockwise seven times about the Ka'aba, the cube-shaped building which acts as the Muslim direction of prayer. Besides Hajj, worshippers come to Makkah throughout the year to perform Umrah and pray. In recent years, new hotels have been constructed around Makkah to accom- modate the pilgrims entering the city during the Hajj. Among the developments, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts built the 130 ft Royal Clock tower, visible from 17 km away in clear conditions, as part of its five-star, 76-storey Makkah property. A spectacular site for all who view it, the Makkah Clock Royal Tower announces daily prayers to the Muslim world. The hotel also has a Lunar Observation Center and Islamic Museum that aims to preserve the Muslim heritage for future generations.
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