12,000 American Muslims to Make Pilgrimage to Mecca

November 10, 2010

Author: Omar Sacirbey

Source: The Huffington Post

Wire Service: RNS

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/11/09/12000-american-muslims-to_n_781230.html

Some 12,000 American Muslims are expected to join an estimated 2.5 million pilgrims in the Saudi Arabian city of Mecca for the hajj, the annual Islamic pilgrimage that this year runs between Nov. 14 and 18.

The number of pilgrims expected is about the same as in recent years, said Nail Al-Jubeir, a spokesman for the Saudi Arabian embassy in Washington, D.C., which limits pilgrims to making the pilgrimage no more than once every five years. 

Islam requires followers who are physically and financially capable to complete the hajj once in their lifetime.