With Eid al-Adha just around the corner, many Muslims all over the world are preparing to undertake the important pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca.
The pilgrimage, known as Hajj, is an extremely vital journey for many Muslims which sees them travel to Mecca, the holiest city in Islam, to visit the Kaaba - the House of God. The pilgrimage is considered so important that it makes up one of the five pillars of Islam and obliges every adult Muslim to make the journey at least once throughout their lifetime so long as they have the means to do so.
However, Muslims cannot perform the Hajj whenever they want. The pilgrimage may only be performed over a five to six-day period on the 8th, 12th, or 13th of Dhu al-Hijjah - the 12th and final month of the Islamic lunar calendar.
