Muslim haj pilgrimage to peak on December 7

Saudi Arabia said today December 7 will be the peak of this year's haj pilgrimage, in which more than two million Muslims will retrace the footsteps of the Prophet Mohammad.

The climax of the pilgrimage will see worshippers climb Mount Arafat, the site of Mohammad's last sermon 14 centuries ago. The Eid al-Adha (feast of sacrifice) holiday will start on December 8, state media quoted a top religious council as saying.

Every able-bodied adult Muslim who can afford the trip must perform haj, one of the pillars of Islam, once in his or her lifetime.

The pilgrimage takes place in the 12th month of the Islamic year, which began today. Islamic years are lunar and thus dates depend on the sighting of the moon.

Different countries and branches of Islam often enter the new months on different dates, but most countries follow Saudi Arabia's lead on the month when haj is performed. Saudi authorities said today that 1.3 million pilgrims have already in the country for haj, which begins next Saturday.