Hajj is an annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, the holiest city for Muslims. Hajj is a mandatory religious duty for Muslims that must be carried out at least once in their lifetime by all adult Muslims who are physically and financially capable of undertaking the journey, and of supporting their family during their absence from home.
Pilgrims at the Al-Masjid Al-Haram Mosque in Mecca on Hajj in 2010
Air-conditioned tents for Hajj pilgrims in Mina, Saudi Arabia, 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) away from Mecca
A Hajj certificate dated 602 AH (1205 CE).
A 1907 photograph of people praying near the Kaaba in the Great Mosque of Mecca
Islam is an Abrahamic monotheistic religion centered on the Quran and the teachings of Muhammad, the religion's founder. Adherents of Islam are called Muslims, who are estimated to number approximately 1.9 billion worldwide and are the world's second-largest religious population after Christians.
The Kaaba at Masjid al-Haram in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, the holiest Islamic site
Calligraphy showing the word Allah in Arabic in Hagia Sophia, Istanbul, Turkey
A 16th century Siyer-i Nebi image of the angel Gabriel visiting Muhammad
A Quran manuscript resting on a rehal, a book rest for the holy text
