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Article: Hajj begins for Muslim pilgrims.(Main News)
- Article from:
- Manila Bulletin
- Article date:
- February 19, 2002
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2002 Manila Bulletin Publishing Corp. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Byline: ALI G. MACABALANG
MAKKAH, Saudi Arabia ? The Hajj proper starts today with at least 2 million Muslims from 180 countries, including 3,000 Filipinos, converging at the holy sites in this kingdom to renew their faith in an atmosphere of unity and equality.
Enthusiasm has been high among both the pilgrims and host authorities because this hajj is the first after the bloody Sept. 11 attack on the United States which somehow put Islam and Muslims in bad light. But pilgrims from the US and elsewhere said the tragic incident also offered them an opportunity to spread the correct view of Islam.
All pilgrims put on uniform ihram garb (two-piece ...