A general view of the center of Mecca, showing the Kaaba in the middle of the huge square, Saudi Arabia, Sept. 23, 1951. Every year Muslims from all parts of the world flock to Mecca, the holy city of Islam and birthplace of the prophet Mohamed, on a pilgrimage. (AP Photo)
“This watercolor-rendering was done by Ali Akbar Sahiwala, a fourth-year undergraduate student studying architecture at the University of Toronto, Canada. Having worked with Bruce Mau Design earlier this year (2009) for an urban development and a future transportation infrastructure for the Holy City of Makkah, Ali dedicated this painting for the auspicious Eid-Al-Adha celebration that follows the annual Hajj pilgrammage in which millions of Muslim pilgrims visit the Holy City. He was influenced by his mentor, Michael McCann who is an award-winning rendering artist. For more information, please visit his blog: http://aliakbarsahiwala.blogspot.com/.”
Muslim pilgrims throw pebbles at pillars during the “Jamarat” ritual, the stoning of Satan, in Mina near the holy city of Mecca, on October 26, 2012. Pilgrims pelt pillars symbolising the devil with pebbles to show their defiance on the third day of the hajj as Muslims worldwide mark the Eid al-Adha or the Feast of the Sacrifice, marking the end of the hajj pilgrimage to Mecca and commemorating Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son Ismail on God’s command. AFP PHOTO/FAYEZ NURELDINE
Tens of thousands of Muslim pilgrims moving around the Kaaba, the black cube seen at center, inside the Grand Mosque during last week of Ramadan in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Saturday, Sept. 4, 2010.(AP Photo)
