Two million Muslims prepare to stone devil at haj

[tericared]

 MUZDALIFA, Saudi Arabia (Reuters) – Some two million Muslims headed to Muzdalifa on Thursday after spending the day at the plain of Arafat to prepare to cast stones at the devil in the most dangerous part of the annual haj pilgrimage.

At Muzdalifa, the pilgrims will collect pebbles to throw at walls at the Jamarat Bridge on three occasions over the next three days in an act that symbolizes the rejection of the devil's temptations.

Aisha Mennan, 63, from Morocco, managed a smile as she sat against a wall waiting for a bus. "I just cried and cried while I stood and prayed in Mount Arafat. You really feel something special as if you are standing before the Almighty," she said.

About 1.6 million pilgrims have come from abroad for the haj, the world's largest regular religious gathering and a duty for all Muslims to perform at least once if possible. Many wait for years to get a visa under a strict quota system.

The haj marks sites that Islamic tradition says Prophet Ibrahim -- biblical patriarch Abraham -- visited in Mecca and that Prophet Mohammad established as a pilgrim route 14 centuries ago after removing pagan idols from Mecca.

Nigerian businessman Mustafa Abu Bakr said Muslims from different parts of the world and different walks of life renew their allegiance to God in Arafat.

"We will pray for world peace," he said.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20091126/wl_nm/us_saudi_haj;_ylt=AjrVJlKSBl1rbQ8Zj6XjnLdbbBAF;_ylu=X3oDMTMxZDdub3BoBGFzc2V0A25tLzIwMDkxMTI2L3VzX3NhdWRpX2hhagRjY29kZQNtb3N0cG9wdWxhcgRjcG9zAzIEcG9zAzIEc2VjA3luX3RvcF9zdG9yaWVzBHNsawN0d29taWxsaW9ubXU-

[LancesMom]

I am always learning something new in this group!

[margroc]

Very interesting Terica!  Thanks for posting!

[tericared]

You are welcome...I hope to one day go to Mecca...I think it would be amazing as a Muslim to go where Abraham, Mohamad, may peace be upon them, and other prophets lived and worshiped Allah... 

[stormcris]

Quoting margroc:

Very interesting Terica!  Thanks for posting!

I agree.

[cowgirlsr2]

How beautiful ^_^

[muslimah]

 

Quoting cowgirlsr2:

How beautiful ^_^

How beautiful ?????? After you just humiliated yourself before most of the group with your anti-Islam propaganda you want to reply with "how beautiful"?????

Are you bi-polar or is it that you just had enough humiliation and decided to cave ???

[sweetie00]

I saw something on the news about this. But it was about possible swine flu outbreaks in the large crowds.

Seems very cool, though.

"We will pray for world peace," he said

 

[realPatientMama]

Quoting tericared:

You are welcome...I hope to one day go to Mecca...I think it would be amazing as a Muslim to go where Abraham, Mohamad, may peace be upon them, and other prophets lived and worshiped Allah... 

Inshallah, Inshallah me too.

[tericared]

Quoting sweetie00:

I saw something on the news about this. But it was about possible swine flu outbreaks in the large crowds.

Seems very cool, though.

"We will pray for world peace," he said

 

It is no picnic for sure, part of the pilgrimage involves walking from one place to another to show where Hagar looked for water in the desert to give to her dying baby..

[tericared]

Quoting muslimah:

 

Quoting cowgirlsr2:

How beautiful ^_^

How beautiful ?????? After you just humiliated yourself before most of the group with your anti-Islam propaganda you want to reply with "how beautiful"?????

this