Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Abraj al-Bait, a new 485-metre clocktower in Mecca, is visible from 40 kilometres away and comprises
luxury hotels, malls and apartments for 15,000. A US$3bn project, it dwarfs the holy sites.
But leaving a far more lasting impression, it is the congregation of the faithful, the
sheer scale of the numbers who perform hajj, that many Muslims comment upon as the
most uplifting part of the experience. Judging by the ever-growing number of pilgrims
each year, anticipated by some sources to rise to 17 million by 2025, it is fair to say that
Ibrahim's legacy has proved a spectacularly enduring one.
HAJJ GLOSSARY
hajj
annual Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca and Medina
hajji
pilgrim who has completed hajj
ihram
holy state of consecration
Kaaba
(literally 'cube') consecrated cuboid building covered in black cloth, containing ancient black stone, in
the centre of the Grand Mosque in Mecca
PBUH
'Peace Be Upon Him' - follows every mention of Prophet Mohammed's name
sa'ee
ritual walk
talbiyah
the main, ritual recitation of hajj
tawaf
circumnavigation of the Kaaba
umrah
shortened pilgrimage to the holy cities outside hajj
