Muslim pilgrims converge on Saudi's Mina ahead of Hajj

By Rabie Abu Zamil

RIYADH (AA) - Around two million Muslim pilgrims on Friday converged on Saudi Arabia's Mina Valley outside Mecca to begin the annual Hajj pilgrimage.

Pilgrims -- coming from all over the world -- will spend one day and one night in prayer before setting out for Mt. Arafat located some 12 kilometers (around 8 miles) from Mecca on Saturday morning for the spiritual journey's climax.

They will then return to Mina after spending the night in the Muzdalifah area on the route between Mt. Arafat and Mina.

In Mina, they will take part in the symbolic stoning of the devil at Jamrat al-Aqaba and sacrifice animals to mark the four-day Eid al-Adha which begins Sunday.

The Hajj ritual is the “fifth pillar” of the Islamic faith, one that must be performed by Muslims -- if financially viable -- at least once.