European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - March 6, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                / my lift v v Quot Quot a Quot 4 a a we f Jef a a 4. A a Quot 0h a u a a a a Somr a a vex u it f a a a a a t. R a 1 1 t8 7 a t a a % a amp amp a Idle  As Tito a Quot it it  i it t s f&Quot-.1. It f to  pilgrims Cluster before the sacred mosque which can accommodate More than 400,000worshipers. I pilgrimage of a lifetimes amps graphic by Joy Aschenbach National geographic you can never Stop the Haj. It is one of the a five pillars of  prayers. You can t a a Stop  says a saudi arabian. _ government official. A a a a. For More than 13 centuries following the revelations of their Prophet Mohammed millions of muslims have made the deeply spiritual journey to Mecca in Western a saudi. Arabia about 45 Miles East of the red sea port of Liddah. A. �. ��-.�. Last year about 2 million of the world s 1 billion. A a muslims streamed into Mecca the Plain of Arafat several Miles East of the holy City s sacred mosque a. Bloomed with tents. V t a a muslims must make the pilgrimage once in a lifetime a a unless they Are financially or physically unable to travel. _ a a. The which is set annually by the Muslim lunar. Calendar begins on june 21 this year and lasts six Days pilgrims usually Start arriving in Large numbers two weeks to a month before \ a Western Diplomat interviewed a saudi Arabia noted saudi concern that virtually All transportation m saudi Arabia was being used Bejm tintary forces and for keeping the civilian Economy going and May not be a available to help with the Haj. A another major saudi consideration is Security. Including the possibility that terrorists might arrive in the Guise of pilgrims and launch an attack. A the islamic holy month of Ramadan is a period of. Daytime fasting that begins on March 17 this Yean the. Fasting is open to certain exceptions however. Even the religiously conservative saudis have Given dispensation to their armed forces to forgo the fast in Case of warfare. The Haj in recent years has been marred by tragedy and controversy. A a a a -. A a last july More than t ,400. Pilgun mss died crushed or suffocated in a Stampede in a pedestrian Tunnel in 112-degree heat. Saudi King fahd called the disaster a god s will which is above everything. It was.fate.�?T. But the incident and the King s pronouncement provoked Strong criticism from several other Muslim countries y Iran renewed its demands for International supervision of the holy Sites of Mecca and Medina. A a. Iran has been tending with saudi Arabia Over Mecca a since the 1987 Haj. When More than 400 pilgrims most of them iranians were killed in clashes with saudi. Security forces a a i Quot a. A Amore muslims than Ever have been making the. Spiritual trip in the past two decades. A few years ago the saudi government began a. Imposing quotas on Haj visas based on the population of the country of origin. ,.-. Quot this year a greater number of the soviet Union s 40 a million muslims is expected. The soviets and the saudis established diplomatic relations last fall a a Long ago pilgrims had to walk most of the Way to the a holy City or ride camels or donkeys but air travel has made Mecca easily accessible. Most muslims arrive a a today by jumbo Jet ship and bus a a Many invest their life s savings in the journey the affluent stay in luxury hotels. Others curl up in blankets and prayer rugs on the Dusty streets. Before entering Mecca which is open Only to muslims. Pilgrims Don the garment Ott ram Quot or restriction men dress in two pieces of unseen White cloth. Women Wear simple gowns and must be a completely covered except for their laces and hands the Humble garb signifies that All muslims whatever a. A a a a a. A. A a a a.  Pho lot 3 last year about 2 million of the world s 1 billion muslims poured into Mecca to Fui fill a once in a lifetime duty of islam the Haj. The Plain of Arafat blooms with believers As the multitude halts and bows toward Mecca for the midday prayer. A. A. A. A a. A a a a. F f f 4 % v v a a  of it f f a \ l 1&Quot la a i f a a t 1 to a. \. Quot a is v it a 4 to % a j 7. \ a quot4 pilgrims Circle the Kaaba the shrine muslims believe Abraham erected to worship cod during the Haj. They touch or kiss the Black Stone a sacred Rock in the East Corner of the Kaaba.  in life Are equal in the eyes of Allah. During the period of restriction pilgrims Are forbidden to dip their nails Cut their hair Hunt argue or have sex. A inside the sacred mosques Large open court a Stark cube like Structure of Gray Stone covered with an. Embroidered Black cloth towers Over the throng of pilgrims. Called the Kaaba it  erected muslims believe for the worship of god by Abraham and his son Ishmael ancestors of Mohammed  born nearby about a d 570. A. Wherever they Are in the world muslims face toward the Kaaba five times a Day in prayer a Quot it is impossible for any Pilgrim to forget that first sight of the Black draped shrine Quot says Muhammad Abdul Rauf a. Muslim religious Leader. A a a. Quot in my first experience i became suddenly dazed. My. Wife Clung to my Arm trembling and sobbing. My daughter shuddered and my son As speechless struck by deep feelings of Tranquility Quot a. J a. Pilgrims make a greeting a it away Quot circling the Kaaba seven times. A chanting they Are eager to touch or kiss the Black Quot Stone a sacred Rock 12 inches in diameter set in Silver in the East Corner of the Kaaba. It is the Only remnant of the original building of Abraham and is the starting and ending Point of the Sawaf. A a a during the highlight of All , the pilgrims swarm to the Barren Rocky plan of Arafat. There they stand and Pray aloud from noon until Sundown for salvation and their. Brethren a deliverance. A v. Some pilgrims climb to the mount of mercy where Mohammed from the Back of his Camel delivered his Quot Farewell Sermon in 632. A Quot a on the Way Back pilgrims Stop at Mina for three Days and cast stones at three pit fars symbolizing satan. They end the pilgrimage season by sacrificing animals to commemorate Ishmael a deliverance from sacrifice and by a performing a Post Arafat Sawaf. A clipping a lock of hair Marks the end of the restriction. Before leaving Mecca All pilgrims  the Kaaba.�?�. Holdings Haj for million people is a. Staggering. A logistical feat that requires Yoan Roun d preparations by to to. Saudi  to  the flow of pilgrims saudi Arabia already has spent billions of dollars on buildings re Jack Quot networks  systems health facilities and an Airport a the ongoing expansion of the sacred mosque Wilt eventually increase its capacity to More of ran 1 5 million a worshippers. A Complex of slaughterhouses butchers the Moat of 1 5 million animals sacrificed during to Haj for distribution As prescribed by the sacred Koran to the poor throughout Iho islamic world. Page 14 the stars and stripes wednesday March 6, 1991 the stars and stripes Page 15