---
title: "The Importance of Pilgrimage to Muslim Americans"
description: "The Hajj, the annual Muslim pilgrimage to the city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, takes place in early December this year. Every able-bodied Muslim is expected to make the pilgrimage at least once in his or her lifetime, and the Hajj attracts millions of believers every year. The Pew Research Center’s 2007 Muslim American survey found […]"
date: "2008-12-04"
authors:
  - name: "Joseph Liu"
    job_title: "Guest Contributor"
url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2008/12/04/the-importance-of-pilgrimage-to-muslim-americans/"
categories:
  - "Beliefs & Practices"
  - "Islam"
  - "Muslim Americans"
  - "Religion & Politics"
---

# The Importance of Pilgrimage to Muslim Americans

The Hajj, the annual Muslim pilgrimage to the city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, takes place in early December this year. Every able-bodied Muslim is expected to make the pilgrimage at least once in his or her lifetime, and the Hajj attracts millions of believers every year. The Pew Research Center's 2007 [Muslim American survey](/Muslim/Muslim-Americans-Middle-Class-and-Mostly-Mainstream(2).aspx) found that nearly two-thirds of U.S. Muslims say that taking a pilgrimage to Mecca is very important to them.

For more statistics on the beliefs and practices of American Muslims, see the **[full survey report](http://pewresearch.org/assets/pdf/muslim-americans.pdf)** (PDF).

![Hajj chart](https://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2012/07/hajj2.gif)

Data: [Muslim Americans: Middle Class and Mostly Mainstream](http://pewresearch.org/assets/pdf/muslim-americans.pdf#page=31)