Muslims Begin Hajj Pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia
By: Newsroom Solutions
Updated: November 15, 2010
The world's largest religious gathering, the Muslim Hajj pilgrimage, is underway in Saudi Arabia.
Millions of Muslims are taking part in the annual hajj pilgrimage to honor the journey taken by the Prophet Mohammed centuries ago.
This year's hajj marks the first cooperative project between Saudi Arabia and China, with Saudi Arabia unveiling a new Chinese-built light railway Saturday to alleviate traffic conditions caused by the pilgrimage.
The five-day hajj began yesterday, with believers taking the trek from Mecca to the tent city of Mina and on to Mount Arafat earlier this morning.
Followers then head to al-Muzdalifah and then return to Mina and head to Mecca for the end of the pilgrimage.
Islam dictates that all able-bodied believers must make the journey at least once in their lifetime. Click here for related story.
Al-Qaeda officials based in the Arabian Peninsula say they're not planning to disrupt this year's event. The statement came over the weekend after a Saudi minister earlier said that such an operation could not be ruled out.
More than a week ago, AQAP claimed responsibility for a plot to mail two parcel bombs to the U.S. that caused a global security alert.
The explosives were intercepted in Dubai and Britain before they could be detonated following a tip-off from Saudi Arabia.
