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Photos: Millions of Muslims descend on Mecca for the annual hajj pilgrimage

The pilgrimage, one of the five pillars of Islam, began in Mecca today.

TWO MILLION WHITE-clad Muslims from across the globe began the hajj pilgrimage in western Saudi Arabia today, in one of the world’s largest annual gatherings.

A sandstorm blew and light rain fell around the vast plain known as Mount Arafat, where the faithful began to arrive ahead of the climax of hajj tomorrow.

Mideast Hajj Photo Gallery Muslim pilgrims walk outside the Grand Mosque in the Muslim holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia. Mosa'ab Elshamy / AP/Press Association Images Mosa'ab Elshamy / AP/Press Association Images / AP/Press Association Images

Many reached Arafat by bus but some walked from the holy city of Mecca about 15 kilometres (nine miles) away, after circumambulating the holy Kaaba, a black cube-shaped structure toward which Muslims pray worldwide.

Police manned checkpoints along the way to verify the permits of pilgrims.

Most of the throng will pass the evening in the tent city of Mina before moving in the early hours of tomorrow to the rocky hill where they believe the Prophet Mohammed gave his final sermon 14 centuries ago after leading his followers on the hajj.

Mideast Saudi Arabia Hajj More than two million Muslims have begun the first rites of the annual hajj pilgrimage. Mosa'ab Elshamy / AP/Press Association Images Mosa'ab Elshamy / AP/Press Association Images / AP/Press Association Images

Safety improvements

For many, the hajj will be the highlight of their spiritual lives.

This year’s gathering is about the same size as last year’s, with 1.4 million foreign pilgrims joining hundreds of thousands of Saudis and residents of the kingdom.

Joyous pilgrims like 35-year-old Egyptian Walaa Ali had been gathering for days ahead of the hajj.

“It is a gift from God that He has chosen us to come here,” Ali said with tears in her eyes, as preachers nearby explained the history and rituals of the hajj to men and women sitting side by side.

“I am so happy to be here,” she said in Mecca.

The hajj is among the five pillars of Islam and every capable Muslim must perform the pilgrimage at least once in his or her life.

Mideast Saudi Arabia Hajj Muslim pilgrims circle the Kaaba, the cubic building at the Grand Mosque in Mecca. Mosa'ab Elshamy / AP/Press Association Images Mosa'ab Elshamy / AP/Press Association Images / AP/Press Association Images

On alert

This year’s gathering takes place against a backdrop of increased jihadist violence in some Muslim countries, a surge of the potentially deadly MERS virus, and the war in Saudi Arabia’s neighbour Yemen.

About 100,000 police have been deployed to secure pilgrimage sites and manage the crowds.

Authorities say they are on alert for possible attacks by extremists.

The jihadist Islamic State group has carried out bombings targeting security forces and Shiite mosques in the kingdom in recent months.

Security forces have taken “measures to prevent terrorist groups from exploiting hajj season to carry out acts of sabotage,” interior ministry spokesman General Mansur al-Turki said.

Mideast Saudi Arabia Hajj A Muslim pilgrim cries while praying at the Kaaba. Mosa'ab Elshamy / AP/Press Association Images Mosa'ab Elshamy / AP/Press Association Images / AP/Press Association Images

The first day of the hajj is known as Tarwiah Day, when pilgrims traditionally watered their animals and stocked water for their trip to Mount Arafat.

On the way, modern-day pilgrims stay in specially-built fireproof tents during their stop in Mina, a city which only comes alive during hajj season.

At Mount Arafat they will pray and recite from the Koran.

Mideast Saudi Hajj File photo: Pilgrims walk toward Mount Arafat. Hassan Ammar / AP/Press Association Images Hassan Ammar / AP/Press Association Images / AP/Press Association Images

Pilgrims start the hajj by entering ihram, a state of purity in which they must not quarrel, wear perfume, cut their nails, or trim their hair or beards.

During ihram, men wear a seamless two-piece shroud-like white garment, while women must wear loose dresses, generally also white, exposing only their faces and hands.

The clothing emphasises their unity, regardless of whether they spend the hajj season in Mecca’s five-star hotels or shabby highrise hostels.

© – AFP 2015

Read: People in Kerry are worried about plans for a public call to prayer at a Tralee mosque

Read: Outrage after 14-year-old taken from school in handcuffs – for bringing a clock to class

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    Mute Middle Class Cork
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    May 7th 2015, 8:36 PM

    Mcdonalds is always there for me too. Unfortunately for my waist!!

    242
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    Mute Jimmy Murphy
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    May 7th 2015, 9:16 PM

    I hate McDonald’s and yet I find their double cheeseburgers annoyingly addictive…

    122
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    Mute Gaeltán
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    May 8th 2015, 7:15 AM

    #Jimmy
    Mar tá siad lá le siúrce agus cimicí chun go mbeidh tú tugtha dóibh.

    10
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    Mute Jax Maxwel
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    May 8th 2015, 10:02 AM

    Gaeltan,
    Perché si rispondere a un commento in una lingua diversa ? è rozzo

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    Mute Derek Mahon
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    May 8th 2015, 10:03 AM

    Is maith liom sceallóga agus ispíní.

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    Mute Jimmy Murphy
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    May 8th 2015, 12:12 PM

    Eh?

    1
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    Mute Ryan Kelly
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    May 7th 2015, 8:32 PM

    Breaking News: James Franco worked in McDonald’s. Bad day at the office Journal?

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    Mute Al Beebak
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    May 7th 2015, 8:33 PM

    I know the feeling James, mc Donald’s has often taken me out of a hole too.

    61
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    Mute Dermot Quinn
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    May 7th 2015, 9:21 PM

    Ironic, mackers has taken the hole out of me more than once.

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    Mute Dermot Quinn
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    May 7th 2015, 9:36 PM

    Silly boy.

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    Mute Barry Walsh
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    May 7th 2015, 9:39 PM

    To be fair it reads a bit like james got a few dollars for reading that script!

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    Mute Norman Hunter
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    May 7th 2015, 8:58 PM

    McDonald’s where even the salads are unhealthy.

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    Mute Michael Mclaughlin
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    May 7th 2015, 9:06 PM

    Pure manure!!

    24
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    Mute Richard Griffin
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    May 7th 2015, 8:40 PM

    Terrible actor, brutal Director and an even worse artist… one guy that should have never given up the day job…

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    Mute Dave O Keeffe
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    May 7th 2015, 8:57 PM

    What have you done lately?

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    Mute Paul O'Neill
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    May 7th 2015, 8:51 PM

    Let’s put this to bed once and for all…Big Mac or Whopper??

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    Mute Michael Mclaughlin
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    May 7th 2015, 8:54 PM

    Neither.

    34
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    Mute Middle Class Cork
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    May 7th 2015, 9:04 PM

    Big Mac on its own or a Whopper if you whack a few BK onion rings into it! Now thats me darza!!

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    Mute Sam
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    May 7th 2015, 10:32 PM

    The double cheeseburger for €2

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    Mute Michael Mclaughlin
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    May 7th 2015, 8:41 PM

    Often emptied my hole!!

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    Mute Bill Rooney
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    May 7th 2015, 9:12 PM

    Caroline did?

    She always was dirty.

    Ask the lads…..

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    Mute Will Derbylight
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    May 7th 2015, 9:39 PM

    Yeah, Cal is well known………

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    Mute Pete Gibson
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    May 8th 2015, 8:18 AM

    A “full Irish breakfast” is far more dangerous to your waistline than anything served up in McDonalds.
    Anyway,why pick on McDonalds?
    ALL restaurants serve up fattening foods.
    Ever wondered what’s in that “Nouveau Cusine” they serve up in upmarket restaurants?

    At least McDonalds is spotlessly clean and hygienic.
    Unlike a lot of other “greasy spoon” dumps you see on the high street.

    And a LOT cleaner and hygienic than most Irish kitchens I have seen.

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    Mute Colonel Redbeard
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    May 8th 2015, 10:49 AM

    McDonalds sells happiness. I’d have it every other month but never as my main meal of the day.

    Large chicken legend meal, salsa, no bacon, with coke. That’s the one and only meal I eat at McDonalds and I’d happily eat it everyday if I could get away with it. Add chicken nuggets and its €10 exactly.

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