Clad in white in the early morning sun, these extraordinary pictures capture moments of prayer, joy and rest as Muslim pilgrims climb Mount Arafat, near the holy city of Mecca.
Pilgrims in their hundreds of thousands thronged Mount Arafat in Saudi Arabia from early morning for the climax of the annual hajj pilgrimage, arriving on foot, by train or in vehicles.
Eid al-Adha is the Muslim feast of sacrifice which marks the end of the Hajj pilgrimage.
Muslim pilgrims circle counterclockwise with their hearts tilted toward the Kaaba, the cube-shaped structure that Muslims around the world face in prayer five times a day, in the Grand Mosque in the Muslim holy city of Mecca
Hajj to the Saudi holy city of Mecca is one of the five pillars of Islam and Eid al-Adha is celebrated in remembrance of Abraham's readiness to sacrifice his son to God.
Cows, camels, goats and sheep are traditionally slaughtered on this holy day.
Annual Hajj Pilgrimage
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A Muslim pilgrim prays on top of Mount Arafat, near the holy city of Mecca, ahead of the hajj main ritual, on October 14, 2013. Pilgrims in their hundreds of thousands thronged Mount Arafat in Saudi Arabia from early morning for the climax of the annual hajj pilgrimage, arriving on foot, by train or in vehicles. AFP PHOTO/FAYEZ NURELDINE (Photo credit should read FAYEZ NURELDINE/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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A Muslim pilgrim prays on top of Mount Arafat, near the holy city of Mecca, ahead of the hajj main ritual, on October 14, 2013. Pilgrims in their hundreds of thousands thronged Mount Arafat in Saudi Arabia from early morning for the climax of the annual hajj pilgrimage, arriving on foot, by train or in vehicles. AFP PHOTO/FAYEZ NURELDINE (Photo credit should read FAYEZ NURELDINE/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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A Muslim pilgrim reads from a copy of the Koran as he prays on top of Mount Arafat, near the holy city of Mecca, ahead of the hajj main ritual, on October 14, 2013. Pilgrims in their hundreds of thousands thronged Mount Arafat in Saudi Arabia from early morning for the climax of the annual hajj pilgrimage, arriving on foot, by train or in vehicles. AFP PHOTO/FAYEZ NURELDINE (Photo credit should read FAYEZ NURELDINE/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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Muslim pilgrims touch the rock atop of Mount Arafat, near the holy city of Mecca, as they pray ahead of the hajj main ritual, on October 14, 2013. Pilgrims in their hundreds of thousands thronged Mount Arafat in Saudi Arabia from early morning for the climax of the annual hajj pilgrimage, arriving on foot, by train or in vehicles. AFP PHOTO/FAYEZ NURELDINE (Photo credit should read FAYEZ NURELDINE/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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Muslim piligrims pray on Mount Arafat, near the holy city of Mecca, ahead of the hajj main ritual, on October 14, 2013. Vast crowds of Muslim pilgrims, all dressed in white, flocked from early in the morning to Mount Arafat in Saudi Arabia's west to take part in the main rituals of the annual hajj. AFP PHOTO/FAYEZ NURELDINE (Photo credit should read FAYEZ NURELDINE/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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Muslim pilgrims read from a copy of the Koran as the pray on Mount Arafat, near the holy city of Mecca, ahead of the hajj main ritual, on October 14, 2013. Pilgrims in their hundreds of thousands thronged Mount Arafat in Saudi Arabia from early morning for the climax of the annual hajj pilgrimage, arriving on foot, by train or in vehicles. AFP PHOTO/FAYEZ NURELDINE (Photo credit should read FAYEZ NURELDINE/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
SAUDI-RELIGION-ISLAM-HAJJ-ARAFAT(07 of25)
Muslim piligrims touch a rock as they pray on Mount Arafat, near the holy city of Mecca, ahead of the hajj main ritual, on October 14, 2013. Pilgrims in their hundreds of thousands thronged Mount Arafat in Saudi Arabia from early morning for the climax of the annual hajj pilgrimage, arriving on foot, by train or in vehicles. AFP PHOTO/FAYEZ NURELDINE (Photo credit should read FAYEZ NURELDINE/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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Muslim pilgrims pose for a picture on top of Mount Arafat, near the holy city of Mecca, ahead of the hajj main ritual, on October 14, 2013. Pilgrims in their hundreds of thousands thronged Mount Arafat in Saudi Arabia from early morning for the climax of the annual hajj pilgrimage, arriving on foot, by train or in vehicles. AFP PHOTO/FAYEZ NURELDINE (Photo credit should read FAYEZ NURELDINE/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
SAUDI-RELIGION-ISLAM-HAJJ-ARAFAT(09 of25)
Muslim piligrims climb up Mount Arafat, near the holy city of Mecca, ahead of the hajj main ritual, on October 14, 2013. Pilgrims in their hundreds of thousands thronged Mount Arafat in Saudi Arabia from early morning for the climax of the annual hajj pilgrimage, arriving on foot, by train or in vehicles. AFP PHOTO/FAYEZ NURELDINE (Photo credit should read FAYEZ NURELDINE/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
SAUDI-RELIGION-ISLAM-HAJJ(10 of25)
Muslim pilgrims climb up Mount Arafat, near the holy city of Mecca, ahead of the hajj main ritual, on October 14, 2013. Pilgrims in their hundreds of thousands thronged Mount Arafat in Saudi Arabia from early morning for the climax of the annual hajj pilgrimage, arriving on foot, by train or in vehicles. AFP PHOTO/FAYEZ NURELDINE (Photo credit should read FAYEZ NURELDINE/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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Muslim pilgrims pray at sunrise on top of Mount Arafat, near the holy city of Mecca, ahead of the hajj main ritual, on October 14, 2013. Pilgrims in their hundreds of thousands thronged Mount Arafat in Saudi Arabia from early morning for the climax of the annual hajj pilgrimage, arriving on foot, by train or in vehicles. AFP PHOTO/FAYEZ NURELDINE (Photo credit should read FAYEZ NURELDINE/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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Muslim pilgrims rest as others climb Mount Arafat, near the holy city of Mecca, ahead of the hajj main ritual, on October 14, 2013. Pilgrims in their hundreds of thousands thronged Mount Arafat in Saudi Arabia from early morning for the climax of the annual hajj pilgrimage, arriving on foot, by train or in vehicles. AFP PHOTO/FAYEZ NURELDINE (Photo credit should read FAYEZ NURELDINE/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
SAUDI-RELIGION-ISLAM-HAJJ(13 of25)
Muslim pilgrims rest on Mount Arafat, near the holy city of Mecca, ahead of the hajj main ritual, on October 14, 2013. Pilgrims in their hundreds of thousands thronged Mount Arafat in Saudi Arabia from early morning for the climax of the annual hajj pilgrimage, arriving on foot, by train or in vehicles. AFP PHOTO/FAYEZ NURELDINE (Photo credit should read FAYEZ NURELDINE/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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Muslim pilgrims arrive at Mount Arafat, near the holy city of Mecca, ahead of the hajj main ritual, on October 14, 2013. Pilgrims in their hundreds of thousands thronged Mount Arafat in Saudi Arabia from early morning for the climax of the annual hajj pilgrimage, arriving on foot, by train or in vehicles. AFP PHOTO/FAYEZ NURELDINE (Photo credit should read FAYEZ NURELDINE/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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Muslim pilgrims pray at sunrise on top of Mount Arafat, near the holy city of Mecca, ahead of the hajj main ritual, on October 14, 2013. Pilgrims in their hundreds of thousands thronged Mount Arafat in Saudi Arabia from early morning for the climax of the annual hajj pilgrimage, arriving on foot, by train or in vehicles. AFP PHOTO/FAYEZ NURELDINE (Photo credit should read FAYEZ NURELDINE/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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Muslim pilgrims rest as others climb Mount Arafat (background), near the holy city of Mecca, ahead of the hajj main ritual, on October 14, 2013. Pilgrims in their hundreds of thousands thronged Mount Arafat in Saudi Arabia from early morning for the climax of the annual hajj pilgrimage, arriving on foot, by train or in vehicles. AFP PHOTO/FAYEZ NURELDINE (Photo credit should read FAYEZ NURELDINE/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
SAUDI-RELIGION-ISLAM-HAJJ(17 of25)
Muslim pilgrims rest as others climb Mount Arafat, near the holy city of Mecca, ahead of the hajj main ritual, on October 14, 2013. Pilgrims in their hundreds of thousands thronged Mount Arafat in Saudi Arabia from early morning for the climax of the annual hajj pilgrimage, arriving on foot, by train or in vehicles. AFP PHOTO/FAYEZ NURELDINE (Photo credit should read FAYEZ NURELDINE/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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Muslim piligrims gather on Mount Arafat, near the holy city of Mecca, one day ahead of the hajj main ritual, on October 13, 2013. Vast crowds of Muslim pilgrims, all dressed in white, flock from early morning to Mount Arafat, in western Saudi Arabia, to take part in the main rituals of the annual hajj. AFP PHOTO/FAYEZ NURELDINE (Photo credit should read FAYEZ NURELDINE/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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Muslim piligrims gather on Mount Arafat, near the holy city of Mecca on October 13, 2013 one day ahead of the hajj main ritual. Vast crowds of Muslim pilgrims, all dressed in white, flock from early morning to Mount Arafat, in western Saudi Arabia, to take part in the main rituals of the annual hajj. AFP PHOTO/FAYEZ NURELDINE (Photo credit should read FAYEZ NURELDINE/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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Muslim piligrims read from a copy of the Koran on Mount Arafat, near the holy city of Mecca, on October 13, 2013 one day ahead of the hajj main ritual. Vast crowds of Muslim pilgrims, all dressed in white, flock from early morning to Mount Arafat, in western Saudi Arabia, to take part in the main rituals of the annual hajj. AFP PHOTO/FAYEZ NURELDINE (Photo credit should read FAYEZ NURELDINE/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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Muslim piligrims arrive at Mount Arafat, near the holy city of Mecca on October 13, 2013 one day ahead of the hajj main ritual. Vast crowds of Muslim pilgrims, all dressed in white, flock from early morning to Mount Arafat, in western Saudi Arabia, to take part in the main rituals of the annual hajj. AFP PHOTO/FAYEZ NURELDINE (Photo credit should read FAYEZ NURELDINE/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
SAUDI-RELIGION-ISLAM-HAJJ(22 of25)
Muslim piligrims arrive at Mount Arafat, near the holy city of Mecca on October 13, 2013 one day ahead of the hajj main ritual. Vast crowds of Muslim pilgrims, all dressed in white, flock from early morning to Mount Arafat, in western Saudi Arabia, to take part in the main rituals of the annual hajj. AFP PHOTO/FAYEZ NURELDINE (Photo credit should read FAYEZ NURELDINE/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
SAUDI-RELIGION-ISLAM-HAJJ(23 of25)
Muslim piligrims arrive at Mount Arafat, near the holy city of Mecca on October 13, 2013 one day ahead of the hajj main ritual. Vast crowds of Muslim pilgrims, all dressed in white, flock from early morning to Mount Arafat, in western Saudi Arabia, to take part in the main rituals of the annual hajj. AFP PHOTO/FAYEZ NURELDINE (Photo credit should read FAYEZ NURELDINE/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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Volunteers from thr charity organisation Saaed make sweets for distribution to the needy as Muslims prepare for Eid al-Adha, the Muslim feast of sacrifice which marks the end of the Hajj pilgrimage, in Damascus on October 13, 2013. The annual pilgrimage or Hajj to the Saudi holy city of Mecca is one of the five pillars of Islam and Eid al-Adha is celebrated in remembrance of Abraham's readiness to sacrifice his son to God. Cows, camels, goats and sheep are traditionally slaughtered on this holy day. AFP PHOTO/ LOUAI BESHARA (Photo credit should read LOUAI BESHARA/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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A Muslim piligrim stands behind a Libyan flag as he prays on Mount Arafat, near the holy city of Mecca, one day ahead of the hajj main ritual, on October 13, 2013. Vast crowds of Muslim pilgrims, all dressed in white, flock from early morning to Mount Arafat, in western Saudi Arabia, to take part in the main rituals of the annual hajj. AFP PHOTO/FAYEZ NURELDINE (Photo credit should read FAYEZ NURELDINE/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)