MINA, Saudi Arabia, Aug 13 (Reuters) - Millions of haj pilgrims began heading back to Mecca for final prayers on Tuesday as the world's largest annual gathering of Muslims wound down without incident ...

(RNS) — I was disappointed to not experience my children’s reaction to seeing the Kaaba for the first time, but made my peace. After leaving Medina, where we’d spent a few days before going to Mecca, ...

When Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor of Malaysia flew to the International Space Station ten years ago, the question was asked. In orbit, which direction should one face in order to pray to Mecca, the qibla, ...

(RNS) A new prayer mat lights up when facing Mecca, helping Muslims to pray properly. By Lauren Markoe. (RNS) Devout Muslims pray five times a day, facing the holy city of Mecca. But what if you don’t ...

Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Millions of pilgrims arrive in Mecca for haj and pray in the holy mosque. Rough Cut (no reporter narration). The night one of the ...

For all of Murakami's game-changing power, it turned out that no MLB team truly believed he's likely to become a game-changing force in the big leagues. Cowboys DC Matt Eberflus to coach from booth in ...

Right now, Muslims all over the world are celebrating Ramadan, a month of fasting and prayer. As you probably know, Muslim prayers have a geographic angle not found in other religious traditions. The ...

The week of Easter, in 2007, I was waiting in line to get into St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican, when suddenly Pope Benedict XVI burst through the front doors to greet the crowd. The gathered ...

MECCA, Saudi Arabia (Reuters) - Divided in their troubled homeland, Iraqi pilgrims who made the perilous journey to Mecca for haj this week are united in their prayers for peace, stability and the ...

c. 2012 Religion News Service (RNS) Devout Muslims pray five times a day, facing the holy city of Mecca. But what if you don't know what direction Mecca is? Try the new illuminated prayer mat.