[speaker001:] Hi! What are you watching?
[speaker002:] It 's a programme about islam. It 's very interesting.
[speaker001:] Wow! So many people! Where are they and what are they doing?
[speaker002:] They are muslims on a pilgrimage to mecca. Muslims call this pilgrimage haj.
[speaker001:] Why do they go there?
[speaker002:] Muslims believe that every man who is able should go on a haj at least once in his life. Mecca is the spiritual centre of the muslim faith.
[speaker001:] When muslims pray, they face towards mecca.
[speaker002:] That 's right. Unfortunately, so many people go on the haj each year that there are often stamped and people get killed.
[speaker001:] I heard about that. The pilgrims must walk around a large, sacred black stone.
[speaker002:] That 's right. That 's when accidents often happen. The Saudi government tries to limit the number of pilgrims, to reduce the chances of accidents.
[speaker001:] Pilgrimages are common in many faiths.
[speaker002:] Yes. In England, Christian pilgrims might go to Canterbury and many Christians go to the Vatican on pilgrimages.
[speaker001:] Isn 't there a place in france where people go to get healed?
[speaker002:] I think that place is Lourdes. There are many stories of people being healed after visiting there.
[speaker001:] Do you think that there is something magical about that place?
[speaker002:] Personally. I think that people believe they will be healed and that faith causes a change in their mind that cures them. I don 't think place is magical in any way.