Muslims gather for hajj pilgrimage

By Associated Press, adapted by Newsela staff on 09.05.17

Word Count 472
Level 540L

Muslim pilgrims pray at the Grand Mosque ahead of the annual hajj pilgrimage in the Muslim holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia,
August 29, 2017. Photo by: AP Photo/Khalil Hamra

MOUNT ARAFAT, Saudi Arabia — Many people from around the world gathered last
week. They held their palms toward the sky in prayer. Their hope was to start again and give
up past sins or wrongdoing.

They begged God to forgive them. It was part of the hajj pilgrimage or journey.

An Annual Gathering By Muslims

The journey is done every year by Muslims. They are followers of Islam. Islam is a religion, like
Christianity or Judaism. It is the world's second largest religion. Jews, Muslims, and
Christians all believe in the same God. But they disagree about who some of the prophets
were. In religion, a prophet is a leader. Muslims call God Allah. They believe Allah spoke to the
Prophet Muhammad.

The crowd of people gathered at Mount Arafat. They spend the day in prayer. The mountain
has a desert around it.

The Prophet Muhammad gave his final talk on the mountain.

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Long ago, Muhammad asked people to be careful of Satan. They also are to pray five times a
day and help others. He also told them to perform the hajj once in a lifetime. Muhammad told
people of the rights that women have. He said that no group or race is better than another
except in doing good.

People Come From All Over The World

This week, the crowds came from more than 160 countries.

Khaled Ahmed was one of the visitors. He is 47 years old. Ahmed is from Egypt. "We hope
that Allah will forgive our sins, and we hope to have a new start with our God," he said.

Noura Sulieman is from the Philippines. She said she had been to the hajj before and was
back to pray for her family.

Men are to wear white clothes for all of the hajj. Women wear loose clothing and cover their
hair.

United in Dress

The rich and poor dress the same for the hajj. It is to show that Muslims are united.

The journey is like a test. The crowds had to wait for a long time.

The crowd of people moving around is hard for the Saudi government. Leaders sent many
people to keep it safe. Doctors, nurses, and ambulances are sent to the areas of hajj.

Many begin their pilgrimage by traveling to Medina. It is the site of Muhammad's first mosque,
a place of worship. It is also where he is buried.

The Acts Of Hajj Begin In Mecca

The acts of the hajj begin in Mecca, though. There, visitors pray facing the Kaaba building. It
is a cube shaped building in the center of Mecca. It stands for the house of God.

They visit a couple of other places. Then, around the world, Muslims will celebrate the end of
hajj with a feast. It is called Eid al-Adha or "Feast of Sacrifice."

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