Muslims Gather in Mecca for Hajj
![Muslim pilgrims pray on a rocky hill called the Mountain of Mercy, on the Plain of Arafat near the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, in the early hours of October 25, 2012.](https://gdb.voanews.com/d6affbf1-cd71-4125-a6a2-95714ca8269b_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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Muslim pilgrims pray on a rocky hill called the Mountain of Mercy, on the Plain of Arafat near the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, in the early hours of October 25, 2012.
![Muslim pilgrims pray near the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, October 25, 2012.](https://gdb.voanews.com/694b44c3-c7b4-400a-bc53-16e8b3439d96_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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Muslim pilgrims pray near the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, October 25, 2012.
![Crowds bow in prayer outside the mosque of the Plain of Arafat near Mecca, Saudi Arabia, October 25, 2012.](https://gdb.voanews.com/0ac8cf71-8a69-4866-b76c-e83882c3597e_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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Crowds bow in prayer outside the mosque of the Plain of Arafat near Mecca, Saudi Arabia, October 25, 2012.
![Muslim pilgrims circle the Kaaba to pray inside the Grand mosque in the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, October 23, 2012.](https://gdb.voanews.com/06904d16-24e8-4cf5-99ad-a1ad38445ba7_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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Muslim pilgrims circle the Kaaba to pray inside the Grand mosque in the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, October 23, 2012.