Saudi Arabia
Hundreds of thousands of Muslim pilgrims attended weekly prayers in Mecca’s Grand mosque on Friday (August 17) ahead of the annual hajj pilgrimage.
The holy prayer grounds, Kaaba, which is usually filled to the brim with worshippers, was near vacant after many escaped Saudi Arabia’s scorching sun to cooler indoor temperatures.
The annual hajj pilgrimage is one of the largest religious gatherings in the world, and a once-in-a-lifetime duty for every able-bodied, financially-capable Muslim.
Close to two million pilgrims are expected to converge on Islam’s holiest sites this year, where they will retrace the route Prophet Mohammad undertook 14 centuries ago.
01:19
Sudan: Paramilitary leader says he will attend ceasefire talks in Switzerland
02:15
Christie's showcases Saudi Arabia's most celebrated artist
01:09
Shiite Muslims commemorate Ashoura
01:00
Egypt pulls licenses of travel agencies implicated in deadly hajj tours
01:59
Eco Eid: Niger activists promote tree planting to check deforestation
01:07
Muslim pilgrims resume symbolic stoning as they wrap up Hajj pilgrimage