The faith of up to 1.8 billion people, roughly a quarter of the world’s population, dictates each one of them pray five times a day in the direction of a small, cubic building in Saudi Arabia. This ...

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Around 2 million Muslims from around the world are beginning the five-day hajj pilgrimage on Saturday. They will circle Islam’s most sacred site, the cube-shaped ...

Over 2 million Muslims from around the world are beginning the five-day hajj pilgrimage on Sunday. They will circle Islam’s most sacred site, the cube-shaped Kaaba in the Saudi Arabian city of Mecca, ...

MECCA, Saudi Arabia (AP) — As a child, Osama al-Bar would walk from his home past Islam’s holiest site, the Kaaba, to the market of spice and fabric merchants where his father owned a store. At that ...

He said the ritual usually takes an hour. Before leading his guests into the Kaaba, Prince Khaled al-Faisal, appointed Mecca governor last year, and his guests circled the cube seven times. Some ...

As a child, Osama al-Bar would walk from his home past Islam's holiest site, the Kaaba, to the market of spice and fabric merchants where his father owned a store. At that time, Mecca was so small, ...

Special parts of the Kaaba each hold deep religious significance Exits from the Al Masa’a area, the pathway between Safa and Marwah, have also been strategically managed. The General Authority for ...