1 / 10 Mecca (Muslim Hajj)

<a href="http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/player/places/culture-places/beliefs-and-traditions/saudiarabia_mecca.html" target="_hplink">Hajj</a> is the fifth pillar of Islam and is an obligation of every able-bodied Muslim to complete at least once in their lifetime. During the annual gathering, Muslim pilgrims converge on Mecca, Saudi Arabia where they participate in a series of ritual activities. The modern Hajj is modeled after journey of the Prophet Mohammed and his followers from Medina to Mecca, but the tradition of pilgrimage to Mecca is said to date back to 2000 BCE and the time of Abraham. Up to 3 million Muslims now take part in the rite each year.

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