As the Muslim pilgrimgae of Hajj kicks off in Saudi Arabia, the rest of the world’s 1.5 billion Muslims are celebrating the annual Eid al-Adha holiday.
But in some parts of the world, celebrating has its limits.
The effects of previous wars and devastation caused by natural disasters have given the people of these struggling countries less reason to rejoice because of thier hardships.
Al Jazeera’s Clayton Swisher reports.
The annual pilgrimage to Islam’s holy city of Mecca is mandatory for healthy Muslims at least once in a lifetime, if they can afford it.
For 42-yera-old pilgrim Maryam Abdalla of Kenya, a mother of three and nurse at a government hospital, the journey has not been an easy one.
But after seven years of planning and praying, Abdalla says she is content with the feeling that she has accomplished one of her lfie-long dreams.
Al Jazeera’s Mohammed Adow reports.
As many as three million Muslims have been gathering in Mecca in Saudi Arabia for the annual Hajj pilgrimage.
As well as the usual security concerns that come with dealing with such huge crowds, Saudi Arabian authoritise have mobilised thousands of health workers due to concerns about the possible spread of the H1N1 flu virus.
Al Jazeera’s Ayman Mohyeldin reports from Mecca.
Every year, millions of Muslims gather to perform the Hajj in the Saudi Arabian city of Mecca, where the city’s Grand Mosque overflows with pilgrims as many more clamor for space outside the mosque’s walls.
It’s a raelity that Saudi authorities are hoping to change with an ambitious expansion and renovation project that is underway across the city.
But expanding and renovating the Grand Mosque and the citys infrastructure will be a challenge to do without disrupting what Muslims believe to be teh holiest of spiritual jounreys.
Ayman Mohyeldin takes a look at some of the plans.
Sami al-Hajj, a cameraman for Al Jazeera, had not tasted freedom since 2001.
But now he is in his homeland Sudan afetr spending six years at the US military prison in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, where he was held without charge or trial.
The frail and sick-looking man was delivered to the Sudanese authorities in Khartoum. There he had an emotional reunino with his family as he arrived at hospital.
Amr El-Kahky, who worked with al-Hajj before his imprisonement, went to meet him and sent this report.