Muslims arrive in Mecca to begin hajj

Millions of Muslims from around the world continued their pilgrimage in the holy city of Mecca Sunday as hajj reached its climax with pilgrims ascending to the top of Mount Arafat, an integral part of the annual event.

Following the route Islam's Prophet Mohammad took 14 centuries ago, Muslims stood united in front of God in the world's largest show of religious devotion.

Some pilgrims walked, carrying their bags, while others took buses moving slowly through the crowds to the Mina area east of Mecca. Men were dressed in simple white robes, marking a state of ihram, or ritual purity.

Politicizing hajj

The government warned pilgrims not to politicize hajj in an effort to avoid past problems when clashes between police and pilgrims broke out over political slogans.

"Saudi Arabia is above any party or political intentions behind the hajj. Pilgrims should not raise any slogans other than that of Islam," Islamic Affairs Minister Saleh bin Abdul-Aziz Al al-Sheikh said in comments published in Saudi newspapers.

But despite the ban, a senior Iranian cleric gave a speech at Arafat to a group of pilgrims, who chanted "Death to America" and "Death to Israel", Iran's state television showed.

Ayatollah Mohammad Mohammadi Reyshahri, head of Iran's hajj mission, told the pilgrims some Muslims had despaired "in the face of Western civilization's onslaught" but that today there was a "resurgence of Islam"

Disputes between Palestinian factions Hamas and Fatah over preventing some Palestinian pilgrims from arriving to hajj adds another potential flashpoint.

Speaking in Mecca, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas blamed Hamas. "Unfortunately, this is the first time in the history of the Palestinian people that pilgrims were prevented. Israel never once prevented pilgrims," he told reporters.

Pilgrims from abroad

The number of pilgrims from abroad reached a total of 1,728,841, the highest recorded number in history coming from outside Saudi Arabia, the interior ministry said on Saturday.

The majority -- at least 1.57 million -- arrived by air, Saudi Interior Minister Prince Nayef bin Abdul Aziz was quoted by the SPA official news agency as saying, adding that there were 178 nationalities represented pilgrims.

Several hundred thousand Saudis and other people resident in the country usually join visiting pilgrims in the annual rites, which last several days.

Mount Arafat

The hajj retraces the path of Prophet Mohammad after he removed pagan idols from Mecca, his birthplace, years after he started calling people to the new faith, now embraced by almost 1.7 billion people around the globe.

Pilgrims on foot, in buses and some in wheelchairs headed to the top of Mount Arafat, about 15 km (10 miles) outside the city, where they will spend hours in prayer and ask for forgiveness.

At Arafat, Muslims pray for forgiveness and for their own and fellow Muslims' welfare.

The Eid al-Adha, or feast of the sacrifice, begins on Monday, when pilgrims begin three days of casting stones at walls in a symbolic renunciation of the devil.

It's a bit like drinking from the sea no matter how much you drink your thirst is never quenched. That's why I come over and over again

Egyptian pilgrim

A dream come true

Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam and is an obligation on every able-bodied Muslim at least once in their lifetime. The pilgrimage is a spiritual journey that Muslims believe will absolve them of their sins and cleanse their souls, meaning they return home with a clean slate.

For many coming from bustling modern cities like Cairo, New York or London, the time at hajj is spent in reflection and prayer as people replace modern suits with simple white robes and stand as equals with fellow Muslims—from all walks of life— to worship God.

Many pilgrims have described hajj as a life-changing experience.

"It's a bit like drinking from the sea -- no matter how much you drink your thirst is never quenched. That's why I come over and over again," said Hassan al-Sayed, an Egyptian pilgrim.

"Being here is better than anything I had ever experienced ... better than the time I saw my children for the first time," said Rawya Mohammad, a secretary from Egypt.

Iranian pilgrim Muhammad Hossein Salem said he waited 10 years to make the journey. "Now, my dream has come true," he said

"It's a beautiful feeling, very beautiful, especially when you see the Kaaba," said a Moroccan woman called Sanna. "I hope I can return again, with God's help," she added.

"I came here because I have always wished to come," said Umm Hassan from Egypt. "I hope God gives me the health and fortune to come a second and third and even more times."

"I pray to God to plant mercy in people's hearts," said 55-year-old carpenter Muhammad Hassan as he walked with a carpet rolled up over his shoulder, trying to find a place to sleep.

It's a beautiful feeling, very beautiful, especially when you see the Kaaba

Moroccan pilgrim

Strict checks

The flow of traffic was notably smoother than last year, as more pilgrims were transported on buses and authorities imposed stringent checks on entry points to the Mecca area to keep out people without hajj permits hoping to join the rites.

The government says it will stop Saudis and foreign residents from taking part without official permits, a main cause of overcrowding. More than 1.75 million hajj visas were granted to Muslims abroad, and at least 500,000 locals receive authorization.

"The objective of this work is to account for all pilgrims, whether they are Saudis or non-Saudis," said organizer Ahmed al-Sulaimi as security forces stopped cars at a checkpoint.