Trek to Mina a prelude to climax of Hajj - report from CNN.

MINA, Saudi Arabia -- Muslims from around the globe arrived in Mina Valley outside the holy city of Mecca, marking the beginning of the annual pilgrimage which highlights the core message of Islam: universal peace.

The Hajj pilgrims spent the night in Mina, amid prayers and meditation. Chanting "Labbaik Allahumma Labaik" (Here I am, Allah, answering your call), they made the trek to Mina by bus and on foot, retracing the steps of the prophet Mohammed, peace be upon him, to stay in the tent city in preparation for Sunday's journey to Arafat, at the climax of the pilgrimage.

"This is one of the best organized pilgrimages," said Zuhair Abdulrehman Saggat, the person in charge of pilgrims from Southeast Asia. "The weather is good ... the flow of pilgrims was smooth ... and there have been no reports of any emergencies," he said raising his hands upwards, thanking Allah for his blessings.

Men clad in two pieces of seamless white cloth and women covered except for the hands and face, will gather on the plains of Arafat, 15 kilometers from Mecca, for the "standing" ritual at the pinnacle of the 1,400-year-old journey of faith. They are to spend the day praying for mercy, in a symbolic enactment of the Day of Judgment. The prophet Mohammed is said to have delivered his last sermon standing near Jabal Al-Rehma at Arafat.

Eventually, they will return to Mina to stone three pillars representing the devil, as Muslims around the world start to celebrate Eid al-Adha (the feast of the sacrifice), which marks Abraham's readiness to sacrifice his son Ismail in the name of God.

Traffic flow is smooth

Over the weekend, traffic to and from Mina flowed smoothly, despite the huge number of cars and buses on the modern highways, bridges and tunnels. Helicopters hovered overhead to monitor the flow of pilgrims and report on any emergencies. The main activity in the tent city of Mina was centered around Khaif Mosque where thousands of pilgrims were waiting for their turn to say the five mandatory prayers. Police put up roadblocks on the highway linking Jeddah with Mecca and Mina, checking the visas of pilgrims and turning back those without the required Hajj entry permit.

"Mina is the proof of what a mixed community Islam embraces," said Omar Abdulsalaam, an American national. "The Kenyans, Nigerians, Chinese, Indians, Pakistanis, Europeans... all of them are here... This speaks volumes about the universality of Islam. It's truly a great melting pot."

In Mina, the pilgrims were busy reflecting on all that they have done in their lifetime -- right and wrong. At Arafat, they will request God for forgiveness and the chance to make a fresh start. The pilgrims, some of them wearing surgical masks for protection against possible contagious diseases, spent the day in anticipation of starting a new life after their standing at Arafat.

"The experience of going through the physical endurance of trekking backward and forward in the sweltering heat and battling the human congestion is a sure way to learn about patience, forgiveness and humility," said one group of pilgrims in unison.