Article: CAIR: American Muslims to Begin Pilgrimage Season; More Than 6,000 Pilgrims Expected to Travel from United States.

On March 14,* Muslims in America and around the world will begin observing activities associated with the annual Hajj, or pilgrimage to Mecca. According visa records at the Embassy of Saudi Arabia, some 6,000 American Muslims took part in the pilgrimage last year. Embassy officials say that number has been increasing yearly.

"Many of the thousands of American Muslims taking part in the Hajj are doing so for the first time. This growing phenomenon can only serve to increase spiritual and social bonds between Muslims worldwide," said CAIR Executive Director Nihad Awad.

Hajj is one of the "five pillars" of the Islamic faith. (The other "pillars" include a ...

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