unit 1 love:2011麦加朝圣与宰牲节盛况（组图）

2011麦加朝圣与宰牲节盛况

Nov 7, 2011

The Hajj, the fifth pillar of Islam and one of the largest religious pilgrimages in the world, is currently taking place in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. Starting last Friday and continuing through Wednesday, some 3 million Muslims from around the globe are participating in several rituals, including the Tawaf -- the circumambulation of the Kaaba, the enormous cube-shaped building in the center of the Masjid al-Haram mosque. The pilgrims are also taking part in the Sa'i, traveling back and forth between the mountains of Al-Safa and Al-Marwah, and Ramy al-Jamarat, in which they throw pebbles at three walls in the city of Mina to show their defiance of the Devil. Directly after the Hajj, Muslims all over the world will observe Eid al-Adha, or the Festival of Sacrifice. The feast honors Abraham who, according to Muslim tradition, was prepared to sacrifice his son Ishmael before God sent a ram in his place. To commemorate this event, worshippers sacrifice sheep, cows, and camels, and share the meat among family, neighbors, and the needy. Collected here are scenes of this year's Hajj and Eid al-Adha, from Mecca and around the globe. [42 photos] 

麦加朝圣，作为伊斯兰教徒的“第五功”及世界规模最大的宗教朝圣活动，日前正在沙特的麦加如火如荼地进行着。从上周五开始至周三，世界各地约3百万的穆斯林在这里进行各种宗教仪式。这些仪式当中就包括塔瓦夫——即绕着麦加大清真寺中心供奉着黑石的克尔白圣殿游行。还有个仪式是萨伊，即朝圣者们在两座小山萨法和麦尔卧之间来回奔走，然后至小城米纳一个叫阿格白的地方，用碎石击打3处象征魔鬼所在位置的墙壁，以示他们抵制邪魔的坚定信仰的决心。在朝圣结束后，全球各地的穆斯林将一起欢庆宰牲节，即古尔邦节，以纪念先知易卜拉欣，相传正当他准备以自己的儿子伊斯玛仪作为牺牲献给安拉时，安拉送来一只黑头羝羊以代替牺牲。为纪念此事，信徒们宰杀牛、羊和骆驼，把肉拿出来与家人、邻里和穷人分享。下面就通过这些图片一起看看今年麦加及世界各地朝圣和宰牲节的盛况。

Tens of thousands of Muslim pilgrims move around the Kaaba, seen at center, inside the Grand Mosque, in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, on November 3, 2011. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar) 

A Muslim pilgrim prays as visits the Hiraa cave, at the top of Noor Mountain on the outskirts of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, on November 2, 2011. According to tradition, Islam's Prophet Mohammed received his first message to preach Islam while he was praying in the cave. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar) 

An aerial view shows the Mecca Clock Tower as Muslim pilgrims walking around the Kaaba in the Grand Mosque of the holy city of Mecca during the annual Hajj pilgrimage rituals on November 7, 2011. (Fayez Nureldine/AFP/Getty Images) 

2011年11月7日一年一度的朝圣活动期间，空中俯瞰麦加钟楼，此时，朝圣者正环绕圣城大清真寺内的克尔白游行。（Fayez Nureldine /法新社/盖蒂图片社）

This aerial image taken through a window of a helicopter shows thousands of tents housing Muslim pilgrims crowded together in Mina, near the Saudi holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, on November 7, 2011. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar) 

2011年11月7日，在圣城附近的小城米纳，透过直升机的窗口，可以看到朝圣者搭建的成千上万的帐篷。（美联社图/ Hassan Ammar)

Tens of thousands of Muslim pilgrims perform the evening prayer in Mecca's Grand Mosque, on November 2, 2011. (Fayez Nureldine/AFP/Getty Images)

2011年11月7日，成千上万的穆斯林朝圣者在麦加的大清真寺内晚祷。（Fayez Nureldine /法新社/盖蒂图片社）